Texas

North Texas volunteers helping California wildfire victims sift through the ashes

Published

11 months ago

January 13, 2025

North Texas volunteers helping California wildfire victims sift through the ashes

California wildfires’ death toll raises to 24

Winds may pick up in Los Angeles again today, potentially stoking the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and left two dozen dead. Here’s what we know:

DALLAS – Many in North Texas are working to mobilize to help people in California who have lost everything in the wildfires.

The fires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

North Texas Volunteers in California

Volunteers from North Texas are on the front lines working to help people sift through the ashes while others are working to help Los Angeles make room for hundreds of displaced dogs and cats.

Local perspective:

A group of volunteers known as Texans on Mission arrived in California early Sunday morning.

“Having volunteers wash those clothes while you get a warm meal is like getting a hug from people you don’t know,” said spokesperson Rand Jenkins.

Texans on Mission are assessing the best locations to set up.

“Our next step is ash out. That is the most emotionally draining,” Jenkins said. “You are sitting in the ashes of someone’s home and looking for things they want to find: memorabilia, photos, jewelry. You scoop a bucket of ashes and sift and hope those things were not completely turned to ash. Once you find it, they cry and tell you why it’s important.”

Helping Overcrowded Pet Shelters

The Humane Society of North Texas and Wings of Rescue are working to help Los Angeles clear its shelters of homeless pets to make room for the hundreds needing to be reunited with owners.

Cassie Davidson is the senior director of both organizations.

“I flew into Los Angeles on Friday night. And when we were flying over the mountains, it was so dark outside. It was dark in the airplane, and then it wasn’t,” she recalled. “The skies were just lit up. It was like an inferno. You could see the wildfires from the air, and my heart just sank.”

Davidson says they were able to fly out more than 160 pets over the weekend.

“Shelters like the Pasadena Humane Society are 500% over capacity right now,” she said. “They’ve got so many medical cases coming in that we have got to get these pets cleared out that have been waiting for adoption.”

What you can do:

Churches are calling on members to give financially.

“There are several churches we partner with in the LA area that have been partners with us for the past 10-20 years,” said Concord Church Pastor Bryan Carter. “We wanted to do a special offering up and above your regular offering to be a blessing.”

Davidson says many owners were separated from their pets when they were at work as the fires moved into their neighborhood. She says there is an emergency need for foster homes in North Texas to help.

“There is a plea to the community of North Texas,” she said. “If you could open your home. if you could donate, this is how you can make a difference.”

More than 150 homeless dogs and cats will be arriving from Los Angeles in North Texas Sunday afternoon.

If you are able to provide a foster home, contact the Humane Society of North Texas.

They also need Hills Science Diet food and pet beds. Those donations can be dropped off at any Humane Society of North Texas location.

The Red Cross is also taking donations for those affected by the California wildfires.

The Source: Information in this article comes from Texans on Mission, the Humane Society of North Texas, Wings of Rescue and previous FOX 4 reports.

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Texas

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

Published

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

Published

13 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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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.