Q&A on the News

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

Q: In the article about the personal checks written by President Abraham Lincoln and others found in a Huntington Bank vault in Columbus, Ohio: Who did these belong to, and what will happen to them?

-- Martha Hunt, Hoschton

A: The check collection had belonged to a president of Union Commerce Bank, which was acquired by Huntington Bank. They had been stored at Huntington Bank’s Columbus headquarters since 1983 and were put on display to the public after an employee “was struck by their historical significance,” according to The Associated Press. The collection contains about 70 personal checks signed by 16 U.S. presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and other famous people, including Charles Dickens, Susan B. Anthony and Thomas Edison, among others. Lincoln’s check -- which was written to “self” for $800 -- was dated April 13, 1865, one day before he was shot. It’s valued at $25,000, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The checks signed by presidents are on display at the Huntington Bank branch in Brooklyn, Ohio, until Jan. 31. There are plans to continue rotating parts of the collection to various Huntington Bank branches, the Plain Dealer reported.

Q: Which celebrity won the most money for his or her charity on “The Price Is Right"?

-- Elizabeth Barron, Atlanta

A: Snoop Dogg won the most, $72,585, for his charity -- the Snoop Youth Football League -- on Celebrity Charity Week on “The Price Is Right,” a CBS spokeswoman told Q&A on the News in an email. Neil Patrick Harris, Jenny McCarthy, Chris Daughtry and Heidi Klum also participated.

Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).