The Texas House of Representatives voted to give initial approval to a $1 billion program that will see taxpayer money fund private school fees, a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott and one he says will improve choice for parents and children.

Under the bill, if a family sends their child to an accredited private school, they will receive a voucher worth $10,000 per year, rising to $11,500 if the student has a disability.

The bill was approved by 86-63, with all present Democrats voting against, arguing that it will take vital money from public education. Just two Republicans joined them.

President Donald Trump had called Republican legislators in Texas before the vote, urging them to vote for the “forward-thinking” reform.

It comes as the Trump Administration moves to shutter the federal Department for Education in order to pass responsibility entirely back to the states.

The private school voucher program faces one final vote for approval in the state House before it moves back to the Senate, where it started. Both chambers will then reconcile certain differences before it goes to Abbott, the Texas Tribune reported.

“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature,” said Abbott, a Republican, in a statement.

“This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children.”

Abbott vowed to “swiftly sign this bill into law” when it hits his desk, “creating the largest day-one school choice program in the nation and putting Texas on a pathway to becoming the best state in America for educating our kids.”

Austin Democrat Rep. Gina Hinojosa said she felt “cursed by this bill,” which will be “the interest of big money prevailing over the interests of Texans,” the Austin American-Statesman reported.

After Trump called Republican legislators, Abbott shared a video of the moment on X.

“Texas, I love it, it’s a great state. It’s leading because of a lot of the things that we’ve done together. Leading in energy, leading in jobs, and now we’re going to be leading in education too,” Trump said on the call.

“I just think it’s a really forward-thinking vote…I just want to let you know that I appreciate it…This is a big vote today and I hope you’re able to vote in a positive manner.”

This is a developing story and more information will be added shortly.

The Texas Rangers returned home after a 1-5 road trip and without one of their key sluggers in the lineup.

It’s possible he could be back as soon as this weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Outfielder Wyatt Langford is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list on Saturday from a right oblique strain. On Tuesday, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters, including MLB.com, that Langford would swing a bat before the game with the Los Angeles Angels.

It sounds like a mundane step, but it’s a necessary one for Langford to be activated this weekend. The next step in situations like this is to hit a ball off a tee, followed by live batting practice.

Langford’s progress through those tasks — the schedule of which is to be announced — would like him up for a return to the lineup. Bochy didn’t commit to exactly when Langford would return, but he’s optimistic it could come against the defending World Series champions.

If the Rangers wanted Langford to get some rehab at-bats before he’s activated, he could go across the Metroplex and play for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, who are hosting Amarillo this week.

Langford left last Tuesday’s game in Chicago against the Cubs in the seventh inning. The injury came after Langford’s last plate appearance, which saw him strike out swinging.

Before he left the contest, he was in the middle of a great game, as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He blasted his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot, in that contest.

At the time, Bochy said that Langford “felt something” during that final at-bat. He got a scan of the side the day after, which is when the Rangers placed him on the IL.

Langford told reporters after that game that he felt the tightness was “very minor” and not like the oblique injury he dealt with during spring training.

Without Langford, the Rangers have started either Josh Smith or Kevin Pillar in left field.

Langford started the first 12 games of the season, and he slashed .244/.333/.561 with four home runs and six RBI.

He started slowly as a rookie in 2024 but finished slashing .253/.325/.415 with 16 home runs and 74 RBI. He finished seventh in American League rookie of the year voting. He’s started slowly this year two and in his first 10 games slashed .235/.325/.500 with three home runs and five RBI.

He was a polished hitter at Florida when the Rangers selected him No. 4 overall in the 2023 MLB draft and he played just 44 minor league games before he was called up to the Majors.

AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns have a kicking competition on their hands this spring, something that’s likely to continue into the fall.

With the struggles that Bert Auburn had at the end of last season, Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff clearly isn’t sold on him as the starting place kicker for 2025 and are giving Will Stone — who handled kickoff duties — a shot at proving himself.

“From a kicking standpoint, trying to find that right rhythm of consistency when you when you have a competition going on, the protection is as important as even just the kick,” Sarkisian said Monday when speaking to the media. “And so trying to work on that, and that’ll be a big emphasis of ours as we continue to move forward.”

Sarkisian added that the team still hasn’t “done enough” quite yet to come to a decision on if Auburn or Stone will be the starting place kicker. With Texas still having to complete spring practice along with summer workouts and fall camp, it could be awhile until Longhorn fans have an answer.

“We haven’t done enough. I think we’ll start to really ramp it up here Wednesday,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve done it, we’ve done some, but now we’ve got to really start to ramp this thing up, to get a real gage on what it looks like.”

Auburn, who is the program’s all-time leader in made field goals (66), has been Texas’ starting kicker the past three seasons. However, he lost the starting job ahead of the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Ohio State after missing two field goals in the CFP quarters against Arizona State. He finished the 2024 campaign 16 of 25 on field goals, with six of those misses coming in the final five games of the season.

The Longhorns didn’t attempt a field goal against the Buckeyes but Stone knocked in both extra points for Texas in the 28-14 loss at the Cotton Bowl while Auburn sat the bench.

Regardless of who wins the position battle, they’ll have a major spotlight to step into when Texas opens up the regular season on Aug. 30 against Ohio State in Columbus.