Latest Stories By W. Gardner Selby

A poll shows Ted Cruz barely still the favorite of Texas Republicans considering presidential prospects--with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker close behind (within the poll's margin of error).

Poll results oft change. But Truth-O-Meter report cards just get longer. Walker has been fact-checked more than Cruz; he  also has more Pants on Fire ratings. More ahead...

Source: News story, "UT/TT Poll: In Texas, Walker Ties Cruz; Clinton Soaring," the Texas Tribune, Feb. 23, 2015

For the first time, a legally-permitted gay marriage ceremony took place in Texas today, though that legality is under challenge by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as we type.

We're sharing the Austin American-Statesman's exclusive video of the Austin ceremony here as we recap Truth-O-Meter rulings on statements about marriage.

Greg Abbott’s first State of the State address included claims we’ve found factually strong -- plus statements about job gains, education and state workers in Texas, California and Illinois that we haven’t tackled.

Highlights ahead.

Did you know? Gov. Abbott, who gave his first State-of-the-State address Tuesday, took office after making about 50 campaign promises.

In his speech, Abbott touched on several of his promises -- which may cause the Abbott-O-Meter to show some movement in his favor (we've got fresh mulling ahead). Read all about his speech on statesman.com. Perhaps you noticed a claim we should fact-check!

SKIP AHEAD TO ALL OF ABBOTT'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES.

Alcee Hastings, the Florida congressman who declared Texas a "crazy" state, went on to say the Lone Star state has a law barring bears from being shot from second-floor windows, or words to that effect.

Not at all. Pants on Fire ahead!

ALSO: See PolitiFact Florida's look into whether Texas restricts the number of dildos a person may purchase.

Molly White was right about a country naming the group that organized a Muslim day at the Texas Capitol a terrorist organization.

But the Belton Republican failed to say the U.S. government disagreed with the designation.

ALSO: California, here we come -- PolitiFact California!

Greg Abbott’s fresh mention of Barack Obama made us wonder.

Nearly seven years ago, did candidate Obama promise Texas a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley?

A Muslim rally shouted down in Texas reminded us of our past check of a claim about Shariah law being imposed in a Michigan community.

See that 2011 fact check here.

PolitiFact considers claims around the Super Bowl--including whether sex trafficking steps up this time every year.

And Texan John Cornyn figures into two fresh fact checks.

A reader urged us to check John Cornyn's recent claim about jobs created since the Texas leg of the Keystone XL pipeline began flowing oil.

Cornyn, turns out, was referring to construction jobs that no longer exist.

Gov. Greg Abbott didn't list his campaign promises in his inaugural address.

But we compiled nearly 100 of his promises in the new Abbott-O-Meter.

See the Abbott-O-Meter.

City Hall reporters for the Austin American-Statesman have helped us launch a meter to track progress on Austin Mayor Steve Adler's campaign promises -- all of them yet to be rated.