Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman
John Bridges is the managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman. An American-Statesman employee for more than 20 years, he previously served as the newspaper's senior editor for local and state news, national editor, news editor, metro editor and sports editor. His duties include oversight of PolitiFact Texas.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from John Bridges
Says that when the Rolling Stones performed in an Austin park, they paid $25,000 to the nearby city of Rollingwood "for one night of inconvenience."
Says less than half of 1 percent of all the Texas legislators who ever served draw "a benefit" from pensions tied to the salaries of state district judges.
Says Texas lawmakers agreed to cut state's rainy day fund in half, spending "$4 billion from current $8 billion."
Says that in Texas, Republican nominees "get 40 percent of the Latino vote on average."
"We have one charter school that for seven years has been rated unacceptable."
Says it's "estimated that 300 babies a year are sent home from the hospital with an unrecognized congenital heart defect; it is the most common birth defect in America."
Says Texas high school graduates must pass Algebra II to be eligible for automatic admission to state's public universities.
Says that according to a report, "the tech sector now drives more than one-quarter of Austin’s economy."
Recent stories from John Bridges
Rolling Stones claim starts up Texas Truth-O-MeterDid $25,000 flow to the burg of Rollingwood for the inconvenience of a nearby Rolling Stones concert? Like sugar.
Mailbag: ‘Your journalism professors would be so proud of you’Readers blast. We share. It’s mailbag time.
Were two-thirds of groups targeted by IRS not conservative?After the IRS’s admission that it improperly targeted conservative groups, Progress Texas said two thirds of the scrutinized groups were not conservatives. That's unknown and unlikely, we concluded, making for smoke.
Rick Perry pitch touches on fact-checked claimsPerry’s fresh pitch-and-woo for businesses to move to Texas touches on established claims about jobs and people heading our way. The Truth-O-Meter rated the claims Mostly True to False.
Legislated spending of up to $4 billion not expected to halve Texas rainy day fundA small-government advocate says Texas legislators agreed to cut the state’s rainy day fund by half. That’s incorrect.
If you vote in Austin primaries, you probably request a Democratic ballotA Republican analyst's tweet led us to learn that 7 in 10 Austin voters in party primaries exclusively fill out the Democratic Party's ballot.
Rick Perry’s count of $10,000 college degreesRick Perry touted 13 Texas institutions offering $10,000 college degrees. We wondered.
El Paso "safest" large city in US? Hold fireEl Paso's county judge said the city is the safest burg of its size in the country. That sounded familiar--and flawed.
Susan Combs knows the Truth-O-MeterSusan Combs knows the Truth-O-Meter. That’s not so for all the prospective contenders to succeed her.
PolitiFact Texas marks two years on Austin's KUT FMOnce a week for two years, Austin's KUT News has talked through one of our fact checks. Cake time? Kind of.
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