AUSTIN, Texas — State education leaders recently proposed elementary school materials infused with Bible teachings. Critics say it’s another attempt by Texas Republicans to put more Christianity in public schools.
What You Need To Know
State Board of Education members are deciding on what type of curriculum to approve for elementary school students
There are around 10 sets of materials for the board to review, but the Open Education Resource textbooks created by the Texas Education Agency have raised red flags from some board members
One concerned grandparent says the materials violate separation of church and state and worries students will be heavily influenced by the Christian church
All districts will receive $40 per student for choosing the curriculum from the approved list
State Board of Education members are deciding on what type of curriculum to approve for elementary school students. There are around 10 sets of materials for the board to review, but the Open Education Resource textbooks created by the Texas Education Agency have raised red flags from some board members.
“That’s when all of the stuff started getting introduced with the biblical references,” Aicha Davis, a State Board of Education member, said.
One of the Christian biblical references found in the state’s work has fifth-graders reading “sections from the Book of Daniel to better understand Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s reference to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’”
“It doesn’t really talk about the things that King was experiencing and his different aspects of why the letter was necessary,” said Davis.
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The state-developed materials also include instructions for first-graders to recognize the connection of the Christian biblical story of Moses to the Liberty Bell. A religious scholar who reviewed the material for the state says the infusion of religion provides context about American history.
“These stories are as fairly presented in terms of the biblical content as stories that we present on Greek mythology, on the Mayan and Central American religious heritage,” said Dr. Marvin McNeese Jr., chair of the Department of General Education at College of Biblical Studies.
There is also no expectation for teachers to be religious experts.
“If they stick to the script, then we’re going to be on safe ground here,” said McNeese.
One concerned grandparent says the materials violate separation of church and state and worries students will be heavily influenced by the Christian church.
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“I think this could easily lead students to believe that only a religion labeled as Christian is the best and the most important one in the world. And that kind of messaging does not belong in our public schools,” said Robert Norris with Grandparents for Public Schools.
It’s ultimately up to local school districts to adopt the curriculum. There is concern about the incentive that the state’s curriculum is free.
“America was also founded on other things, right, but at least the Bible is part of the founding of America,” Staci Childs, a State Board of Education member, said.
All districts will receive $40 per student for choosing the curriculum from the approved list. If they select the Texas Education Agency materials, they will get an additional $20 per student to cover the cost of printing. The board will approve its final list of reviewed instructional materials in November.
Accident or crime scene cordon tape, police line do not cross. via Getty Images
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – A juvenile has been arrested Saturday after an early morning double-homicide near Round Rock.
The situation ended after officials successfully negotiated a barricade situation with the minor, they say.
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Williamson County double-homicide
What we know:
Williamson County authorities got the shooting call around 2 a.m. from the 8900 block of Brushy Gate Cove, outside the Round Rock city limits.
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Williamson County sheriff’s deputies found two men dead of gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect was barricaded inside a bedroom in the home.
Williamson County SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, and the suspect peacefully surrendered around 6:30 a.m.
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Officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Williamson County officials comment
What they’re saying:
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“On our arrival, we found two deceased people from the residence, adult males,” said Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Anytime you have a barricaded subject inside of a home where we believe two people are deceased, you know, we’re going to take all precautionary measures that we can to ensure our safety and the safety of the neighbors as well,” said Foster.
Investigators say everyone involved resided in the house and that this was an isolated incident.
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“Information is going to be very limited, because this is a juvenile investigation, and certain laws protect certain information regarding juveniles,” said Foster.
What we don’t know:
The identity of the minor suspect has not been released.
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The victims were not identified.
The motive behind the shooting has not been commented on.
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The Source: Information in this article came from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Samsung is taking steps to provide Apple with image sensors built with advanced technology for iPhones. Reportedly, the sensors for the iPhone will be manufactured in Samsung’s current Austin, Texas facility, and the company is anticipated to soon have production equipment installed for the upcoming project.
The image sensor of the iPhone is expected to have a three-stack design for better low-light performance and a higher density of pixels with multiple layers stacked vertically. This results in less power consumption, a dynamic range that’s higher, and faster speeds for readouts.
It’s believed that the new sensor will be made for the upcoming iPhone 18 in 2027. Apple and Samsung have reportedly arrived at a deal where Samsung will be supplying the component for the sensor. This marks the first occasion Apple will be going with another company apart from Sony as their main supplier for image sensors for its iPhones.
Texas football has lost its fair share of players to the NFL draft and transfer portal over the past few weeks, dwindling the roster. Despite the loss of a few big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe and others, the Longhorns have held onto star quarterback Arch Manning.
While it was unlikely that Manning would enter the portal, there was some hype surrounding the possibility of the first-year starter entering the NFL Draft. Why did the young star decide to forego the pros? According to Manning, his journey at Texas isn’t quite finished.
Manning Wants to Continue His Development With Texas
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Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning keeps the ball and runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas’s Evan Vieth. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”
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Manning didn’t quite have the season that most fans and analysts envisioned for him, struggling at the start of the year. Despite these struggles, Manning went on to improve throughout the regular season, demonstrating why he is one of the nation’s top quarterback talents.
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At the start of the season, Manning’s accuracy and timing were a bit off. The offense as a whole seemed out of sync, and Texas was not looking like the powerhouse that was promised heading into the season.
Eventually, though, Manning found his stride, and more than just improving his stats, the Longhorn quarterback looked more comfortable. Eventually, the stat sheet reflected his improvements, posting 1,625 passing yards over the last six games of the season, alongside 16 total touchdowns.
Now, returning to Texas for what will likely be his last year in college before departing for the NFL, next season should be an exciting one for the Longhorns. Not only is Manning more experienced as the team’s top quarterback, but the wide receiving core will have developed as well.
Texas wide receivers had their struggles with drops this season, but showed improvements at some points throughout the year.
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Though it may be difficult to abstain from declaring for the draft, ultimately Manning made perhaps the best decision for his career and development. With another year to grow, by the time he enters the NFL, Manning will be much more experienced and likely better prepared.
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Manning will have one more chance to take the field this season in the upcoming Citrus Bowl, where Texas will take on the Michigan Wolverines on December 31.
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