By Gabe Cohen, CNN

(CNN) — The Trump administration is abruptly cutting dozens of staff who are at the forefront of disaster response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency this week, according to internal emails obtained by CNN and sources familiar with the plan.

On New Year’s Eve, some employees received emails saying their positions “would not be renewed” and “therefore, your services will no longer be needed” after their contracts expire in the first days of January.

The cuts target FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) teams, which form the backbone of the agency’s operations during and after a disaster, and could be just the beginning of a larger effort by Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security to shrink FEMA, potentially axing thousands of workers in the coming months who deploy during hurricanes, wildfires and other national emergencies.

According to two sources with knowledge of the terminations, which suddenly ousted roughly 50 CORE staff, the decision came from FEMA’s new acting chief Karen Evans — who was elevated to the role by DHS leadership after the embattled previous agency head resigned.

The notices stunned employees, who learned they would be let go within days. “Beyond cruel to be treated in such a way,” one of the workers said.

FEMA’s CORE employees are among the first federal boots on the ground during a disaster, working shoulder-to-shoulder with local officials, helping survivors and managing the crucial aid and grants that fuel recovery and rebuilding.

“FEMA can’t do disaster response and recovery without CORE employees,” a former senior FEMA official told CNN. “The regional offices are almost entirely CORE staff, so the first FEMA people who are usually onsite won’t be there. The impact is states are on their own.”

So far, DHS, which oversees FEMA, hasn’t given the agency much guidance about what comes next, leaving employees anxious about more cuts.

A DHS spokesperson denied that the department has implemented any new policy for these workers and did not address questions about this week’s abrupt terminations or the department’s broader plans to downsize the agency.

“The CORE program consists of term-limited positions that are designed to fluctuate based on disaster activity, operational need, and available funding,” the spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “CORE appointments have always been subject to end-of-term decisions consistent with that structure and there has been no change to policy.”

Several sources told CNN that DHS has been considering letting more contracts expire as part of a push to downsize the agency, though officials have wavered on how deep the cuts will go.

CORE employees make up about 40% of FEMA’s workforce — over 8,000 people — working full-time hours on temporary contracts. Several thousand of these workers will see their contracts end in 2026.

Traditionally, CORE workers have served on two-to-four-year contracts that were almost always renewed. In 2025, DHS limited FEMA to renewing these contracts for just 180 days at a time while they considered a long-term plan to shrink the agency.

As of January 1, DHS revoked FEMA’s authority to renew those employees without approval from Homeland Security officials, according to internal documents obtained by CNN.

Now, DHS is instructing FEMA to let at least some of those contracts lapse, forcing employees to depart as their terms expire.

Under President Donald Trump’s second administration, DHS has argued for the past year that FEMA is bloated, despite a 2023 Read more

PASADENA, Calif.—Nineteen marching bands, 17 equestrian teams, and 39 floral floats marched along the 5 and a half mile route on Colorado Blvd.
 
Despite the rain thousands of people showed up with high spirits.
 
Colorful floats mesmerized visitors, but only one rolled away with this year’s sweepstakes trophy for most beautiful entry—Cal Poly's “Jungle Jumpstart" float, featuring a robot being repaired by animals from the jungle.
 
This marks the 77th year that Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have worked together to create a Rose Parade float.
 
We caught up with them on Monday when they finalized the float.
 
 “As students working together over 250 miles apart, we really thought that this showed us who we were,” said Cal Poly Float President Aubrey Goings.

 The theme of Thursday’s parade was “The Magic in Teamwork.”
 
It’s been a big year for Indiana’s Hoosiers.
 
“That is a bucket list trip for me. I was the ball boy on the 1967 Rose Bowl team. Wanted to come. Didn't get a chance to come. Here I am, 58 years later with my wife, my daughters and these two great guys. Go I-U!” said David Malson, who was visiting from Michigan.

 You can take a closer look at all the Rose Parade floats at Floatfest in Pasadena Friday and Saturday.
 

The post Wild Win: Cal Poly’s “Jungle Jumpstart” Scores Rose Parade’s Top Honor appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Esha Mitra, Rhea Mogul and Ayushi Shah, CNN

New Delhi and Mumbai (CNN) — Tens of thousands of app-based delivery workers in India went on strike over New Year’s Eve, protesting a system they say is defined by relentless pressure, including requirements to deliver items in under 10 minutes.

The workers are calling for “fair pay, dignity and safety,” as well as an immediate ban on a marketing hook that commits them to delivering groceries to any address within a roughly three kilometer (1.8 miles) radius within 10 minutes – no easy feat in India’s notoriously traffic-clogged cities.

They are also protesting against the automated systems used by the platforms to penalize delivery workers and reduce their ratings when delays occur, and are asking for comprehensive social security including health insurance and pensions. More than 200,000 workers joined the strike, according to the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers who organized the strike.

While quick commerce is a global phenomenon, in India, a nation of 1.4 billion people and where a roughly a million new jobseekers enter the market each month, it has become a brutal battleground.

Fueled by a burgeoning middle class with money to spend, speed has become an essential weapon in the corporate battle for market share.

The market is huge – major firm Swiggy has a market capitalization of around $11 billion; its rival Zomato around $28 billion.

Some companies like Swiggy’s Instamart, as well as Blinkit and Zepto, have made the 10-minute delivery promise a signature marketing hook – a strategy that workers say can come at the cost of their safety and well-being.

And on top of this, many platforms do not classify their riders as employees, legally absolving the companies from providing the many benefits that the workers are demanding.

One 41-year-old Swiggy delivery driver in the city of Hyderabad told CNN he makes a base rate of 5 rupees (less that 10 cents) per order and has the potential to earn more based on the number of orders and distance he travels. He works from 7pm to 5am everyday, he said.

“We have to pay for our own fuel and bike maintenance,” he said, asking for anonymity for fear of retribution.

And then at least 50 rupees (56 cents) a day goes in paying for something to eat,” he said. “I didn’t think this is what I would be doing in my 40s but what other choice do I have?”

He became a delivery driver after his bookshop went out of business during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said he makes about 20,000 rupees per month ($222). More than half of that money goes toward his rent and the school fees for all five of his children, forcing his family to live paycheck to paycheck.

CNN has contacted Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto and India’s labor ministry for a response.

Deepender Goyal, the co-founder of Zomato, said both Zomato and Blinkit delivered “at a record pace” on Wednesday, “unaffected by calls for strikes,” in a post on X.

“Support from local law enforcement helped keep the small number of miscreants in check,” he wrote, adding: “if a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people who choose to work within it.”

In response, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union said some 7.5 million orders “were delivered because workers cannot afford to log out, not because the system treats them justly,” in a post on X.

Jumping red lights

Wednesday’s strike placed a spotlight on the deep chasm between the convenience offered to urban consumers and the livelihoods of those providing it.

On one hand, in a country with a massive working-age population, platforms lik

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Runners are kicking off the new year with a long-standing Santa Barbara tradition along the waterfront.

Hundreds of runners and walkers turned out for the annual Resolution Run on New Year’s Day.

The event features 5K and 10K races along the coastal path, open to all ages and abilities.

Organizers say the run is about starting the year healthy while celebrating community.

"It feels great because I’m with my dad and my dad … we love like running stuff you need to introduce me to like running like," said runner Nikolas Ray of Santa Maria.

"I guess I might’ve even gotten first in my age group, so I’m really happy. Great way to start the new year," said runner Kirstin Candy-McFarland of Santa Barbara.

The Resolution Run continues to be a popular New Year’s Day tradition along Santa Barbara’s scenic coastline.

The post Santa Barbara Runs Into the New Year appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif, (KEYT) - After ringing in the new year, many Santa Barbara locals are heading out to eat close to home.

Cafés and restaurants across the city are seeing steady New Year’s Day crowds.

At Shoreline Café along the waterfront, tables filled quickly with diners enjoying the holiday.

The restaurant was packed with happy customers starting the year with ocean views and brunch favorites.

"Wanna see me take my first bite? … it’s really good," said customer Mataya George.

"We saw the sun was out and we said let’s walk shoreline and grab a bite so hear we are," said customr Alaina Patton.

For Shoreline Café and other local eateries, the strong turnout is helping kick off the new year on a positive note.

The post Santa Barbara Locals Turn Out for New Year’s Day Dining appeared first on News Channel 3-12.