Q&A on the News

Q: What clogged the storm drains on the Downtown Connector?

—Ned Brooks, Lilburn

A: A variety of trash, including yard signs, and tree limbs clogged drains on the Connector, contributing to the flooding that shut it down on May 31.

The Georgia Department of Transportation said strong winds accompanied the storm, which blew down debris that was swept into the drains by heavy rain.

Both sides of the Connector were closed near Exit 249B.

A GDOT spokesperson said the drains are cleaned once a week. They had been cleaned on Thursday before the Sunday storms.

“This was localized flooding that overwhelmed the systems,” a GDOT spokesperson said in a statement. “This was an extremely strong system that dumped somewhere between 2-4 (inches of rain) very quickly in a concentrated area.”

The Connector was closed for about 40 minutes.

Q: We are watchers of CBS46 news. Stephany Fisher has disappeared from the 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. Can you find out what happened to her?

—Janet Sims, Marietta

A: Fisher is leaving CBS46 when her contract is up at the end of June and she hasn't appeared on-air since June 3, the AJC reported last week.

Fisher has been with the station since 2003 after previously working in Yakima, Wash. (1992-94), Greenville, S.C. (1994-2000), and Portland (2000-03).

She is no longer on the CBS46’s “Meet the Staff” page and recently changed her Twitter handle from @fishercbs46 to @stephanylfisher.

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).