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Q: What happened to all the “clunkers” that were traded in during the Cash for Clunkers program?-- Bill Wagenbrenner, CummingA: The government on Feb. 2 extended by 90 days the time in which a disposal facility must shred or crush a trade-in vehicle.

Q: How is it that Martin Luther King Jr. gets a memorial on the mall in Washington, D.C.? I was under the impression that only presidents were entitled to have a memorial.—Andy Sims, DouglasvilleA: Other non-presidents have memorials on the National Mall, including founding father George Mason of Virginia, who authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as a basis for the Bill of Rights.

Q: The AJC publishes online the number of crimes, according to category, for unincorporated south Fulton and College Park, so why are Union City and Palmetto not shown?-- Rose C. Trujillo, College ParkA: In the last six months, 12 police departments in the metro Atlanta area agreed to provide crime data on a regular basis.

Q: If we make a donation to the Haiti Relief Fund before March, can we take it off of our 2009 income taxes?-- Jody Garrard Smith, ViningsA: Yes, taxpayers can write off donations made to the relief efforts in Haiti on their 2009 income tax returns. President Barack Obama signed the bill, HR 4462, into law on Jan.

Q: An AJC article on Jan. 25 compared the size of the student body at Georgia State University to the student bodies at the five other largest University System of Georgia public colleges in our area. However, I did not see Georgia College & State University (GCSU) on that list.

Q: There are news reporters and crews from all over the world in Haiti. Where do their food and water come from? 
— Fredolyn Stitt, LilburnA: The crew with Atlanta-based CNN, for example, arrived with enough water and protein bars and basic medical supplies to get them through the first few days of reporting, spokeswoman Jennifer Dargan said.

Q: Why do some NFL teams have the letter C on their right shoulder, standing for captain, and some don’t, like the Baltimore Ravens? — Sylvester Williams, MabletonA: The Baltimore Ravens, among other teams, elect weekly captains, meaning no player wears the patch that designates seasonlong team captains, according to The Washington Post and the Dallas Morning News.

Q: There was some talk about Brian Nichols being sent to the Supermax prison in Colorado. Where is he in prison?-- Walter Johns, LilburnA: Nichols is listed as being in the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Q: Regarding the article on the death of the woman (Miep Gies) who sheltered Anne Frank, I’m curious about the four individuals, in addition to the Frank family, who she helped shelter.—Dr. Robert Derro, DuluthA: A week after the four members of the Frank family (Otto Frank, Edith Frank, Margot and Anne) went into hiding in July 1942, they were joined in the shared annex by Hermann van Pels, wife Auguste and their 15-year-old son Peter, according to an account from Gies’ on her official Web site.

Q: I watched the exciting NFC playoff championship game between Minnesota and New Orleans, which was won by the Saints in overtime. How many other NFL conference and Super Bowl championships have been won in overtime and who were the teams?—Jerry Schwartz, AlpharettaA: Two other NFC Championship games and one AFC Championship game have been decided in overtime, according to NFL.

Q: The island of Hispaniola is one-third Haiti and two-thirds Dominican Republic. Has the Dominican Republic suffered any damage from the earthquake? — Sally Segur, DouglasvilleA: The earthquake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern part of Hispaniola, and its capital, Santo Domingo, about 200 miles from Haiti, according to The New York Times.

Q: When there's a disaster such as the one in Haiti, does it help or hurt when (so many) television anchor people rush to the scene? — Jim Miller, HoschtonA: On one hand, it helps focus the audience’s attention and the news organizations’ resources on the story and point out its importance, said David Hazinski, associate professor and head of the broadcast news department in the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Q: With production of the 2011 Kia Sorento under way, are guided tours available at the state-of-the-art assembly plant in West Point? How many authorized Kia dealers are there in the state of Georgia?— Scott MacLean,
Forest ParkA: Kia plans to offer free factory tours this spring, but the dates have not been determined, Kia spokeswoman Joanne Mabrey said.

Q: Who is allowed to properly dispose of state and United States flags?— J. Maddox, JacksonA: The laws don’t specify who can dispose of the flags. The U.S. code says: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Q: Does the Georgia Lottery have to pay for the time used on TV to announce the winning numbers each day?— John B. Womack,
OxfordA: Georgia Lottery Corp. does not pay for television time to broadcast drawings. In addition to televised drawings, Georgia Lottery winning numbers are available online at www.

Q: Maps on MARTA trains now show that the lines have been color-coded. Directions of the lines are apparently being phased out, and the station numbers have been eliminated. When and why did MARTA make these changes, and are the signs on the trains and in the stations going to be changed?— Richard H.

Q: How did the “tradition” of pouring Gatorade on the winning coach get started?— Martha Hunt,
HoschtonA: The tradition started when defensive lineman Jim Burt of the New York Giants dumped a Gatorade cooler over coach Bill Parcells after a regular-season victory over the Washington Redskins in 1985, according to the book “First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat Into a Cultural Phenomenon.

Q: This is the 121st year for the Rose Parade. Is that consecutive or were no parades staged during some years of World War I or World War II?— Lee Ballew, MariettaA: The Rose Parade has been staged every year since 1890, including the years the United States has been involved in the world wars, according to the Tournament of Roses organization.

Q: How many letters does the president receive daily?— Stephen Smith, AtlantaA: President Barack Obama requested in his first week as president to see 10 letters from Americans every day. Mike Kelleher, director of the Office of Presidential Correspondence, said the president receives about 65,000 paper letters every week and about 100,000 e-mails, 1,000 faxes and 2,500 to 3,500 phone calls per day.

Q: How much does the head of the Georgia Lottery Corp. earn, including a bonus, as compared to other states?
 — S. Powell, Lilburn

A: Georgia Lottery Corp. president and CEO Margaret DeFrancisco received a $286,000 salary in 2009. She also received a $204,034 bonus, the AJC reported in November.

[The following was published Dec. 28, 2009, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: Whatever happened with the Louise Egan Brunstad case? I saw she was indicted, but did she ever have to face trial?— Joe Morr, Auburn, Ala.A: Brunstad’s case has not been scheduled for trial, according to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

[The following was published Dec. 27, 2009, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: Back in the early ’70s the drinking age had dropped to 18. When did that happen and how long did it stay 18 until it went back up to age 21? — Johnny Flowers, LilburnA: Georgia lowered the minimum legal drinking age to 18 in 1972.

[The following was published Dec. 25, 2009, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: Where did the Christmas tree originate? — Eddie Webster, DallasA: The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia, in 1510, according to the Chesterfield, Mo.-based National Christmas Tree Association.

[The following was published Dec. 24, 2009, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: I was married in August 1986 and rented Atlanta’s Academy of Medicine building on West Peachtree Street and 7th Street. Is the chandelier from “Gone With the Wind” still hanging in the building?— Frank Gonzales,
KennesawA: The Czechoslovakian chandelier used in “Gone With the Wind” hangs from the domed ceiling in the rotunda of the Historic Academy of Medicine building, which was designed by architect Philip Trammell Shutze and completed in 1941.

[The following was published Dec. 23, 2009 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: Atlanta’s yearly rainfall average is approximately 49 inches. Two years ago, Atlanta had the driest year on record at 31 inches. This year we already have about 67 inches of rain.

[The following was published Dec. 22, 2009, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.]Q: In last week’s AJC in the article about Warrick Dunn buying a minority share in the Falcons, it mentioned that there were seven owners of minority shares. Who are the others? — John Titus, Stone Mountain.

Q: When did centigrade become Celsius, and are they the same thing? 
— Steve Warren, AtlantaA: They are the same, said Glenn Burns, chief meteorologist for WSB-TV. It became Celsius in 1948 because centigrade, meaning 100 degrees, also was a unit of measurement in the French and Spanish languages.

Q: The recent 70th anniversary of the Atlanta movie premiere of “Gone With the Wind” reminded me that the emergency room at Grady Memorial Hospital used to be called the Margaret Mitchell Emergency Room. Who dropped the title and why?— Sam Newcom, AtlantaA: A plaque at the entrance to the old Grady SEC (Surgical Emergency Center) bore Mitchell’s name and was in memory of the author, who was brought to the SEC after the accident that caused her death, said Denise Simpson, a spokeswoman with Grady Health System.

Q: The federal government allows up to a $1,500 energy tax credit for homeowners for certain investments such as additional insulation or upgrading from single-pane to double- or triple-pane windows. Can a homeowner take a tax credit of $1,500 for tax year 2009 and an additional credit of $1,500 for tax year 2010, or is the $1,500 the maximum allowed for both years combined?— Jason Davis, LilburnA: The $1,500 federal tax credit is the maximum amount offered over a two-year period, for 2009 and 2010, according to the Energy Star program, a joint effort of the U.

Q: In the recent news of Falcons player Jonathan Babineaux’s arrest, one of the traffic violations was the window tinting on his vehicle. Georgia has a law regarding this, but are county-owned vehicles exempt from this law? Paulding County has many vehicles that cannot be seen into during the brightest midday sun.

Q: Does the Triple A baseball club for the Braves have a limited number of players on its roster? If so, does it have to release a player or send one to AA when the parent club sends a player to their team? — Bryant C. Mitchell, AtlantaA: The number of players on a Triple A roster is 38, the number of contracts that can be assigned during the offseason, said Bill Blackwell, assistant general manager-operations for the Gwinnett Braves.

Q: What is a provisional ballot and what criteria exist for issuing one?— Ursula Cox, CantonA: A provisional ballot may be issued for a number of reasons, said Matt Carrothers, spokesman for the Georgia secretary of state. Voters who do not present a photo ID in person; first-time absentee voters who do not provide a form of ID required by law; and voters who believe they are properly registered but who do not appear on the list of registered voters all may be given a provisional ballot.

Human trafficking is never an easy topic to discuss, particularly when it involves the sexual exploitation of children and women. But Meg Beyer, a senior at Agnes Scott College, will be spending the next few years studying ways to combat the crime. Beyer was one of two Georgia students recently awarded a coveted Marshall Scholarship, which annually gives a small number of American college students the opportunity to study at any university in the United Kingdom.

Q: Do city of Atlanta employees get the day off for city elections? I noticed my trash collectors came a day late during both the week of the November election and the runoff in early December.— Chris Coffee, AtlantaA: City employees did not receive the day off for the elections, and the days referred to in the question were not scheduled off days for the city’s solid waste services workers.

Q: The State Quarters program ended in 2008, but the U.S. Mint has been issuing quarters for the territories in 2009. However, we don’t seem to see very many in circulation. Why has the Mint cut back on the number of 2009 quarters distributed? — Richard H.

Q: Why are there so many newsstands in front of Woodruff Park? There are at least four on one block. Who owns them?— Brenda E. Jefferson, DecaturA: The newsstands are part of the new City of Atlanta Street Vending Program, a public-private partnership between the city and General Growth Properties.

Q: How many sets of Rockette dancers are there, since there are shows that go on in different cities at the same time?— Martha Hunt, HoschtonA: There are three sets each of about 22 Radio City Rockettes in the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” theatrical tour, one set of 18 in the national arena tour and two sets each of 36 dancers in New York, said Lauren Loeb, a spokeswoman for New York-based MSG Entertainment.

Q: You always see, in pictures or on TV, Mayor Shirley Franklin wearing her giant flower corsages. I was just wondering where she gets them from and if they are real. They are cool and unusual.—Anthony Lewis,
AtlantaA: Most of the flowers, which are worn on her right shoulder, are not real, said Beverly Isom, Franklin’s spokeswoman.

Q: Who are the members of Jekyll Island Authority and by whom were they appointed? Did the agreement choosing a developer and the financial terms require approval by the state Legislature and our governor?— John Sanford Foy, 
AtlantaA: The nine-member Jekyll Island Authority board of directors is appointed by the governor.

Q: I was wondering why they altered the route for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.—Marilyn Manecke, MabletonA: The parade’s new route bypassed Broadway for the first time in its 82-year history because of the new pedestrian plazas at Times Square and Herald Square, which are no longer open to traffic, including floats.

Q: What is the status of the investigation into the swastika painted on Rep. David Scott’s campaign headquarters sign?— James Doppelheuer, SnellvilleA: The investigation into the August incident outside the congressman’s Smyrna office is still under way, said David Johnson, Scott’s district director.

Q: What is the total cost to the city of Atlanta for the Macy’s Great Tree?—George Cannon,
CummingA: The city does not pay for the tree at Lenox Square. It is a gift from Macy’s, said Melissa Goff, the company’s vice president of media relations and cause marketing.

Q: How many years did each Uga serve as a Georgia mascot, and what was the won-loss record of each? — Herman L. Moore, DunwoodyA: Uga I served from 1956 to 1966 and was 53-48-6, according to University of Georgia Athletics records. Uga II served 1966-72 and was 42-16-3.

Q: After all the rain we have had over the last several weeks, how long will it take our saturated ground to return to a normal state? — David Stone, Powder SpringsA: We are now in the cool season recharge period when evaporation and plant water use is at a minimum, said state climatologist David Emory Stooksbury.

Q: As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a COBRA subsidy plan was enacted to reduce the COBRA premiums for up to nine months for unemployed workers laid off between September 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009. Has this subsidy plan been extended, or is there any discussion in Congress to do so?— Susan Wilkes, AtlantaA: A few bills introduced this fall propose an extension of the COBRA subsidy.

Q: In a recent AJC, there was a blurb that said a Civil War shipwreck was identified as the CSS Appomattox. What fame did it have prior to being the location where Grant and Lee met to end the Civil War to have a ship named after it?— Bob Sullivan, CantonA: The ship is probably named for the Appomattox River, a commercially important tributary of the James, well known to Virginians of the day, said Stephen Berry, an associate professor in the history department at the University of Georgia.

Q: What is the status of “cash for appliances” money for Georgia residents?— Karen Fuerst, AtlantaA: The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority applied in mid-October to the U.S. Department of Energy for the residential Energy Star appliance rebate program (Georgia will receive up to $9.

Q: Did police ever find the woman who was kidnapped from a MARTA bus last year?— Leah Young, East PointA: The incident happened in May 2008 near Snapfinger Woods Drive and Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb County. A man drove his car in front of a bus, forced it to the side of the road and pulled a woman off at gunpoint.

Q: Why was the Washington sniper John Allen Muhammad executed so quickly, when it takes some prisoners many more years before being executed?— Carolyn Sanders,
AtlantaA: The Christian Science Monitor reported that Muhammad’s 68 months between sentencing and execution was about half the typical duration for death-penalty cases.

Q: I believe I saw that there are 237 millionaire congressmen in office today. Is this true?— Martin Vaeth Sr.,
Walnut GroveA: The information was from the Center for Responsive Politics, which recently updated its report from 237 millionaires to 238 millionaires in Congress.

Q: How did Georgia members of the House of Representatives vote on the health care bill that passed the House?— Ben Shapiro, AtlantaA: Democratic Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, John Lewis, Hank Johnson and David Scott voted yes to the bill, which passed the House last week in a 220-215 vote.

Q: I thought companies could repossess property, like cars, without court orders only if it did not cause a breach of the peace. Wasn’t the owner’s initial protest when two men attempted to repossess a Mustang recently a breach of the peace? I am not excusing the use of excessive force, but aren’t there standards for repo men to follow?— Tom McFarland,
AmericusA: Creditors are allowed to repossess a vehicle at any time and without notice and are allowed to come onto your property, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Q: Who is the last military draftee still serving? 
—Ray Christian, LoganvilleA: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger, who was drafted on April 18, 1972, is believed to be the last active-duty draftee serving in the Army. “I’m a relic,” Mellinger told Time magazine earlier this year.

Q: Is it true that the world gains 250,000 people every day? If not, what is the net gain?— Don G. White, AtlantaA: It’s typically more than 200,000 a day. The International Program Center, part of the U.S. Census Bureau, estimated the world population to be 6,787,570,618 on Oct.

Q: There are Afghanistan, Pakistan and other "stans" in the area. What is the meaning or significance of "stan" in a country’s name?— Roy Graham,
 Sandy SpringsA: The suffix “Stan” is an ancient Persian word meaning country, nation or domain, said Islamic law expert Jack F.

Q: Why is there such a long delay of the closed captioning during live TV broadcasts? Surely voice recognition software or someone typing could keep up better than what we see. During the Falcons game, the delay was an average of 10 seconds.—Tom Cotton, SenoiaA: With pre-produced programs, closed captioning can be imbedded early.

Q: The mayor of Boston has been the mayor for 16 years and won another term Tuesday. In Atlanta and other cities, a person can only serve two terms. Why the huge differences in the states?— Robert Brooks, East PointA: Cities have charters, which are similar to constitutions and identify the structure of the municipal government, establish terms of office, define the distribution of power and name elected positions, said Michael Leo Owens, an associate professor in the Emory University department of political science.

Q: With all the rain we’ve had recently, why have North Georgia lakes Nottely and Blue Ridge remained so far below normal? — Jim Dillon, Atlanta

A: The Tennessee Valley Authority is currently drawing down the water on its reservoirs, including Nottely in North Georgia near the North Carolina border, and Blue Ridge, on the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest of North Georgia, to winter flood control levels by Jan.

Q: I just read an article about chickens being one of the largest exports in Georgia.Why can’t the countries these chickens are sent to grow their own chickens instead of exporting so many from the United States? — Bob Markert, Roswell

A: The U.S. exports chickens mainly because we produce more than we consume, said Scott Hansohn, manager of technical communications for the Stone Mountain-based USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.

Q: Was Omar Ismael (who died at the Habitat for Humanity construction site) from the Atlanta area, did he have family here, and has any fund been set up to help with expenses his family incurred? What is the status of the investigation? — Marian Lee, Senoia

A: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is continuing its investigation and has up to six months to complete it.

Q: When the Northwest Airline pilots overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles, how many minutes did that take? —Fran Jordan, NorcrossA: Flight 188 overflew Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 7:58 p.m. and landed at 9:05 p.

Q: The United States has hosted a fair share (no pun intended) of World’s Fairs (Expos), but I don’t think we’ve done so for many years. Do we have any plans to host any and, if not, why? — Dan Cowles, CummingA: The United States has hosted 17 World’s Fairs, with its last one in 1984 in New Orleans, according to the International Trade Administration.

Q: Did the Atlanta police officers get their health care services reinstated?— Robert Pittman,
CarrolltonA: The city has approved the workers’ compensation claims filed by the five officers who complained earlier this year of not receiving medical care or payments from the city after on-the-job injuries, said Sgt.

Q: I served in the U.S. Army Med Corps in the mid-70s at Fort McPherson. Will the (National Register of Historic Places) protection on the hospital and other buildings have any affect on the buildings?
— Dae Thompson, Marietta
A: The Georgia Historic Preservation Division, in its role as the State Historic Preservation Office, has been consulting for two years with the U.

Q: The photo caption at the bottom of A13 in the Oct. 21 AJC says that Beijing has the world’s largest airport. Is it bigger than the Atlanta airport?— George L. Kelly,
DunwoodyA: Beijing Capital International Airport’s new Terminal 3, which opened before the Olympic Games in 2008, is the world’s largest airport in size.

Q: There is legislation before Congress to protect older workers from discrimination. How many elected representatives have sponsored and co-sponsored this bill and how do their numbers line up according to political party? When is it expected to be brought to the floor for a vote? —Rose Trujillo, College ParkA: The three sponsors are Sen.

Q: What are the plans for the Fort McPherson property? Are there any plans to relocate any wildlife there? — Deborah Griffin, 
HiramA: The plans for the base, which is scheduled to close in 2011, include creating a bioscience park that will anchor economic development of the 487-acre facility, according to the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority.

Q: I read somewhere that the AARP was subsidized by the federal government. Is this true?—Bill Nabers, KennesawA: The AARP Foundation, the group’s charitable arm, receives federal funds. The largest: $87 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grant, which has been awarded for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Q: I read somewhere that the AARP was subsidized by the federal government. Is this true?
—Bill Nabers, Kennesaw
A: The AARP Foundation, the group's charitable arm, receives federal funds. The largest: $87 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grant, which has been awarded for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Q: Did Home Depot or Lowe’s retail stores sell any of the Chinese drywall now causing health, corrosion and insurance concerns?— Mary Jones, NorcrossA: Both home improvement stores have said their companies did not buy or sell drywall manufactured in China.

Q: With all the rain in metro Atlanta, I read several times about 100- and 500-year floods. How do meteorologists determine how often a major flood is likely to happen?— Frank Manfre,
GraysonA: The term 100-year flood does not mean that a flood should be expected only once in a lifetime or once every 100 years, said WSB Radio meteorologist Kirk Mellish.

Q: What is United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice’s background, education and ties to President Obama?— Marlise Landeck,
Sandy SpringsA: Rice served from February 2007 to November 2008 as senior adviser for national security affairs on the Obama for America Campaign.

Q: What was the cost to the American taxpayers for the Obamas’ trip to Copenhagen for Chicago’s appeal to the International Olympic Committee?—Maiburn Coffee, WoodstockA: The 14-hour trip to Copenhagen and back to the U.

Q: How does the church attendance of President Barack Obama compare to that of his immediate predecessor?— John Walker, DoravilleA: Obama has attended church twice in Washington since his inauguration — on Easter and on Oct.

Q: My question has to do with the tennis complex that hosted the 1996 Olympics. Who owns the stadium and what are the future plans for it? — Jim Crenshaw, AtlantaA: The Stone Mountain Tennis Center is owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.

Q: Why do I have to go through full security when I’m just going back home after an international flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport? It seems completely unnecessary to screen me when I’m only going home. The Delta video before landing also says (I think) that they only do this in Atlanta and Memphis, so if it’s really necessary, why is it only necessary in two airports? If it has to do with Terminal E being poorly designed, then please tell me that when the new international terminal is built they will be clever enough to figure out a way to fix it.

Q: Why have the lights on the “king” and “queen” buildings been green? They are usually pink for [the fight against] breast cancer and then go to white most of the time. Why green and why for so long?— Anita Mullins, MiltonA: The green lights on the Perimeter area towers are part of an effort to reduce unnecessary waste, said David Shope with Cousins Properties, which manages the Concourse Corporate Center.

Q: Who pays the expenses, including salaries, for the Georgia State Patrol officers and GBI agents at University of Georgia football games?— Sid Haggard, CovingtonA: The UGA Athletic Association pays all expenses, including salaries, for security at the games, which includes the Georgia State Patrol officers who accompany coach Mark Richt and GBI agents who provide additional police force needs.

Q: On I-85 between Atlanta and LaGrange, there is road construction both east and west for approximately 25 miles. Traffic is horrendous. In traveling in each direction, you might count a total of 20 or 25 construction workers on the westbound portion with a similar number on the east.

Q: Is the Sforza horse that will be on display at the High Museum as part of the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit the Nina Akamu casting that is on display at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., and the Ippodromo (horse racing stadium) in Milan, Italy?—Theresa Zeman, CantonA: The concept for the 26-foot statue depicting Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, on horseback, at the High is by Andrea Bernardoni.

Q: What is the actual percentage of annual U.S. healthcare costs that tort reform would address?— Jean Reber, DuluthA: The percentages vary, depending on the source, but the highest reported percentage is from a PricewaterhouseCoopers study that looked at wasteful spending in the health care system and found 10 percent of health costs are “attributed to too much care in the form of defensive medicine and associated legal costs.

Q: Concerning the tall tower steel poles along Dallas Highway, since they’ve been erected, why are pine poles still standing? Why can’t all the wiring be put on those poles? 
— Rosalie Smith, 
Powder SpringsA: The Georgia Department of Transportation usually requires a “single pole line” when Georgia Transmission Corp.

A: According to the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Faith in Action is taking items such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, sofas, dressers, microwaves, TVs, kitchen tables and chairs, mattresses and box springs that are gently used and in good working order.

Q: What’s the story behind the multicolored lights on the beautiful new 14th Street bridge?— Lawson Young,
 NorcrossA: The multicolored lights are required by the manufacturers for warranty purposes to run in that pattern for at least 30 days from the early September re-opening of the Atlanta bridge, says Brian Smith, project manager of economic development for the Midtown Alliance.

Q: What is the Georgia State Patrol policy on issuing tickets to the person at fault in an accident? Is a ticket automatic or at the investigating officers’ discretion?— E.D. Payton Jr., MariettaA: It is up to the discretion of the officer, said Lt.

Q: We’ve had a lot of rain during the spring and summer. What effect will this have on autumn foliage in North Georgia?— Scott MacLean,
Forest ParkA: Wetter weather conditions, compared to past dry years, could result in the leaves remaining on the trees anywhere from a few days to a week longer, said Mitch Cohen, information specialist with the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

Q: Why isn’t Lake Lanier rising faster after all this rain?— David Magee, AtlantaA: Several readers sent in questions about Lake Lanier’s water levels, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Lisa Coghlan explained how the recent heavy rain affects the lake.

Q: Does Georgia require drivers to turn on their lights when it is raining and visibility is really low?—Pavittar Safir, RoswellA: State law requires every vehicle on public roads to display lights, including headlights, when it is raining and when there isn’t sufficient visibility to see people and vehicles at least 500 feet ahead.

Q: Why do weather forecasts no longer include current and predicted relative humidity? It makes such a difference in how we perceive heat.— Karen LaBarr,
Johns CreekA: Discussing current humidity used to be common in weather reports, said meteorologist Kirk Mellish.

Q: Why is there a long delay in the broadcast of sporting events (including Georgia Tech’s season opener), meaning that the live action precedes the broadcast by 20 to 30 seconds?— Mark Lancaster, DecaturA: In normal circumstances, a true radio signal is fairly immediate, but things change with satellite, said Athens’ Christopher Byrne, publisher of eyeonsportsmedia.

Q: When a criminal is sentenced to two life sentences, why is one life sentence not enough?— Jack Findlan, DecaturA: In general, people are sentenced on every count for which the court has lawful authority to sentence them, said Kay Levine, associate professor at Emory Law School.

Q: In Fulton County a judge is deciding whether a developer can move the graves in a cemetery he bought after a lien was placed on the cemetery for nonpayment of taxes. Are cemeteries taxed?— Betty Stephens, 
MonroeA: Places of human burial are exempt from property taxes, according to Georgia law.

Q: The AJC recently reported that the unemployment rate in Georgia had reached 10.3 percent. Which county has the highest percent of unemployment?— Ann MacLean, Ball GroundA: Jenkins County in southeast Georgia posted the highest unemployment rate in July, at 21.

Q: When a football game is not sold out, the game is blacked out in the home team’s viewing area. But when a baseball game is not sold out, it is still televised. Why the double standard?— Andy Sims,
DouglasvilleA: It is a matter of simple economics and should not be viewed as a double standard, said Athens’ Christopher Byrne, publisher of eyeonsportsmedia.

Q: Who checks the water at Lake Lanier for contamination?— Barbara Turner, 
NewnanA: The Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Branch monitors Lake Lanier and five other lakes once a month from April through October, said Kevin Chambers, a spokesman for the Georgia EPD.

Q: Is there a law against our prisoners working? Our highways and secondary roads are horrible with trash and high grass. What’s the problem? 
— Bob Collins, East PointA: Prison work details, which include trash collection, are arranged between each facility and the local county, city or departments of transportation.

Q: Is it legal for a policeman to run your tag for no reason?— Tamara Plummer,
AtlantaA: Yes. License plates are not covered by the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, said Caren Morrison, a former federal prosecutor and assistant professor in Georgia State University’s School of Law.

Q: What accommodations are made for the days of schooling missed by the participants of the Little League World Series?— Paul White,
Stone MountainA: The players on Warner Robins’ girls and boys teams who attend Houston County schools chose not to enroll until they returned from the competition, said Beth McLaughlin, director of community and school affairs for the school system.

Q: I have noticed that the last couple months the Weather Channel puts the rainfall amount, and then a day or two later, subtracts the monthly totals. Why are they doing this?— Kris Holt, CummingA: The Weather Channel makes an immediate estimate of hourly, daily, monthly and yearly rainfall, which is updated every 20 minutes, for about 2 million points in the U.

Q: A recent article about dogfighting in Talbot County made me wonder: Why would an investigative firm in Atlanta be staking out a dogfighting operation in Talbot County? Who paid the firm for their effort?— Jay Brower, AtlantaA: The investigation by Atlanta-based Norred & Associates was paid by the privately held firm owned by Greg Norred.