Q: Why was Matt Sandusky adopted by Jerry and Dottie Sandusky at the age of 18, a fairly late age for someone to be adopted? Why did his birth mother, who said in a TV interview that she suspected Matt was being sexually molested, give up her parental rights or custody? The interviewer didn't ask her that.
—Michelle Hutchinson, Marietta
A: Debra Long, Matt Sandusky's birth mother, never gave up her parental rights, so her son couldn't be adopted until he became an adult at 18, Sara Ganim of The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News told Q&A on the News in an email. "It was purely ceremonial, so (Matt) could take their name," wrote Ganim, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of the scandal. Matt had lived with the Sanduskys, who have five other adopted children, and said he was sexually abused by Jerry Sandusky between the ages of 8 and 15.
Q: What determines who gets the new Georgia license plates? Some who renewed recently did not. Is it just new cars?
—Martha Hunt, Hoschton
A: License plates issued prior to Dec. 1, 2003, are being replaced when owners renew their vehicle registration or when they register a vehicle for the first time. License plates issued after Dec. 1, 2003 are not being replaced, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. "Peach State" replaced the phrase "Georgia ... on my mind" on the new tags.
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).
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