Got a question? We will try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.

Q: A recent article noted that a new Amtrak station would not be allowed to be built near Atlantic Station. Why is the new station not being considered as part of the proposed new multimodal station in the downtown “Gulch”? -- Joe Alaman, Alpharetta A: Amtrak has informed the Georgia Department of Transportation that it doesn’t believe it would utilize a multimodal facility in the “Gulch,” primarily because of concerns about access to the area.

Q: I have a relative that was wounded in a Civil War battle near Stone Mountain, and was taken to a hospital in Atlanta, where he died a few days later. We are confident of this information, because we have the original journal written by another relative who was fighting with him.

Q: Tony Hawk was here recently to open the new Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park and his foundation donated $25,000 to the cause. Does Tony have ties to Georgia? —Debbie Lary, Lithonia A: The skateboarding legend has visited Georgia several times, including in the late 1980s, when he competed in a major skateboard competition in Savannah, Miki Vuckovich, executive director of the Tony Hawk Foundation, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: Who makes the decision to close public throughways for movie and TV filming? What is the source of that authority? Are the taxpayers compensated in any way? —Bud Carter, Johns Creek A: Decisions regarding road closures belong to the governing jurisdiction – cities, counties or the state – responsible for those roads.

Q: What was General Sherman's actual factual path of destruction in Georgia? --Andy Frame, Jackson, Miss. A:Unfortunately for Sherman, interstates and Kroger weren’t around in 1864, so he had to figure out a way to move his army the great distance between Atlanta and Savannah, and keep it fed at the same time.

Q: What happened to the 20-year-old Mexican police chief who fled to the U.S. after being threatened by drug cartels in her area of jurisdiction? —William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch A: Marisol Valles Garcia, the former police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico, is hiding in the U.

Q: Who pays for NBA Championship rings? Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he didn’t want to pay for his players’ rings. William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch A: Cuban still plans to reward his players, but wants to start a new tradition, rewarding them with something other than rings.

Q. I know that Delta Air Lines has changed its policy regarding military baggage fees going forward. Did the company reimburse the soldiers for the baggage fees that caused the uproar? -- Shirley Townsend, Atlanta A. The company has reached out to the soldiers and will be reimbursing them, Delta spokeswoman Susan Chana Elliott told Q&A; on the News in an email.

Q: Is Oprah Winfrey going to take all her staff with her to her new channel, OWN, or will they be laid off? —Rita Gotel, Stone Mountain A: Harpo Studios Inc. began laying off “an unspecific number of workers” on May 25, Crain’s Chicago Business reported last week.

Q: What are the words to the Chinese anthem (played at the French Open after China’s Li Na won the women’s singles title)? -- Martha Hunt, Hoschton A: The lyrics to “March of the Volunteers,” written in 1935 by poet Tian Han, are: Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves! Let us amount our flesh and blood towards our new Great Wall! The Chinese nation faces its greatest peril, The thundering roar of our peoples will be heard! Arise! Arise! Arise! We are many, but our hearts beat as one! Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on! Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on! March on! March on! On! The lyrics honor those who fought the Japanese in northeast China in the 1930s.

Q: I was taught that Georgia was made up of debtors and criminals, and that its boundaries extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Are those myths perpetuated by social studies teachers, or are they actual facts? --Andy Frame, Jackson, Miss. A: Historians say Gen.

Q: Does Cobb County have parking zones as referred to in the May 31 Q&A; on the News question about PARKatlanta or ordinances about cars parked in the streets of subdivisions? Cars are continually parked on the street in several subdivisions in East Cobb, causing drivers to leave their lanes.

Q: The AJC had a photo of President Obama at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. I thought it was named the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When did the name change and why? Did it require an act of Congress? —Frank Manfre, Grayson A: The Tomb of the Unknowns also is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and has never been officially named, according to the cemetery’s website.

Q. What is the difference between a four-year college and a university? -- Judy Brooks, Mableton A. The University System of Georgia has two classifications of colleges: two-year colleges, which are authorized to offer up to an associate degree; and state colleges, which are authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees that are targeted to the economic development needs of the local area.

Q: When will the full-service Indian consulate that was announced in February open in Atlanta? —Neel Gupta, Atlanta A: The date hasn’t been announced, but fall 2011 is the likely target for an official opening, Chris Young, Georgia’s Chief of Protocol, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: We followed the excellent series of articles by Johnny Edwards about the new Georgia state law (Senate Bill 346) that came as a result of falling property values and overvalued county tax assessments. As of Jan. 1, all counties are now required to send out property assessment notices to all property owners, regardless of whether they went up, down or stayed the same.

Q: Regarding the Q&A; on the Georgia Department of Revenue sending Bank of America debit cards instead of issuing refund checks, can we contact the Georgia Department of Revenue to demand payment by check? What options are available to taxpayers? -- Janice Turkel, Dunwoody A: This year’s pilot program is finished.

Q: It was reported that a dog was used by Navy SEALs in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. What branch of military service trained this dog? Also, what breed of dog is used by the SEALs? —William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch A: It’s thought the dog was either a German shepherd or Belgian Malinois, which are favored by the military, The New York Times reported earlier this month.

Q: The Atlanta Botanical Garden has an area known as Storza Woods. Who was Storza, what is the history of the woodland area and how did the Garden acquire it? Was it part of the Piedmont Driving Club? --John Atkinson, Duluth A:You can trek through the woods in the city, thanks to Francis and Eleanor Storza, who were married philanthropists and early proponents of “creating a public garden for the Atlanta community,” according to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Q: What has Suha Arafat, the wife of the late Yasser Arafat, done since he died in 2004? Where does she live now? -- Bob Routier, Johns Creek A: Suha Arafat, the widow of Yasser Arafat, lives in Paris, according to an April 2011 Newsweek article. After her husband’s death in 2004, Suha Arafat moved to Tunisia with her family.

Q: Actual Factual Georgia has had more requests asking how to properly pronounce place names around the state. Anne Christian of Douglasville wanted me to explore the pronunciations of “Ponce de Leon” and “DeKalb,” and Southern Polytechnic computer science professor Bob Harbort wanted everybody to know the correct way to say “Coweta,” as in Coweta County.

Q: Have the Navy SEALs always been known by that name? I seem to recall a similar group in WWII by another name. —John Timpe, Johns Creek A: President John F. Kennedy established the SEALs in January 1962 after several units carried out special operations in World War II and the Korean War.

Q: What was the reason for opening the Morganza Spillway in 1973? -- William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch A: The Morganza Spillway, or Floodway, on the Mississippi River in central Louisiana was partially operated during 1973 flooding to relieve pressure on the Old River Low Sill Structure, according to the U.

Q: With all the floods in the lower Mississippi, I wondered if the federal government had closed the big dams on its tributaries (Allegheny, Monongahela, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky rivers) to reduce the magnitude of the flood? — Roger Willby, Marietta A: All of the reservoirs on the Ohio, Upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers held back water to help keep the crest on the lower Mississippi River as low as possible, Bob Anderson, a U.

Q: I have heard from various sources that instead of issuing refund checks, the Georgia Department of Revenue is sending Bank of America debit cards that are subject to various fees every time they are used. Is this actually taking place, and if so, can I contact the Georgia Department of Revenue to demand payment by check? What if any options are available to the average taxpayer? —Kevin Brennan, Acworth A: The Georgia Department of Revenue launched a pilot program this year that randomly selected more than 12,000 people to receive their Georgia 2010 income tax refunds via Bank of America bank cards.

Q: When was the world war that was fought from September 1939 to August 1945 first called “World War II?” Who coined that name? — Neil W. Nelson, Roswell A: Time magazine believes it was the first publication to make regular use of the phrase “World War II,” starting in September 1939.

Q: In reading about the 9/11 Memorial, I wondered how all of the people who may have been clients, tourists or just people on the street will be remembered. It sounded like those being remembered would be sorted into categories to facilitate the easy finding of their name.

Q: On Page B6 in the April 10 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there was an article about a delay in the Georgia shrimp season. Yet, I bought shrimp at Kroger labeled Georgia White Shrimp Wild Caught on April 9. What did I really buy? -- Paul Oziem, Lawrenceville A: The “Wild Georgia Shrimp” certification carries a logo and indicates that certain criteria related to catch, storage and transportation are met, Lauren M.

Q: Why do the men of the United Kingdom’s royal family have so many medals on their uniforms? It seemed that few, if any, family members at the recent royal wedding participated in armed conflicts. Are medals given for other accomplishments? -- Tony Gardner, Cumming A: As members of the British military, they wear the medals they’ve earned “for serving in a particular time or place, being a member of a high-ranking order or medals from other countries,” according to a 2006 BBC News article.

Q: Is there any update on the water situation with Georgia, Alabama and Florida? What is the deadline for an agreement? -- Chris Rice, Rex A: Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has set a July 2012 deadline for a water-sharing agreement between Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

Q: In the name Navy SEALs, what is SEAL an acronym for? — Richard Morris, Newnan A: The Navy’s Sea, Air and Land Forces are commonly known as the SEALs, according to the Navy’s website. Q: Did our Navy SEALs discover a dialysis machine at the fortified compound? Back to when we thought the chief al-Qaida leader was hiding out in the caves of Afghanistan, I recall a Pakistani military official saying to us that he expects us to have a good chance of apprehending Osama bin Laden because he had a kidney dysfunction and needed to have access to his own kidney dialysis machine at all times.

Q: How does a student attending college in Georgia and receiving the previous version of the HOPE scholarship, which covered their entire college tuition, apply for the new Zell Miller scholarship, which will continue to cover their entire college tuition? -- Charles Scheuch, Johns Creek A: Most students won’t have to do anything, Tracy A.

Q: The injury of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) raises a question on the laws governing the ability of a member of Congress to perform their duties. Do any legal provisions require an elected official to resign when they are unable to perform their duties for either physical or mental reasons? Can Congress or the state they represent remove them from office? —P.

Q: I know that from the late 1920s to late 1960s, the governor’s mansion was located in Ansley Park. Do you know where exactly (what street) the mansion was located in the neighborhood? —Kristy Duckworth, Atlanta A: That’s right. The Governor’s Mansion hasn’t always been that three-floor, 30-room Greek revival at 391 West Paces Ferry Road.

Q: I was in a store and they scanned the bar code on the back of my Georgia driver's license to get my name and address. Does this code also contain anything an identity thief would want, such as driver’s license number, date of birth or a digital copy of my fingerprint? Is the code simply in an unencrypted format that anyone can read or did they acquire my information from the state? If the latter, do they have to undergo any security review or background check? —Shane Roberts, Roswell A: The bar code on the Georgia driver’s license and ID cards produced after Nov.

Q: With the U.S. being so dependent upon oil, why do we export oil to other countries? Also, how much a day is imported/exported? -- Michael Martin, Marietta A: The United States consumed more than 19 million barrels per day of petroleum in 2010, making it the world's largest petroleum consumer, Jonathan Cogan, a spokesman with the U.

Q: I recently read in an AJC story that Monica Pearson on Channel 2 is going to retire next year. How long has she been in Atlanta and what is her background? A: Monica Pearson is as much a part of the lives of many metro Atlantans as Coca-Cola and the Fox.

Q: What is the protocol on who pays for what in a “royal wedding?” Are cost estimates released? — Martha Hunt, Hoschton A: Kate Middleton’s millionaire parents are making a “six-figure contribution” to the wedding, Vanity Fair reported. Some publications have reported that their contribution covers some of the costs for items such as Middleton’s much-anticipated dress.

Q: If everyone who bought a home without putting 20 percent down was forced to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), why are we having this housing crisis? Shouldn’t PMI have paid the bank for these foreclosures? -- Michael Luna, Social Circle A: Private mortgage insurance was required if the loan exceeded 80 percent of the home’s appraised value and the bank wanted to sell it to a government-sponsored enterprise such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or a Federal Home Loan Bank, Michael Eriksen, an assistant professor of real estate at the University of Georgia, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: The Georgia House voted to form a King Day panel. Are these members getting paid? -- Joy West, Acworth A: The nine members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Advisory Committee would be volunteers. The legislation to form the committee, which would develop, coordinate and advise the state on appropriate ceremonies and activities related to the King holiday, was passed 158-5 by the Georgia House on April 12 and is under review by Gov.

Q: In the time since the tax withholding tables were adjusted, I have yet to see an explanation as to why. Has the tax rate gone up, or just the tables? When the tables were lowered, I raised my withholding amount to compensate. Now my question is, should I lower it? -- Jack Kerwood, Rome A: The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, enacted on Dec.

Q: Who is Booth of the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville? Why did Booth start a museum devoted to western art and U.S. presidents? —Bob Harbort, Atlanta A: A group of anonymous donors in Cartersville weren’t horsing around in 2000, when they decided to start Booth Western Art Museum.

Q: Falling trees in the metro area during the storms have made us nervous. We have tall trees in our backyard and would like to cut them down to reduce the risk. What are the laws? Do we need permission prior to cutting? If yes, from whom and how? -- Azhar Syed, Lilburn A: Homeowners don’t need a tree removal permit unless the tree is in a required zoning buffer, conservation or open space, the Chattahoochee River Corridor or designated tree save area, according to the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development.

Q: I recently discovered that the food tax on groceries is now 3 percent, not the customary 2 percent, and has been so since Jan. 1. Can you explain when and how this change was legislated? -- Rachel Stavrolakis, Decatur A: Some local sales taxes, including the 1 percent Homestead Sales Tax in DeKalb County, can apply to the sale of food and food ingredients as a result of House Bill 1221, which passed during the 2010 legislative session, Karen Lashley-Lucas, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Revenue, told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: What is the significance of a sentence of life versus one for life plus 70 years? —P. Sweezey, Fayetteville A: Life sentences under Georgia law can either be life without parole or life, University of Georgia School of Law Criminal Defense Clinic Director Russell Gabriel told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: I recently saw a red X above a lane on I-285 near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Exit 59 (Clark Howell Highway/Air Cargo). I know the Xs mean to not drive in the lane, but it was in the middle of the expressway. What’s the purpose of the Xs and green arrows? —Sherman Poythress, College Park A: The Xs and arrows appear on tunnels that travel under the fifth runway that was added to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jill Goldberg told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: If tax returns for people who are due a refund are received late by the Internal Revenue Service, are they penalized? -- Alex Costas, Norcross A: No, IRS spokesman Mark Green told Q&A; on the News. “However, generally if a taxpayer is due a refund for withholding or estimated taxes paid, it must be claimed within three years of the return due date or [they] risk losing the right to it,” he wrote in an e-mail.

Actual Factual Georgia Q: Why does Oglethorpe University in Atlanta have gothic-style buildings? A: You haven’t ventured into jolly old England, but are seeing the gothic revival architecture that makes Oglethorpe University unique and brings a touch of the past to the New South.

Q: Were any new slaves imported, bought and sold during the Civil War years? —Doyne Michie, Austell A: Congress passed a bill in 1807 that prohibited the importation of slaves to the U.S. It went into effect on Jan. 1, 1808 and stated, “It shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour.

Q: Does postal equipment have a difficult time recognizing ZIP codes with the crossed, or European, numeral 7, and does it misdirect much of the mail that includes it? Some of the IRS ZIP codes have a seven, and thousands of people use the crossed seven, and the tax filing deadline is near.

Q: Since Crossover Day in the state legislature is the last day a bill can be passed in one body and sent over to the other body, how would it have been possible for the House to have passed the tax reform bill after Crossover Day and sent it to the Senate for a vote? — Chuck Ellet, Dunwoody A: Legislation passed in 2010 that created the tax reform effort exempted the legislation from the traditional path most bills must take and was not subject to Crossover Day rules.

Japan raised the assessment of its nuclear crisis to the most severe rating Tuesday, on the same level as the Chernobyl disaster, the world’s worst to date. Some answers to questions about the assessment and health and safety concerns: Q: Has the situation at the Japanese nuclear power plant worsened? A: No.

Q: Does anyone keep records of what time of day, or night, has the heaviest pollen-fall? Specifically, what hours experience the heaviest onset of pollen? -- Charles Smith, Suwanee A: According to the Weather Channel’s network of allergists, pollen counts vary depending on the weather and wind condition.

Q: What, if anything, has occupied the space created when the oil is removed? If the answer is water, why have not the sea levels gone down, even though the ice caps are presumably melting? Since we burn the oil (converting it to energy and lots of gases), would not that decrease the density of the Earth? If the density is decreased, would that not alter the “tip” and speeds of rotation/revolution of the Earth? Could not the removal of so many trillions of tons of substance from the Earth result in faster shifts of the tectonic plates, thus causing more frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc? -- Dan Sasser, Atlanta A: What is missing in this analysis is a sense of scale and a misconception on how oil occurs in the Earth, Michael Roden, a geology professor at the University of Georgia, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: An AJC story about the foreclosure of a Union City mall said it was “scheduled for foreclosure on the Fulton County courthouse steps.” Does this event literally take place on the courthouse steps? —Grant Glassbrook, Atlanta A: Georgia is one of many states that allow private power of sale foreclosures if the mortgage documents provide for it, Randy Beck, the Justice Thomas O.

Q: Is there a recycling center in or around the Atlanta area that will take household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, C, D, etc.)? —Steve Lamb, Hapeville A: The best place to start is earth911.com, a website recommended by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. You can search for single-use batteries with your ZIP code to find spots that recycles batteries near your home.

Q: Regarding Japan, they don’t use states or counties, but what is a “prefecture?” What does that mean? And how many prefectures are there in Japan? —Barbara Mitchell, East Point A: A prefecture is “any one of the areas into which some countries (such as Japan and France) are divided for local government,” according to a Merriam-Webster online dictionary.

Q: In the event of an accident at any of Georgia Power’s reactors in Georgia, who will pay for the cleanup? -- Don Vining Sr., Alpharetta A: The Price-Anderson Act provides no-fault insurance in the event of a nuclear power plant accident deemed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be an “extraordinary nuclear occurrence,” Georgia Power spokeswoman Christy Ihrig told Q&A on the News.

Q: Is it really helpful to recycle plastic and aluminum containers if we have to use a lot of precious water to rinse them, especially the greasy ones? Don’t they get washed when they reach the recycling plant? —Steve Warren, Atlanta A: When recyclables are collected at the curb, the containers are not washed when they reach a recycling facility, Connie Wiggins, executive director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: I was told in the past that sales of alcohol were not allowed at a 24/7 supermarket after midnight and were permitted again after 6 a.m. Is such a law still in force as well as the ban on Sunday sales? -- Cuyler Warnell Brooks Jr., Lilburn A: Hours and days of sale, other than Sunday package sales, are established by the local jurisdictions, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Q: Anytime the common citizen wins a prize such as travel, they are required to claim it as income and taxes are to be paid. When a politician has a trip paid for by a constituent, PAC or other entity, is the politician required to declare it as income and to pay taxes? —Michael Martin, Marietta A: Mark S.

Q: I know Tommy Aaron of Gainesville won the Masters Tournament some years ago, but have there been any other Georgians who have won the Masters? -- Sarah Cooper, Gainesville A: Savannah-born Claude Harmon won the Masters in 1948, becoming the first Georgian to win the tournament.

Q: Your recent answer indicated that in 1997, the Georgia Lottery returned 35 percent of lottery revenue to the state. That percentage decreased to only 26.1 percent in 2010. By state law, what percent is the lottery required to return to the state? —Scott Pirnie, Atlanta A: The Georgia Lottery for Education Act states: “As nearly as practical, for each fiscal year, net proceeds shall equal at least 35 percent of the lottery proceeds.

Q: Who is supplying the weapons to the rebels in Libya or Egypt? —Robert Strickland, Atlanta A: U.S. and European intelligence officials say the rebels have weapons “looted from the Libyan government’s own arsenals,” according to Reuters.com. “Some units of Libya's largely conscripted army either refused to fight for Gaddafi or defected to the rebels, taking their arms with them.

Q: Last year, there was an announcement that the NIT was ending. My school, the University of Dayton, won the NIT the first year it was held and again the last year it was held, or so I thought. But then I see the NIT is being played again. What’s the deal? —Gail Small, Duluth A: The National Invitation Tournament, or NIT, likely would have been phased out if the NCAA tournament had expanded to 96 teams, as was discussed last year, several media outlets reported.

Q: How did The Masters end up in Augusta? A: Imagine the story being told in Jim Nantz’s voice, which viewers hear throughout the prestigious golf tournament every April. Atlanta legend Bobby Jones and friend Cliff Roberts putted around the idea of creating a golf course after Jones, the winner of 13 major tournaments, retired from golf in 1930 at the age of 28.

Q: What are the consequences of ethanol affecting all engines that will have ethanol in their gas tanks? I am concerned that ethanol sends virtually all small engines in typical uses, such as lawn mowers, chain saws, generators, etc., prematurely to the repair shop because the ethanol hardens the rubber diaphragm that acts as the fuel pump in the carburetor.

Q: What is the status of the Georgia parish that was relocating St. Gerard's Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, N.Y., to Norcross? -- Scott Grostefon, Marietta A: Mary Our Queen parish is trying to raise between $12 million and $16 million to bring the church to Norcross, Father David Dye told Q&A; on the News.

Q: Someone asked about penalties and interest on Rep. Charles Rangel in Q&A; on the News. You stated that he paid $15,000 in back taxes, but made no reference to penalties and interest. Secondly, it was more than $600,000 in unreported income (maybe quite a bit more), so obviously $15,000 wouldn’t be anywhere close to the actual taxes on it.

Q: I saw Steve Avery in a Braves uniform in the Sports section. Is he now working with the Braves? —Carolyn Walker, Stone Mountain A: Former Braves pitcher Steve Avery was among several former players, including Marquis Grissom, Javier Lopez, Otis Nixon and Sid Bream, who participated in the team’s inaugural Fantasy Camp, which was held in January at the club's spring training facility at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports near Orlando.

Fears about health risks rose dramatically Tuesday in Japan with news of a greater radiation release and renewed warnings to remaining residents within 20 miles to stay indoors. Japanese officials said that more radiation was released at a nuclear plant disastrously damaged by last week’s tsunami.

Q: Under the new law, if a student had less than a 3.7 grade-point average in high school, but received the HOPE this past year, and they have maintained a 3.5 average in college, what will they be eligible to receive next fall? -- Kim Elmore, Lawrenceville A: A student who graduates from high school with at least a 3.

Q: A recent AJC article told of the funding cutoff for the Georgia Civil War Commission, which promotes tourism to Civil War sites in the state. Is the commission not eligible to receive grants from the hotel and rental car tax? —Fred Smith, Tucker A: The Georgia Civil War Commission, which was created by the 1991 General Assembly to coordinate planning, preservation and promotion of structures, buildings, sites and battlefields associated with the Civil War, does not appear to be eligible to receive grants from the hotel and rental car tax, chairman John Culpepper of Chickamauga told Q&A; on the News.

Q: Was pre-k included in the original HOPE and lottery program? —Theda Davis, Lilburn A: Yes. When the proposal was announced in 1989 by then-Lt. Gov. Zell Miller, it included pre-k as one of the recipients of funding generated by the creation of a state lottery.

Q: Where can you find information on Georgia road projects online? I am specifically interested in the construction on Gravel Springs Road/Ga. 324 in Buford -- will this new bridge be an exit for I-85? -- Jimmy Saviano, Buford A: To view details related to Georgia Department of Transportation projects, start at www.

Q: What are the percentages of net proceeds from the lottery that go to the winners, to the scholarships and to the remaining expenses? Can the percentages be changed so that some of the excessively large winnings could be scaled back to allow more money to go to scholarships and education? -- Leon E.

Q: Will technical school students receiving the HOPE grant take their share of the cuts that Gov. Nathan Deal and others are proposing? -- Margo Camann, Atlanta A: HOPE includes a scholarship and a grant. The HOPE grant, which is primarily used by students attending a college within the Technical College System of Georgia, would undergo several changes as part of the overhaul outlined in House Bill 326.

Q: Where did the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools come from? What is the basis of its authority? Who are they responsible to? Is there any appeal to a decision of the SACS? -- Jack Burney, Dunwoody A: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was established in 1895 by colleges and universities seeking a way to determine the quality of education, officials told Q&A; on the News.

Q: A recent article on the late broadcaster Ludlow Porch mentioned the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. How is this facility funded, and what is the annual attendance? -- Steve Kilbride, Atlanta A: The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame does not have a facility, but it is working toward having a permanent physical location for its growing collection of memorabilia and artifacts, president and co-founder John Long told Q&A; on the News.

Q: Who was Emory University named for? —Fran Jordan, Norcross A: If you think it has some connection to The Coca-Cola Co., you have to look back further than the generosity of Coke founder Asa Candler and other benefactors connected to the Atlanta-based soft drink company.

Q: Radio station 106.7 used to have the True Oldies Channel with Scott Shannon. Did the True Oldies Channel go to another station? -- Doug Lowman, Marietta A: The change was made in November, when True Oldies 106.7 became Atlanta’s Greatest Hits 106.7.

Q: Georgia recently passed a law under which people eventually will pay no taxes on retirement income. What is the year-by-year breakdown of the exclusion amount? -- Joe Butler, Clarkston A: Georgia Department of Revenue officials told Q&A; on the News that the individual income tax retirement exclusion for taxpayers who are 65 or older is increased from the current $35,000 of retirement income to the following: 2012: $65,000 2013: $100,000 2014: $150,000 2015: $200,000 2016: Unlimited Taxpayers ages 62-64 or who are under 62 years old but qualify because they are permanently and totally disabled remain entitled to the $35,000 individual income tax retirement exclusion, spokeswoman Karen Lashley-Lucas wrote in an e-mail.

Q: Was the poison used on the Auburn oak tree the same as the North Carolina power company sprayed on the 400-year-old scuppernong Mother Vine last summer? Is a pesticide license required to purchase that herbicide in Georgia? Has the Mother Vine survived? —Mike Smith, Marietta A: The product that damaged the Mother Vine was Garlon 3A, which has been on the market since about 1980 and is used to control broadleaf plants, Lloyd Hipkins, a Virginia Tech weed scientist, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: I use the Stone Mountain Expressway (U.S. 78) every day, and I have noticed that the overhead signs display an “average speed.” How is this measured? What is the value of displaying it? The numbers often seem unlikely – the speed limit is 65 and I have seen the average as low as 32 and as high as 75.

Q: There is proposed legislation that would allow Georgians to purchase health insurance in other states. There are states that require companies to insure people with pre-existing conditions. If the legislation passes, how would this affect Georgians who would like to purchase a policy but have a pre-existing condition? Would the companies in these states be required to cover somebody from another state? Just because Georgia residents would be able to purchase a policy from another state, would we be able to? —Andrew Lederman, Lawrenceville A: Based upon the current language in House Bill 47, the bill appears to be intended to allow health insurers authorized to transact insurance in this state to also sell in Georgia health insurance policies approved in other states, Matt Kilgallen, a spokesman with the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, told Q&A; on the News.

Q: Will the new $35 special annual fee for my Wildlife tag (with the image of the bald eagle) go to the state treasury or to the agency the tag represents? — Mary P. Apps, Roswell A: Of the $35, the sponsoring organization – the Nongame Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division – receives $10.

Q: Is there available for purchase a pamphlet or book listing the whereabouts and significance of the Civil War historical markers situated throughout the state? -- Gary Furin, Atlanta A: Yes, the Georgia Civil War Commission’s book, “Crossroads of Conflict: A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia,” was published in observance of the war’s 150th anniversary.

Q: What is the official name of the holiday we celebrate on Feb. 21 that furniture stores insist on calling Presidents Day? -- Bill Brockman, Atlanta A: The official name is Washington’s Birthday, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Although Washington was born on Feb.

Q: Are there other advantages to filing an appeal to lower property taxes? What effect will a lower assessment have on a property if a person decides to sell his home? Would a lower assessment make that person even more upside down on his mortgage? Also, wouldn’t a person lose a portion of the property tax deduction if he itemizes for income tax purposes? -- Lydia Howard, Stone Mountain A: The only reason to file an appeal is to lower your annual property tax payment, Richard W.

Q: On the seal of the City of Atlanta, there are two years: 1847 and 1865. Atlanta was incorporated on Dec. 29, 1847, but what about 1865? The city was burned in November 1864. Is there a particular date and event in 1865 that marks the rebuilding of Atlanta that the seal refers to? —Cynthia Rintye, Atlanta A: Let’s seal the deal on this interesting inquiry – 1865 is in reference to the end of the Civil War, city officials say.

Q: Nielsen says 111 million people watched the Super Bowl this year. How does Nielsen come up with this figure? Is it different from how Nielsen comes up with its figures for any TV show? -- Ray Prior, Newnan A: Nielsen measures the Super Bowl just like it does any other program, officials told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: When it snows, most of the precipitation remains on the ground rather than becoming runoff. When it melts, does it add more to the water table than the equivalent amount of rainfall, and what’s the ratio? -- Cody McClinton, Atlanta A: No, snow does not add more to the water table -- the liquid equivalent is the same as if it had rained, WSB Radio meteorologist Kirk Mellish told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: Twelve hundred seats at the Super Bowl couldn’t be used, but 850 people were moved to empty seats. Why were there 850 empty seats available? I can’t imagine that many people canceled ahead of time without reselling their tickets. -- N. Loeb, Johns Creek A: Some of the displaced fans were relocated to seats that were reserved by the NFL in case of a problem, league spokesman Brian McCarthy told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: Cam Newton was on three teams that won national championships: Florida, Blinn (Texas) College and Auburn. Did he receive championship rings for each of these? —Billy Rogers, Atlanta A: Cam Newton, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Auburn to the national championship last fall, has national championship rings from Florida (2008 national champion) and from Blinn College (2009 National Junior College Athletic Association national champion), a spokesman with the Auburn athletic department told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: In your answer to the question about the largest snowfalls in Atlanta, you did not include the blizzard of 1993. How many inches of snow fell during the blizzard in March 1993? —Allan LaBarre, Snellville A: Atlanta officially had only 4 inches, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center.

Q: Has the mysterious case of the (Erie, Pa.) pizza deliveryman Brian Wells, strapped with a bomb around him, ever been solved? The bomb killed him. -- David Matheny, Rome A: Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 61, was convicted in November for plotting to kill Wells, The Associated Press reported.

Q: What film director has coaxed the most Academy Award-nominated acting performances, not just winners, but most nominated, from his actors? I’m thinking it may be Clint Eastwood, since it seems the actors in his films always earn nominations, but my wife leans more to past directors like Billy Wilder or George Cukor.

Q: I’ve been hearing about the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville. Has it been around for a long time? A: We’ve dug up the information about this museum, which debuted January 2009. It’s a popular spot to take your future Indiana Jones and Dr. Frankenstein, who enjoy digging for fossils and minerals and seeing shows in the 120-seat planetarium (one is Sesame Street themed).

Q: Salt is supposed to help melt ice on the roads. When you make ice cream, you add a liberal amount of salt or rock salt to help freeze the cream. Why does the salt used in each case assist the process? -- Scott Thomas, Tucker A: In each case, one of the colligative properties of water -- freezing point depression -- is used, Wayne Suggs, a chemistry professor at the University of Georgia, told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.

Q: Why has the city of Atlanta not removed the sand and rocks it put in place (largely after the fact) for the snow and ice? —Robert Curry, Atlanta A: Once all of the ice melted, the city launched a major cleanup effort, and crews have been working to clear city streets and sidewalks of sand/salt/gravel, Atlanta Public Works spokeswoman
Valerie Bell-Smith told Q&A; on the News in an e-mail.