In other news: Fruit Stripe Gum discontinued; Rome opens new archaeological park and museum in shadow of Colosseum

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 13, 2024

By The Associated Press

Fruit Stripe Gum to bite the dust after a half century of highly abbreviated rainbow flavors

Fruit Stripe Gum, something of a childhood icon for many gum chewers over the past five decades, will soon head over the rainbow with its zebra mascot Yipes, seemingly for good. Its manufacturer, the Chicago company Ferrara Candy Co., told Food & Wine and CNN that it is discontinuing the brand. The product was best known for its oversized packs of spectral-striped gumsticks, each bearing a distinct fruit flavor that typically faded away quickly upon chewing. The company did not respond to multiple requests from The Associated Press seeking confirmation of its decision.

Rome opens new archaeological park and museum in shadow of Colosseum

Rome authorities have inaugurated a new archaeological park and museum in the shadow of the Colosseum that features an original marble map of Ancient Rome that visitors can literally walk over. The opening of the Archaeological Park of the Celio and the new Museum of the Forma Urbis is part of a bigger project to develop the hilly area around the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri was on hand Thursday to open the new archaeological garden and museum and walked across the map fragments – now preserved under glass.

Feds charge eBay over employees who sent live spiders and cockroaches to couple; company to pay $3M

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Online retailer eBay has agreed to pay a $3 million fine to resolve criminal charges over employees who harassed a Massachusetts couple by sending live spiders, cockroaches and other disturbing items to their home. The Justice Department charged eBay in a criminal information with stalking, witness tampering and obstruction of justice on Thursday. The employees already were prosecuted more than three years ago in the scheme to intimidate David and Ina Steiner. The Massachusetts U.S. attorney’s office says eBay has entered a deferred prosecution agreement that could result in the charges against the company being dismissed if it complies with certain conditions. Ebay CEO Jamie Iannone called the company’s conduct in 2019 “wrong and reprehensible.”