Month: November 2025

By Ken Molestina, Lexi Salazar, Katie Standing

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    Texas (KTVT) — On a Sunday in early November, Brazilian-born Pastor Albert Oliveira led his final in-person service at the First Baptist Church in the small Texas town of Gordon. A week later, Oliveira, his wife and three-year-old son boarded a flight to Brazil.

Oliveira is one of many foreign-born religious leaders across the United States forced to make the difficult decision to self-deport.

“It feels like defeat, honestly,” Oliveira told CBS Texas Sunday morning as he arrived at DFW Airport for his flight. “We’ve been fighting over this course for two years, and now we’re going home.”

Oliveira and his family have spent the past two years trying to figure out a legal way to stay in the country, but despite their efforts and the money they have spent on legal fees, the family has run out of time. His departure is not only difficult for his family, but it’s also a blow to his congregation.

“It don’t seem fair,” said Wayne Wroblski, a parishioner and worship leader at the church. “He’s dotted all the Is, crossed all the Ts, made all the filings on time since he has been here.”

An emotional final service More than 200 worshippers packed the pews at the First Baptist Church in Gordon for Oliveira’s emotional final service. There were few dry eyes as Oliveira thanked church members for allowing him into their lives.

Originally from Brazil, Oliveira first came to the United States on a student visa in 2011. He built his life here — marrying German national Caroline Schuster Oliveira and moving to Gordon seven years ago, initially to serve as a youth minister. Three years ago, he became the church’s lead pastor. Since then, he and his parishioners say they’ve seen the congregation flourish.

“It’s a lot of emotions. A lot of different feelings, honestly,” Oliveira told CBS News Texas during an interview after the service. “I feel loved, but I also feel disappointed at the people in power.”

Oliveira finds himself in a predicament that many foreign-born clergy find themselves in.

For the past five years, Oliveira and his family have been in this country on an R-1 visa, a temporary visa issued to religious workers. He is currently applying for an EB-4 visa, which is a pathway for immigrants seeking a green card.

Immigration attorney Lance Curtright, who is not involved in Oliveira’s case, said this has been standard for immigrant religious workers seeking permanent status in the U.S. for years.

Biden administration changed the way EB-4 visas are distributed Two years ago, the Biden administration changed the way EB-4 visas are distributed — making it so that some migrants, including unaccompanied minors from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, were placed in the same queue as religious workers from other countries.

“It resulted in a backlog of visas, not enough visas for really anyone,” Curtright said. “I can just tell you that I’ve seen a lot of individuals suffering on account of it, a lot of people are scrambling trying to find ministers for their church services.”

Increased migration at the southern border has led to an increase in EB-4 visa applications, worsening the backlog. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data analyzed by the CBS News Data Team, in March of 2022, there were 71,147 petitions for EB-4 visas. In March of this year, there were 214,771 — a 200% increase in three years. About 10,000 total EB-4 visas are granted each year.

Realizing his family would not receive an EB-4 visa before his R-1 visa expires, Oliveira made the choice to voluntarily leave the country with his family to avoid undocumented status.

“What we feel is that we were scammed,” Oliveira said. “Out of our money, out of our time, out of our plans. The church was scammed out of their time, their plans.”

After Oliveira’s final service, parishioners surprised him with a lunch, where they took turns thanking him.

“He’s been our friend, he’s been our pastor,” he’s been all we could ever ask for,” said Rebecca Sue Collins, a member of the church. “We’re going to miss him.”

“I’m just really overwhelmed by the love that this church and community has shown for us,” said Caroline Schuster Oliveira. “Just to see and trust God’s goodness that he has for our lives, even in the midst of times like this when we face uncertainty.”

Leaving with hopes to return The Oliveira family has now left the country for Brazil. They hope to apply for another R-1 visa in a year, when Oliveira is eligible again. And the goal is to return to Gordon. In the meantime, he plans to continue to preach remotely.

“I didn’t want to believe that we would have to leave, but now it’s happening,” Oliveira said at the airport Sunday morning. “We believe that, even in spite of all these things happening to our church, we’re going to continue unified.”

In April, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine, Susan Collins and Jim Risch introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act as a potential solution. The bipartisan legislation would allow religious workers with pending EB-4 applications the ability to stay in the U.S. while awaiting permanent residency.

For now, that bill remains pending in committee.

CBS News Texas reached out to U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, the Republican congressman who represents Gordon, Texas. He sent a statement saying:

“Our office is aware of Rev. Albert Fernandes-Oliveira’s R-1 visa expiration and his efforts to adjust his status to an EB-4 visa. Our office began work on his case in April 2024 and has since requested an expedited review from the State Department. However, due to high demand and limited visa availability, the request was declined. Recent policy changes expanding EB-4 eligibility and subsequent legal corrections have further delayed processing. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate changes before his current visa expires, and any adjustment of status would fall under USCIS authority.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Kris Ketz

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    SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (KMBC) — For more than four decades, the voice of Missouri State sports belonged to Art Hains.

Whether it was football or basketball, Hains called the action with passion and precision. “If it’s a Missouri State Bears game, Art Hains will be there, put that in the bank,” one tribute video declared.

A Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Hains spent 44 years broadcasting Bears games and 16 seasons hosting pregame, halftime and postgame coverage for the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network.

But his career and his life changed in 2022 after a Missouri State football game.

“After the game, I started feeling a little weakness in my legs, which I attributed to carrying my heavy equipment case down the street,” Hains said.

Doctors later discovered he had contracted the West Nile virus. The illness left him paralyzed and fighting for his life.

“It had to be a mosquito bite,” Hains recalled. “Probably when I was out mowing. I’d mow my own yard right up until I got sick.”

Hains spent months in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, including time at the University of Kansas Health System and a facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Even while recovering, he stayed on the air, broadcasting Chiefs games from his rehab bed.

“They put a sign on the door that said, ‘Broadcast in progress,’ and everyone knew not to bother us while the Chiefs game was going on,” he said.

A year later, in August 2023, Hains made an emotional return to the broadcast booth in Springfield.

“The first time I went, it was kind of emotional,” Hains said. “My wife was crying. I could see her through the glass. But that’s the place where I’ve been for so many years.”

Missouri State built a special ramp so Hains could access the booth again, and he handled the rest, calling Bears football with the same steady voice fans had missed.

Now retired from Missouri State, Hains still lives in Springfield. He says he’s grateful to have made it back behind the microphone, even once more.

“Every day now depends on how comfortable I am in the chair,” he said. “If I’m comfortable in the chair, it’s a good day.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Zoe Blair, Ryan Lovell

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    BESSEMER, Alabama (WVTM) — Bessemer City Middle School welcomed therapy dogs to campus on Friday, offering students a chance to interact with the animals as a way to alleviate stress and improve focus. Teachers at the school believe the presence of the dogs is beneficial, especially for students dealing with significant trauma.

“Many of these students are dealing with trauma on par with war veterans,” said Brandon Baum, a teacher at Bessemer City Middle School.

Baum explained that the school is trying to use every possible strategy to support students who have witnessed distressing events in their communities.

“It’s the truth that we’re dealing with. There’s a lot of things going on in our communities. We wish we could have hid it from them, but they’ve witnessed some things that we would have liked to keep from them. And so we have to try to exhaust every option and every strategy possible,” Baum said.

The school has been grieving the loss of a seventh-grader who was a victim of gun violence earlier this year. Teachers say the therapy dogs have been a much-needed source of comfort for the students.

“There’s something nice and warm and, furry and fuzzy. Just something that they can express their love to and feel that reciprocated in a particular way,” Baum said.

Students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to interact with the dogs.

“I just like dogs because it keeps me more focused in school,” said Jayden Heard, a student at Bessemer City Middle School.

Christian Aguilar, another student, shared, “It helps me be focused because it’s something I can look forward to (that’s) at the end of the month, and I really enjoy coming here to see Lizzie and Bodie.”

Zyreunna Lindsay added, “I love playing with dogs and I love playing with Bodie.”

Dr. Yuvraj Verma, the teacher behind the initiative, hopes to continue bringing therapy dogs to the school to help keep students calm and focused in class.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Beth Carlson

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — After years of hosting the Joe Tomsu Memorial Bowling Tournament in Omaha in honor of his father, the community is coming together to support Matt Tomsu after his breast cancer diagnosis in June.

Matt founded the tournament in 1999 after losing his father to cancer. Each year, it brings professionals and amateurs to Omaha, with 16 states and two countries represented this year, amongst the over 170 bowlers.

“I said that I wanted to do was raise money for cancer research if we’re going to do this. So that’s where we started. And the first year we raised $1,358, which we thought was amazing. And now, 27 years later, we’re over $300,000,” Matt said.

In its 27th year, it’s the first time that Matt will not be bowling while undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s a little tougher, but it’s amazing… I was worried about the support of the tournament. I didn’t know, but everybody jumped in and did a part of it,” Matt said.

A Nebraska USBC Hall of Fame recipient, the bowling community rallied around Matt during day one of the tournament.

“It makes me want to tear up a little bit when I talk about him. I’ve been friends with him for so long. I worked with him when I started out in this business. and the nicest, most genuine guy that you’ll ever meet in your life,” Larry Dall, a longtime bowler and friend of Matt’s, said.

The tournament offers cash prizes for bowlers over the two days of play. All of the proceeds go towards cancer research at the Nebraska Medicine Buffett Cancer Center.

“People just keep coming up and support me, and I can’t even describe how it feels,” Matt said. “This is a way to fight back. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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By Yunier Martinez

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    BURLINGTON, Vermont (WPTZ) — As reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits continue to affect people across the region, one Burlington family has transformed a small neighborhood library into a free community pantry, all thanks to an idea from an 8-year-old boy.

The bright red wooden shed, built by Ollie Grant and his grandfather, originally served as a “little free library” filled with books for anyone to borrow.

However, during a school food and clothing drive this fall, Ollie learned that some of his classmates and neighbors were struggling with access to meals.

His mother, Laina Grant, said that simple moment prompted a bigger conversation.

“He explained that some kids were needing some extra support,” Laina Grant said.

Hearing that inspired Ollie to offer a solution. When asked how he could help, he suggested the family fill the little library with food.

“Because not a lot of people have food and we really need to help,” he said.

The Grants converted half the library into a free food pantry stocked with pasta, canned goods, and other nonperishables.

At first, the pantry went unnoticed until the family shared the idea on Front Porch Forum. Within days, the shelves were empty.

“So we put it on Front Porch Forum and in our neighborhood email. Then that day, it was empty,” Laina said.

Since then, the pantry has been refilled and emptied many times, sometimes within a single day.

The effort has sparked strong community support.

Laina Grant said they’ve received nearly 20 emails from neighbors praising Ollie’s kindness and offering to help restock the pantry. One resident even mailed the family $100 to buy additional groceries.

For the Grants, the project has become a way to teach generosity and gratitude, especially as Thanksgiving and the holiday season approach.

“We all sit around the table and say what we’re thankful for, and one of the things is always food,” Laina said. “The fact that he can give back to people, he’s always really thankful for that.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.