Q: My father was born in 1918 in Chicago. He told me a story that, during his youth, the mob killed a newspaper reporter. The whole city of Chicago turned out for the funeral, leading to a public outcry against mob activity. Is the story true?

- S.D.L., Paducah, Ky.

A: It's true. On June 9, 1930, Alfred "Jake" Lingle Jr., a 38-year-old reporter for the Chicago Tribune, was murdered near a train station. A big state funeral with bands and military representation treated Lingle as a genuine hero. In time, his reputation became tarnished. Fervently involved in mob activity, Lingle lived a plush life way beyond the means of a newspaperman. His unsolved murder is a cold case; it still is on the books.

Q: What can you tell me about movie and TV star Eric Fleming of "Rawhide" fame?

- G.L.D., Mount Carmel, Pa.

A: Born Edward Heddy on July 4, 1925, in Santa Paula, Calif., Fleming said his father used any excuse to severely beat the youngster. At the age of 8, he hopped a freight train to Chicago and learned the way of the streets, often living on the wrong side of the law. Severely hurt in a gunfight, he returned home to his mother in California around 1936.

He later joined the Merchant Marines and then the U.S Navy SeaBees, becoming a master carpenter. Because of his tall, muscular build, recruiters believed him to be much older than his actual age. At 17, a block of steel shattered his face in a foundry accident in Seattle. Several surgeries later, a new and handsome future entertainment star emerged. In 1966, his canoe overturned and he drowned during the filming of the movie "High Jungle" in Peru.

Q: Last year, Jim Lehrer of "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" was absent for several months. When he returned, it was on a part-time basis. What happened?

- V.C., San Pedro, Calif.

A: Lehrer underwent heart-valve surgery in April 2008. Ray Suarez anchored the show during the recuperation period. Lehrer returned to work in June 2008.