Q. A friend of mine who runs a store said the Georgia Lottery quit paying retailers bonuses on jackpots, and even cut out the 2 percent they used to get for cashing in lower-paying winning tickets. Is this true? — Phillip Keeney, Marietta
A. Georgia legislators this year passed a bill regarding how the Georgia Lottery can compensate its retailers. H.B. 326, which overhauled the HOPE Scholarship program, set retailers' commission at 6 percent of gross sales, down from 7 percent. The bill says other forms of incentive compensation may be provided beginning on July 1, 2014, if Lottery for Education Account deposits exceed $1 billion the previous fiscal year, or prior to July 1, 2016, if authorized by the governor.
Q. During President Obama's recent visit to England, were his two children afforded the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth? -- Richard E. Taylor, Mililani, Hawaii
A. The president's daughters did not accompany their parents to Europe this time. But in comments to the queen during a state dinner, Obama recalled the June 2009 trip to London in which Sasha and Malia toured sights such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, and received a guided tour of Buckingham Palace that included a meeting with the queen, according to CBSNews.com and Reuters. Obama addressed the queen with greetings from his daughters, saying the girls "adored you even before you let them ride on a carriage on the palace grounds," it was reported.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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