Texas

North Texas school holds mock mini-conclave ahead of the election of a new pope in Rome

Published

8 months ago

May 6, 2025

North Texas school holds mock mini-conclave ahead of the election of a new pope in Rome

The Papal Conclave begins Wednesday in Rome, but on Tuesday, some North Texas school kids got a hands-on lesson on what will be happening at the Vatican.

Mary Immaculate Catholic School in Farmers Branch held a mock conclave Tuesday morning, where they elected their very own pope.

It’s been 12 years since the last Papal Conclave, so for most of the students at Mary Immaculate, what’s happening in Rome is a first for them.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for the children to actually experience the election of a new pope,” said Father Alphonse Nazzaro, pastoral administrator at MIS. “This doesn’t happen often, and so I think it’s a wonderful chance for the children to see the process, procedures, the attention to detail that is involved in electing a new pope.”

They didn’t have much time, but in a matter of days, the school was able to put together a mini-conclave.

The seventh and eighth grade boys donned scarlet robes, processed into their own Sistine Chapel, locked the doors, and began the secret process of electing the next pope.

The children weren’t able to reach a two-thirds consensus on the first round of ballots, as may be the case in Rome on Wednesday.

Eventually, the cardinals at MIS were able to signal to all those anxiously waiting that they had chosen a new pope.

The students cheered wildly at the sight of white smoke pouring from the chimney, as their classmate “Cardinal” Christopher Gleichman, who chose the name Pope James, waved to the crowd from the elevated platform resembling the balcony at St. Peter’s. He even took a brief ride in a makeshift popemobile.

It was a fun experience for everyone, but the hope is that the lesson will stay with even the youngest of children for a lifetime.

“It’s just a great opportunity for everyone — even the littles,” said eighth grader Lilyauna Montoya. “They might not have known what was going on, but to get excited for the white and black smoke, to show that’s what’s actually happening back up in Rome.”

“Of course, they’re identifying with, ‘Oh, here’s a student in our school who was just elected pope,’ and on the little popemobile, he’s generating an excitement that’s more like a basketball game,” said principal Sister Mary Anne. “But they do understand on some level that they were part of a process.”

It’s a process that, when it plays out in reality this week in Rome, may bring hope, not just to Roman Catholics, but the entire world.

Karen Borta

Karen Borta is a veteran journalist who joined CBS 11 News in 1995. Prior to that, she was an anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WTVT-TV in Tampa, KRBK-TV in Sacramento and KCEN-TV in Waco.

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Texas

North Texas nonprofit 4-Legged Helpers helps keep pets fed and safe: 11 Days of Giving

Published

4 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

North Texas nonprofit 4-Legged Helpers helps keep pets fed and safe: 11 Days of Giving

As the holiday season continues, at CBS News Texas, we are once again proud to honor those making a difference in our community.

As part of CBS News Texas’ third annual 11 Days of Giving campaign, supported by Tom Thumb Albertsons, $1,000 is awarded each day to a local nonprofit making a meaningful impact.

Today, we’re introduced to 4-Legged Helpers, a non-profit helping local animal shelters keep animals safe, fed, and prevent them from being euthanized all over the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

One of those animals is Bosco.

“He’s a big old goofball,” said Carlos Renovato.

Bosco is also looking for a home. Renovato is the animal control officer in Wilmer, and he said it’s a struggle to provide for the animals he’s tasked with caring for.

“Our budget’s not enough for the resources; if an emergency comes along, they don’t have the ability to go to the vet or the funds to feed them. So, it comes down to euthanizing the dogs,” said Renovato.

Luckily, for Renovato and Bosco, they know Heather Marks and Leanne Hayden.

“We donate, we help him with food, toys, treats, things like that, if there’s anything he needs, we’ll just let him know and make sure he gets it,” said Marks.

The two founded 4-Legged Helpers.

“The animals just need help,” said Marks.

They estimate it costs around $700 per animal to get them adoption-ready.

“That’s a lot, but it’s worth it. Because they wouldn’t see tomorrow if we didn’t step in,” said Marks.

That’s why 4-Legged Helpers was selected to receive a $1,000 donation. The money will keep goofballs like Bosco happy and healthy.

“We are their voice, and if we weren’t here to fight for them, no one would be,” said Marks.

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Texas

Michigan Forced to Make Major Coaching Change Ahead of Citrus Bowl vs. Texas

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Michigan Forced to Make Major Coaching Change Ahead of Citrus Bowl vs. Texas

As the offseason of college football approaches, coaches across the country are leaving their current programs for new ones. One of these coaches is Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who has left the Wolverines for the Mizzou Tigers. With his departure, Michigan will look to a new coach to assume Lindsey’s duties in the upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Taking over play-calling duties for Michigan will likely be Wolverines tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Steve Casula.

Steve Casula Takes Over As Offensive Coordinator

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to ESPN, Lindsey signed a three-year deal with the Tigers to take over as the team’s offensive coordinator. After spending only a single season with the Wolverines, he left in the aftermath of the recent Sherrone Moore scandal, which led to the firing of the former Michigan head coach.

Casula is in his second season with the Wolverines as an assistant coach, but previously worked with Michigan from 2019 to 2021 as an offensive analyst. Nearly eclipsing 20 years of coaching experience, this will not be Casula’s first time taking on a team’s offensive playcalling.

Casula previously held stints as the offensive coordinator at Davenport, Ferris State and, most recently, UMASS. While with Massachusetts, the Minutemen offense averaged 22.5 points per game, 163.5 rushing yards per game, 181.8 passing yards per game and 345.2 total yards per game.

Now he takes on perhaps his toughest challenge yet as an offensive playcaller, taking on the Texas Longhorns in the Citrus Bowl.

Texas has undergone some coaching changes as well, on the opposite side of the ball, recently firing defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and hiring Will Muschamp in his stead.

While the Texas defense didn’t perform to expectations this season and has had various players opt out of the Citrus Bowl, they still boast some of the best young talent in the nation. Defensive players set not to play in the Longhorns’ upcoming contest include linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe, defensive lineman Ethan Burke, cornerback Malik Muhammad and linebacker Trey Moore.

This will mean the Longhorns will get an early look at perhaps some of the players that will be the core of next season’s defense. Some young names like Jonah Williams and Bo Barnes likely be given a chance to play significant minutes, and will hope to put a stop to Casula and the Michigan offense.

With the turmoil that Michigan has undergone over the past few weeks, perhaps Casula can bring some stability to the offense after Lindsey’s exit.

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Texas

How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M volleyball in NCAA championship

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M volleyball in NCAA championship

The 2025 NCAA volleyball season comes down to Kentucky vs. Texas A&M. The conference rivals will meet in the first all-SEC national championship game on Sunday, Dec. 21 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Texas A&M is vying for its first championship after upsetting No. 1 overall seed Nebraska and Pitt in the Elite Eight and Final Four, respectively. Meanwhile, Kentucky is looking to win its second title and first since 2020 after beating Wisconsin in a five-set semifinal thriller.

It will be the 28th all-time meeting between the teams. The Wildcats hold a 17-10 advantage in the series, but the Aggies are 2-0 when the team’s meet on a neutral court.

Kentucky beat Texas A&M on Oct. 8 in College Station. The Aggies won the first set, but Wildcats rallied to win the last three for the victory.