QUESTION: The medical establishment has made so many operations almost routine now and we patients don't usually know what it costs. What is the total cost of a knee, hip operation or organ transplant?

QUESTION: I live in an area where recycling isn't available. I have quite a bunch of recyclables I need to dispose of. I'd like to take it somewhere where it won't sit outside, because paper that gets wet can't be recycled. 

QUESTION: I thought Judson Road was supposed to be re-opened to traffic by now where the city is building a new trail. When is it going to open?

QUESTION: I've noticed one thing a lot of school districts do and somebody told me it's against Texas Department of Transportation rules: Kids sit three to a seat. That's fine for elementary schools. What happens when middle, junior high and high school students are sitting three to a seat? The third child is hanging out in the aisle. I've heard they're not supposed to block the aisle. Why do school systems let that happen? Why do school systems get away with that when they know they're not supposed to be blocking the aisles?

QUESTION: Would you do some research on it and see if there’s a phone number to contact the IRS? We have not gotten a stimulus payment. I don’t know if it’s running late or what.

QUESTION: I have become overrun with plastic shopping bags since I haven’t been able to use my own bags in many stores during the pandemic. I can always use a few of these, but now that Longview no longer recycles them, I’d like some suggestions on what to do other than putting the rest in t…

QUESTION: My question is, have they decided not to give us a Braum’s in Longivew? I haven’t seen anything in the news or heard about it lately.

QUESTION: I saw the February story in the News-Journal about how ongoing electric regulation in this area helped prevent the electricity disaster that occurred in much of the rest of the unregulated portions of the state, where people can choose their electric provider.

QUESTION: I was reading an article in the April 1 edition of the newspaper about someone pleading guilty to drug trafficking before a U.S. magistrate judge. I’m not familiar with that term. What is a U.S. magistrate judge?

QUESTION: I heard a Starbucks might locate on Gilmer Road near locally owned coffee shops. Is this true? Why is this being allowed?

QUESTION: With all the incidents coming to light about all the sexual abuse situations, where or who would one contact to let them know they were abused by a person of higher power? Is there a statute? It's something that happened in my early 20s, some 37 years ago, but I still feel shame from it, and I just would like "someone" to know that this highly respected person was also a sexual predator.

QUESTION: Baker Road near Kilgore is in terrible shape. How can we get the county to do something about it?

QUESTION: I noticed after the big snow and freeze we had that many pine trees now have brownish needles toward the top. Is that from the weather? Are they going to be OK?

QUESTION: With all the talk, again, about Texit, I have seen nothing addressing Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, or any of the other programs that affect a large number of Texans.

QUESTION: Please, what will ever be done to eliminate the eyesore in the 1000 block of Pine Tree Road in Longview? The building has been empty for years and is deteriorating. Who is responsible?

QUESTION: I read in the Longview News-Journal this morning that Gregg County was resuming jury duty this month. After reading the article, I would like to know if a potential jurist can decline to sit on a jury if that person does not want to be around other people during this pandemic?

QUESTION: Please name all the members of the Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors and how much they are paid. How are these board members selected?

QUESTION: Please name all the members of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and how much are they paid. How are these board members selected?

Editor’s note: Answer Line was on assignment this week. Look for new questions and answers next week. In the meantime, enjoy this best-of column from 2018:

QUESTION: I have a question about the use of ATVs/UTVs on public roads. I believe the Longview Police Department statements quoted recently in the News-Journal are incorrect.

QUESTION: Does the cold, cold, cold freezing weather help kill germs, and particularly the COVID-19 virus?

QUESTION: McWhorter Park in the Pine Tree area off Loop 281 — the speed limit there is 40 mph. This is where all the baseball parks are located that are really busy during the spring and early summer. Now I realize that there is probably no real possibility that anyone could drive at 40 mph …

QUESTION: On top of the VeraBank in downtown Longview, they’ve got the two flags up there on top of the building, but the Texas flag has not been flying for several weeks. I was just wondering why the Texas flag was taken down? It’s a beautiful sight to see those two flags flying.

QUESTION: I’m trying to get the vaccine for COVID-19. They re-opened appointments on Friday, Feb. 5. I tried all morning and could never get an appointment.

QUESTION: I drive down Eastman Road at least once a week. As I pass Forest Park Middle School, there is a marked school zone. After you cross Highway 80, the Montessori school has no school zone posted. The same as you pass Hudson PEP Elementary. My question is why are these last two areas n…

QUESTION: In 2020, the city of Longview delayed burying the sesquicentennial time capsule because of COVID-19. Can you provide an update on when it will be buried?

QUESTION: When is construction on the new Hawkins Parkway/Institute for Healthy Living traffic signal going to start? Has there been a delay? The News-Journal reported in October that construction would start this month.

QUESTION: Several days ago, I had a small kitten that came to my yard for a few days. I called the animal control line. It was off duty when I called, and the lady assured me she would try to find someone to get that cat that day. I called the day it was open and asked them about it. They to…

QUESTION: A friend of mine whose son works for Lindale ISD said the school district received COVID vaccines and he was vaccinated. Does this fall into the guidelines of the people who are supposed to be receiving vaccines in the first tier? I thought it was just first responders and people o…

QUESTION: Considering the pandemic, will there still be tax help available through AARP and the Greater Longview United Way this year?

QUESTION: I currently live in an apartment community in north Longview. I and other people living in the complex have had some run-ins with foxes that live in the woods near our community. One barked at me once, and another ran at me when I was walking my dog. Is there something that can be done about this?

QUESTION: When I looked online, I saw that the Wichita, Tawakoni, Kitsai and Caddo Indians had once settled in the East Texas area. There was no mention of the Cherokee Indians. I know that there are lakes named after regional Indian tribes. Why was the name Cherokee selected for Lake Cherokee? Who named it?

QUESTION: Although I find their timing very suspect considering the soon-to-arrive Sparklight network, after seeing the Longview Cable full page ad in the Sunday paper touting the upcoming plans to make Longview a “Gig City” in 2021 — can you find out what the price to the consumer will be t…

QUESTION: In March, there was a story about a Marion County man who was arrested in Florida because he was wanted in connection with a murder here in Texas. My question is, how are people transferred around the United States when they're wanted for court action such as this?

Editor’s note: Answer Line was on assignment this week. Look for new questions and answers next week. In the meantime, enjoy this best-of column from Q&A’s from 2014:

ANSWER LINE NOTE: I have made some of the sweetest friends over the years through Answer Line. Some of you I never get to meet, so I’m so happy that in January 2019 I got to meet faithful Answer Line reader Carole Chapel.

QUESTION: If someone had COVID about six months ago, do they need to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

ANSWER LINE NOTE: Answer Line has asked Pine Tree, Hallsville, Spring and Longview ISDs to respond to a question about air ventilation and circulation and other steps the campuses are taking to help control the spread of COVID-19. Pine Tree has responded so far this week. I hope to hear from…

QUESTION: Is it true that parallel parking is still part of the required driving test? I heard that it was, but I’m not sure I believe that it is.

A GRIPE FROM A READER: Although you do a great job answering questions in a thorough manner, you should avoid publishing advice such as wearing of masks as in your Saturday byline. There are studies claiming a mask prevents COVID-19 but there are also several studies that found masks do not …

QUESTION: I have possibly missed a Business Beat or Answer Line column. My bad. I was on the loop for the first time in months. What happened to Casa Ole? The sign now says Don Benito’s.

QUESTION: What moved into what was originally the Neighbors freestanding emergency room at Gilmer Road and Loop 281?

QUESTION: The (COVID-19) vaccine is supposed to be stored at 90 degrees below zero. Does East Texas have the facilities to handle this vaccine? If not, will we have to travel to get the vaccine?

Happy Thanksgiving. It’s an Answer Line tradition to take a break today from our usual questions and wish you a day filled with the best pecan pie, cranberry sauce, mac and cheese and smoked turkey there is. May all your rolls be soft and buttery today.

QUESTION: On Oct. 20, 1976, I went to see the Carpenters at Longview high school auditorium. This was a very big deal, and I was curious to know how it came to be that they picked Longview and who arranged this concert to happen. Did the Carpenters stay overnight in Longview? Who from Longvi…