cookies are the carmel delights. they're all good. >> if this has you craving some thin mints or tag-alongs, sales go through march 15th today. when i got into our newsroom today, they were gone. before we go tonight, let's leave you with this. we wanted to give you a little glimpse of the better weather in sight. so this rainbow spotted over san jose this afternoon and my source is telling me, paul heggen, the sun will come out tomorrow. hey, that's a song. the cbs evening news is maurice dubois and john dickerson is next on kpix. local news continues on our streaming service and we're back in 30 minutes here, i promise, with more ♪ ♪ >> announcer: from cbs news headquarters in new york, this is the "cbs evening news." ♪ ♪

>> maurice: uncle sam does not want you, not anymore. good evening. i'm maurice dubois. >> john: i'm john dickerson. that is the message president trump is sending millions of federal workers. mr. trump, who spent years firing people on a tv show, is now doing it for real. >> maurice: he is firing federal government employees or offering buyouts. the white house says tens of thousands have accepted, but labor unions are suing to stop the buyout, and today a federal judge paused it temporarily. >> john: the president is also targeting thousands of fbi agents and other bureau employees for possible firing. those who were involved in the investigation of the january 6th riot at the capitol. today, another judge blocked the justice department from releasing a list of their names. >> maurice: scott macfarlane spoke with an agent on that list who says the bureau is in turmoil. we are protecting the agent's identity here tonight. scott?

>> reporter: yeah, maurice this fear of firings is spreading inside the fbi. among agents who have tried to track down terrorists, child predators, and violent gangs but who also were part of the investigation into january 6th. the largest criminal investigation in fbi history has given way to potentially its largest crisis. do you think this is a distraction? >> absolutely. i personally have lost sleep over this. >> reporter: this agent who helped arrest january 6th rioters fears retaliation from new leadership at the justice department for speaking with cbs news. >> we just have a lot of unknowns, and it feels like no one has our backs. >> reporter: trump allies at the justice department ordered the fbi to send a questionnaire nationwide to identify the personnel who investigated january 6th and make a list for leadership to review. the agent is one of approximately 5,000 names on that list. what was it like, filling out that questionnaire? saying what you did and when you did it?

>> really demoralizing. defeated, we all feel defeated. and forgotten -- really forgotten. >> reporter: the scrutiny and storm cloud hovering over employees on cases that yielded more than 1,000 guilty pleas and a 100% conviction rate in jury trials sends a chilling message the agent warns. >> moving forward, do we pick and choose, are we allowed to pick and choose what we feel comfortable -- >> reporter: you think this might scare people off taking taking certain cases in the future? >> absolutely. we are all humans. >> reporter: agents who testified or signed their names to public court documents worry of retaliation from riot defendants. >> your followers, any message for them? >> keep the fight. fight, fight, fight. >> reporter: or their sympathizers. >> almost as if these defendants that are all pardoned have been put on a pedestal of being more patriotic and more loyal to this

country than the men and women who go out every single day away from their families, and put their lives on the line. >> reporter: what do you make of that? >> i really am at a loss of words. it hurts. i'll say that. it hurts. >> reporter: a justice department official in a message to the fbi earlier this week said agents who were simply following orders or carried out their duties in an ethical manner will not be subject to disciplinary issues, but john and maurice, agents and their attorneys say they are not convinced. >> john: scott, how much of a distraction is this, all of this, to what fbi agents are paid to do? >> reporter: a remarkable distraction, according to that agent, checking your email every so often, wondering if that's the time you are going to get a termination notice. there is also this anecdote from an association representing agents. they say there was one who was pulled off the response to that plane crash at reagan national airport to go back and fill out the january 6th survey, then

returned to the crash site. >> maurice: boy, scott, it is so rare for an agent to speak out publically like this. i'm wondering, do they feel like they can ever get back to normal and just do their jobs? >> reporter: the agents are concerned there has been a fracture, maurice, in the independence of the department of justice. the legendary independence of the fbi. that that is now broken indefinitely. >> maurice: okay. scott macfarlane, thanks so much tonight. >> john: now some of the top stories from around the world in tonight's "evening news" roundup. kris van cleave reports faa officials pushed, last summer to close 1 of 3 runways at reagan national after two close calls. ultimately, they kept the runway open. the ntsb is investigating whether airport congestion played a role in last week's midair collision. >> maurice: the ncaa is banning transgender women from playing on women's teams. this follows an executive order from president trump that calls for penalties against schools and leagues that allow transgender women to compete in women's sports.

>> john: and the former interpreter for baseball superstar shohei ohtani was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud. ippei mizuhara has to pay back $17 million he stole from ohtani's bank account to cover his gambling debts and other expenses, and he has to pay another million to the irs. >> maurice: southern california edison admitted today its equipment likely start of the hearst wildfire. that one burned a little more than a square mile and did not cause any deaths or destroy any homes. >> john: it broke out the same day as the much larger palisades and eaton wildfires. the cause of those fires blamed for 29 deaths has not been determined. >> maurice: they are 100% contained now, but as jonathan vigliotti reports, the cleanup brings new dangers. >> reporter: more than 9,000 homes and businesses were burned to the ground in altadena. the environmental protection agency invited us to join a team

sifting through the ash searching for toxic debris. harry allen is the federal on-site coordinator with the epa. what specific materials are you looking for here? >> we look for any uncombusted paints, or any household custom chemicals, pesticides batteries, especially in electric vehicles, and other hazards, like unburned munitions, we may remove. >> reporter: the epa also monitors each property for asbestos and arsenic. this is painstaking work, as teams respond to what is the costliest natural disaster in u.s. history, and now crews facing mounting public pressure to work faster than ever before. this executive order from president trump calls for the epa to expedite the bulk removal of contaminated and general debris. the deadline for such a large-scale disaster is unprecedented. consider that in lahaina, the epa took more than four months to clear hazardous materials from 1400 homes. in southern california, the epa faces clearing nearly ten times

that amount in just 30 days. do you feel the pressure, in general, to expedite this process? >> yes, of course. it's a lot more to coordinate and we have to move much more quickly than we had in other situations because of the various pressures. >> reporter: it's not just to move this toxic debris out. it's finding a place to for it to go. last week, the waste began arriving here to be stored and processed. it is a park 15 miles from the altadena fire zone. the site is surrounded by four cities. city leaders and residents say no one notified them first. we attended a packed town meeting, where community leaders demanded to know from the epa's tara fitzgerald whether one disaster could unleash another. >> the speed that they are being asked to work at, it's risky. >> we are not allowing the materials to seep into the earth, which is how -- we do know that. >> this has everything to do with the mission task and the

strict timeline that epa must adhere to, which is cleanup in 30 days' time. >> john: jonathan vigliotti joins us now from southern oregon, where he is on another story, but jonathan, on this california story, what are your sources at the epa saying about this rush? >> reporter: yeah, john, i spoke with one epa official on the ground. she described this cleanup as and this is her words "bananas." i spoke with another former epa official who also said it may be nearly impossible to meet this deadline, describing it as one ultimately about optics. we were specifically talking about the summer 2028 olympics. there is concern that corners could be cut in an effort to prepare the city in time for the event. >> maurice: and then jonathan, what about the concerns about rebuilding perhaps too quickly? >> reporter: yeah, maurice and that's a story we are following very closely because in the aftermath of these

disasters, you have the governor and local officials coming out lifting critical fire code regulations for a swift rebuild. that includes allowing homes to rebuild in the same exact footprint, using the same materials as before. there has been very little mention about burying power lines underground and using fire-resistant materials for the rebuild. i actually spoke with a fire expert here in oregon who says there is an opportunity here, if you have a plan, to build back smarter and safer. he warns that in not doing so history could repeat itself again. >> maurice: yep, a lot to consider. jonathan vigliotti, thank you. >> john: still ahead on the "cbs evening news," lonnie quinn on back-to-back winter storms in the midwest and the northeast. >> maurice: and we will have these stories, as well. >> i'm mark strassmann. when one county couldn't afford pay raises, negotiators tried something else. instead of more money, what they offered was more time. lots of time. that's tonight's "eye on america." ♪ ♪ >> i'm lilia luciano. it's one of the most important we went to the panama canal to

figure out who actually controls it. that's next on the "cbs evening news."

♪ ♪

>> john: president trump has a phone call scheduled tomorrow with the president of panama to try to resolve a dispute he started over the canal. >> maurice: the waterway linking the atlantic and the pacific is vital to the u.s. economy. 40% of u.s. container ships pass through every year. lilia luciano gives us a closer look at what's at stake. >> reporter: we traveled to the canal zone in panama by land and water to better understand the geopolitical battles brewing here. luis rodriguez has been driving boat tours for eight years. what does the panama canal mean >> reporter: we traveled to >> [speaking spanish] >> reporter: "your life." the dispute was sparked by president trump's accusations that chinese companies have taken control of the canal. the united states is the primary user of the panama canal with about 70% of the traffic that goes through the canal coming to or going from the united states. but a close second is china. >> we either want it back, or we are going to get something very strong. or we are going to take it back. >> reporter: what are you

hearing about the u.s. wanting to take over the canal? >> [speaking spanish] >> reporter: because they think -- they think that china is operating 100% of the canal and you are saying it is false? >> exacto. >> reporter: the 51-mile canal is owned by an independent government agency in panama which charges each vessel coming through. there is a hong kong-based company that manages two of the four major ports that exist along the canal. they do not charge fees for ships going through the canal only those that choose to use those ports. >> here is brazil, carter. >> reporter: former president aristides royo was a negotiator of the treaty that gave panama the control of the canal and oversaw its administration until last year. president trump says that is what is happening, the neutrality requirement has been violated. >> the harbors, the ports, both atlantic and pacific, are under the jurisdiction of the

panamanian laws. >> reporter: did you see any evidence of unfair practices against u.s. ships? >> not a single one. >> reporter: today, panama's president called the state department's claims that u.s. navy ships can pass through the canal for free a falsehood. this comes just days after president trump vowed to take back the canal. how far do you think panamanians like yourself would go to fight for the canal? >> [speaking spanish] >> reporter: to the maximum. >> [speaking spanish] >> reporter: defending your home because this is your home. >> [speaking spanish] >> john: and lilia joins us now. lilia, secretary of state marco rubio actually traveled to panama to talk about this. what came of that meeting? >> reporter: it was his first official visit. one important thing was that panama will pull out of the belt and road initiative. we are talking about billions of dollars in infrastructure that now the president of panama hopes will provide an

opportunity, perhaps for american investors who have not paid a whole lot of attention in the region to go and invest. second thing is expand collaboration on immigration. this is a president that he says because of his own crackdown on immigration through the darien gap, has reduced the number of people crossing by 90% when you compare last year to this year. >> john: the belt and road initiative, the chinese initiative they are pulling out of. lilia luciano, thank you. >> maurice: thank you. well, there was some nasty weather on both sides of the country today. in northern california, dozens of cars and trucks got stuck on interstate 80 in a blizzard expected to dump several feet of snow on the sierra nevada. >> john: and a blast of snow ice, and rain moved from the midwest to the northeast. parts of new england got more than 4 inches of snow. lonnie quinn is tracking the winter weather. lonnie? >> okay, guys, two different storms. and on one side, this is bowdoin, maine, picked up a fresh 4 inches of snow. but on the other side of the screen, you are looking at tahoe. lake tahoe, heavy ski area going to pick up a foot maybe a foot and a half.

two different storms but they are following the same path. you watch across the country. so it comes into the sierra right now. that is where it is. than it is going to make its way to the northern plains with near blizzard conditions. it keeps marching on its way towards chicago, by the time we get to, say saturday, early early morning, and then saturday night it is making its way into the northeast. philadelphia could have an icing problem out there. anywhere north of philadelphia it is a more significant snowfall than the most recent storm here, but i'm telling you guys, this storm is opening the door to a lot more storms. the whole pattern is changing. so let's look at that storm i just showed you. off it goes. as it exits, another storm coming right behind it, come into the area on tuesday, behind that another one comes in on thursday, behind that there is another one saturday, another one brewing behind that, again it is an old-fashioned winter pattern. gentlemen? >> maurice: looks like rush hour out there, lonnie when is the last time we saw something like this? >> well, i showed you that picture of bowdoin, maine. the last time they had this pattern, seven years ago. >> maurice: okay. thank you, lonnie. >> john: still ahead, a place where thursday is the new friday. >> maurice: "eye on america"

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>> maurice: on this thursday we take you to a corner of america where it is already friday. >> maurice: on this thursday we take you to a corner of america where it is already friday. the final day of a workweek that lasts only four days. some would call that heaven. they call it friday harbor washington. mark strassmann worked his way there for tonight's "eye on america." >> reporter: in the san juan islands off the coast of washington state, county workers like brock polda never got the pay raise they demanded. they have celebrated ever since. as soon as you heard somebody say "how about a four-day workweek," what did you think? >> just light bulb. absolutely. >> reporter: polda drives a county truck. nadine varsovia, his girlfriend works in human resources. to get paid the same amount of

money to work one day last it's like everyone's dream. >> it really is. at the end of the day, money really only does so much for you, so what is the good of having that money anyway if i can't use it to do anything for fun? >> reporter: especially in this magnificent isolation roughly a 90-minute ferry ride from the mainland. san juan county had a problem. it agreed that workers were due a raise. the county had no money. instead, it offered time. a three-day weekend, every weekend. >> everyone i see on friday when i am in the grocery store running errands, they are just "must be nice, oh, wow, county guy in here." [laughter] and i just smile and laugh. >> reporter: 40 hours' pay for 30 hours' work involves trade-off. many offices are closed on friday. was there grabbing at the beginning? >> there was certainly some concerns from the beginning. >> reporter: brandon andrews the county's parks and fair director here, helped negotiate the deal. >> do you want us to raise taxes when things are already expensive, do you want us to cut services, or do you want us to

get creative? >> reporter: in the year plus since this reduced work week began, avoiding a big pay raise for employees saved san juan county nearly $1 million. job applications are up 85% while the turnover rate is down 43%. an employee is calling in sick also down by 23%. >> i'm going to pick you up after school, yeah. okay. >> reporter: for katie fleming, it's meant more time for her family and volunteering. >> wow, you guys, good thing for monthly beach cleanups. >> reporter: she is the county's solid waste coordinator. we caught up with her cleaning storm debris along the beach. >> work-life balance. that is i think the biggest thing. >> reporter: the people watching and saying, of course what a great deal for you. you are saying you are working -- >> just as productive. i know in my department we are getting the same amount of work done. >> reporter: nadine varsovia

agrees. >> so there's a lot less chitchat in the office, and people nose to the grindstone getting their work done. >> reporter: and recruiting for jobs on this isolated island has suddenly become a breeze. so has your life become a whole lot easier? >> yes. filling positions is great. now we get our pick of the litter, if you will. it used to be we will take a warm body. now we get our choices. >> reporter: she used the extra time to finish her master's degree. if you had to work 40 hours a week but get a pay raise, would you rather have that? >> in all honesty, no. >> reporter: no? >> no. >> absolutely not. >> yeah, you know, money is really only worth so much. i'd rather have that time for myself. >> reporter: on this pacific northwest gem, today is tgit: thank god it's thursday. for "eye on america," mark strassmann, in friday harbor, washington. >> maurice: they are living right. and san juan county may be a model for other local governments around the country. brandon andrews told mark the county has received about two dozen calls asking about that four-day workweek. steve hartman spends his work week "on the road," but he'll be right here tomorrow on our

friday, and john and i will be right back, celebrating a reggae legend. ♪ ♪ >> announcer: this portion of the "cbs evening news" is sponsored by progressive insurance. save when you bundle auto, home or motorcycle insurance. the "cbs sponsored by progressive insurance. save when you bundle auto, home or motorcycle insurance. ♪ ♪

i'm juliette goodrich and tonight at 7:00, the storm is on its way out, but we are learning this week's storms have turned deadly. and while the rain will taper off, emergency officials warn the danger is not over yet. still scattered showers out there this evening and some of the strongest winds are just moving into the bay area. tracking the last of the rain

and those blustery conditions in the first alert forecast. 43? whoa, that person was going fast. >> she has been monitoring san francisco's most dangerous streets. soon she will have help and it will cost speeding drivers. plus. police try to get the sick and elderly to safety as the ferocious flames approach. new video released of the dramatic rescue efforts during the altadena fires. >> this is cbs news bay area with juliette goodrich. >> good evening, the umbrellas were back out as another storm swept through the bay area and we are still seeing scattered showers at this hour, a flood watch remains in effect tonight in the north bay. but the bigger concern tonight is the wind. this is bad news for sonoma county which has already seen a lot of damage. two deaths are believed to be