Nation briefs 8/3/16

Delaware's death penalty struck down

DOVER, Del. -- Delaware's Supreme Court said the state's death-penalty law is unconstitutional in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year. In a 148-page opinion Tuesday, a majority of the justices said Delaware's law violates the U.S. Constitution because it allows a judge to sentence a person to death independently of a jury's recommendation. The court also said the law is unconstitutional because it does not require jurors to be unanimous in finding aggravating circumstances weigh in favor of the death penalty. Questions were raised about Delaware's law after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar death-penalty statute in Florida.

NYC's top cop stepping down

NEW YORK -- New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton is leaving the nation's largest police force after a tenure in which he received credit for keeping crime down and navigated tension between police and minority communities. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Bratton will retire next month to enter the private sector, although he and Bratton wouldn't disclose details. James O'Neill, the department's top chief, will become commissioner. Bratton, who led the department in the 1990s before returning in 2014, noted he was leaving at "a challenging time for police in America and New York, even though all indicators are pointing in the right direction."

Starbucks recalls metal straws

SEATTLE -- Starbucks is recalling stainless-steel straws it sold in its stores and online after three reports of children suffering "mouth lacerations" while using them. The Seattle-based company says about 2.5 million of the straw sets were sold in the U.S., and 301,000 were sold in Canada. The straws have a ridge at the bottom that keeps them attached to beverage lids. Starbucks said people should not let children use the straws, which are rigid and can pose an injury risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the straws were sold between June 2012 and this past June. They cost about $6 for a set of three straws. Cups for the straws were sold for between $11 and $30. The straws were made in China and imported by Starbucks Corp.

Boston police add ice-cream truck

BOSTON -- The Boston Police Department has unveiled an $89,000 ice-cream truck as the newest addition to its patrol fleet. The truck, adorned with balloons and Boston police decals, was introduced Monday at police headquarters in the city's Roxbury neighborhood. It will be used as part of "Operation Hoodsie Cup," a community policing initiative that has distributed about 120,000 free ice-cream cups since 2010. Commissioner William Evans said he would've called you crazy if you told him 30 years ago that the BPD would have an ice cream truck as part of its fleet, but the goodwill it generates is "undeniable." The truck was purchased by the Boston Police Foundation. Local dairy company HP Hood has donated all of the ice cream for distribution. St. Louis police recently added an ice-cream truck to their fleet, as well.

-- From wire

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