10 things you need to know today: February 3, 2016

1. Texas reports first U.S. case of Zika transmission

On Tuesday U.S. health officials in Texas reported the first domestic case of transmission of the Zika virus. The virus is normally mosquito-borne, but the Texas patient was believed to have contracted Zika through sex while traveling abroad. Zika has been spreading rapidly through the Americas, and has been linked to severe birth defects in babies in Brazil. On Wednesday the World Health Organization, which this week declared Zika's spread an international public health emergency, called for further research into sexual transmission of Zika.

Reuters Reuters

2. Republicans go after Trump in New Hampshire after his Iowa setback

On Tuesday GOP presidential candidates and other conservative leaders heaped criticism on Donald Trump in New Hampshire, aiming to chip away at his polling lead ahead of the state's Feb. 9 primary. Sen. Ted Cruz, who upset Trump in Iowa, poked fun at Trump. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush called the GOP frontrunner a man of "deep insecurity and weakness." Rivals also targeted Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio, who surged to place third in Iowa. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ridiculed Rubio's experience: "This isn’t a student council election, everybody," Christie said.

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The New York Times

3. Military leaders say women should register for draft

On Tuesday the top officers in the Marine Corps and Army said it was time for women to start registering for future military drafts. The Pentagon recently decided to open all combat jobs to women. Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of staff of the Army, and Gen. Robert B. Neller, the Marine Corps commandant, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that including women in the draft would help integrate them into the military. "Every American who's physically qualified should register," Neller said.

The Washington Post

4. North Korea says it will launch long-range rocket

North Korea has notified the United Nations that it was preparing to launch a long-range rocket this month to put a satellite in orbit, according to the International Maritime Organization, the U.N. agency responsible for navigation safety. The U.S. and allied nations had warned Pyongyang against the launch because they said it would violate a ban against a U.N. Security Council resolution barring North Korea from developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

The New York Times

5. U.S. airstrikes destroy Islamic State radio station in Afghanistan

U.S. airstrikes destroyed the Islamic State's radio station in a remote region of Afghanistan, U.S. and Afghan officials said Tuesday. Two strikes hit the headquarters of the "Voice of the Caliphate" near the border with Pakistan, reportedly killing 29 people, including eight ISIS members involved in the Islamist extremist group's radio and online propaganda.

The Associated Press CNN

6. FBI joins investigation into Flint's drinking-water crisis

The FBI has joined in a multi-agency team investigating the contamination of drinking water with lead in Flint, Michigan, the U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed Tuesday. "Our role in it is just investigating the matter to determine if there are any federal violations," said Jill Washburn, spokeswoman for the FBI's Detroit field office. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is proposing $30 million in state funding to cover a portion of Flint's residential and commercial water bills.

The Detroit News The Associated Press

7. Exxon slashes drilling budget as oil glut continues

Exxon announced Tuesday that it was cutting its drilling budget to a 10-year low due to a global oil glut that sent crude prices plummeting. Exxon is the world's largest oil explorer, but it will be slashing spending on rig leases, oil platforms, and other projects by 25 percent, to $23.2 billion, in 2016. The news came as Exxon reported its smallest annual profit since 2002 last year.

Bloomberg

8. Criminal exonerations hit record level in 2015

A record-breaking 149 people were exonerated last year after being convicted of crimes in the U.S., according to a report being released Wednesday. The previous record was 139, set in 2014. The defendants cleared last year had served an average of more than 14 years in prison for crimes they did not commit, says the report from the National Registry of Exonerations. Samuel Gross, a University of Michigan law professor and registry editor, said "increased interest and sensitivity to the problem" were driving the rising numbers of exonerations.

Chicago Tribune

9. Chipotle reports sales decline

On Tuesday Chipotle reported that sales at established restaurants fell by 14.6 percent in the last three months of the year, as several food-borne illness outbreaks were linked to the chain. "The fourth quarter of 2015 was the most challenging period in Chipotle's history," CEO Steve Ells said. The Mexican-grill chain's stock fell by more than 5.5 percent in after hours trading, capping a decline of nearly 40 percent over the last three months.

The Washington Post

10. Punxsutawney Phil forecasts early spring

Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's weather-forecasting groundhog, didn't see his shadow Tuesday morning. According to folklore, that means the U.S. will see early spring weather in 2016. Apart from the East Coast's record-setting blizzard in January, the U.S. has had a fairly mild winter so far. The rodent is not infallible, however. The last time he called for an early spring, in 2013, the eastern U.S. saw harsh, snowy winter weather into March.

The Associated Press