GINGER MAG

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Astronomers have observed a planetary system that challenges current planet formation theories, with a rocky planet that formed beyond the orbits of its gaseous neighbors, possibly after much of the planet-forming material had been used up.

The system, observed using the European Space ‌Agency's Cheops space telescope, consists of four planets - two rocky and two gaseous - orbiting a relatively small and dim star called a red dwarf about ‌117 light-years from Earth in the direction of the Lynx constellation. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

The star, named LHS 1903, is about 50% as massive and ​5% as luminous as our sun.

The order of the planets is what caught the attention of scientists. The innermost planet is rocky, the next two are gaseous and the fourth one, which current planetary formation theory suggests should be gaseous, instead is rocky.

"The planet-formation paradigm states that planets close to their host star should form small and rocky, with little-to-no gas or ice," said astronomer Thomas Wilson of the University of Warwick in England, lead author of the study published in the journal Science.

"This is because this environment is too hot ‌to maintain substantial gas or ice, and any atmospheres that ⁠do form are likely removed via irradiation from their host star. Conversely, planets at larger separations are thought to be built in colder regions with a lot of gas and ice that would create gas-rich worlds with large atmospheres. This system challenges that by giving ⁠us a rocky planet outside of gas-rich planets," Wilson said.

Wilson called it "a system built inside-out."

In our solar system, the four inner planets are rocky and the four outer planets are gaseous. The rocky dwarf planets like Pluto that orbit beyond the gas planets are much smaller than any of the solar system's planets.

Astronomers have detected about 6,100 planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, ​since ​the 1990s.

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All four in the newly observed system orbit closer to the star than our solar ​system's innermost planet Mercury orbits the sun. In fact, the outermost ‌planet orbits at only about 40% of the orbital distance between Mercury and the sun. This is typical for planets orbiting red dwarf stars that are so much less powerful than the sun.

The two rocky planets are categorized as super-Earths, meaning rocky like Earth but two to 10 times more massive. The two gas planets are categorized as mini-Neptunes, meaning gaseous and smaller than our solar system's smallest gas planet Neptune but larger than Earth.

The researchers suspect that rather than forming all at once in a large disk of gas and dust swirling around their host star, this system's planets formed sequentially, with gas that otherwise would have made up the atmosphere of the fourth planet being ‌used up by its sibling planets before it coalesced.

Wilson said the fourth planet most likely was ​a "late bloomer."

"It formed later than the other planets in a gas-poor environment. There was actually not so ​much material to build this planet," Wilson said.

Another possibility is that it was ​born with a large gas atmosphere that later was lost in a calamity, leaving behind just the rocky planetary core.

"Did (the fourth planet) ‌arrive coincidentally just as the gas ran out? Or did it suffer ​a collision with another body which stripped ​its atmosphere away? The latter sounds fanciful until you remember that the Earth-moon system appears to be a product of just such a collision," astronomer and study co-author Andrew Cameron of the University of St Andrews in Scotland said.

This fourth planet also is interesting because of its potential habitability. Its mass is 5.8 ​times that of Earth and it is about 140 degrees ‌Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).

"A temperature of 60 degrees Celsius is very similar to the hottest temperature recorded on Earth, 57 degrees Celsius (135 degrees Fahrenheit), so ​it's definitely possible that this planet is habitable. Future James Webb Space Telescope observations could reveal the conditions of this planet and help us understand ​how habitable it might be," Wilson said.

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

As spring approaches, the ongoing La Niña is beginning to show signs of weakening. We will likely see a neutral phase through the springtime, and this will shift the weather patterns that have been ongoing across the U.S.

Let's break down the seasonal outlooks, each month's change and why this is happening.

Meteorological Spring (March, April And May)

The spring outlook brings some good news for those living in the Northeast. Slightly above-average temperatures are expected, though it starts to trend cooler the farther into New England you go.

While some below-average temperatures are expected this spring for the Upper Midwest as well, the rest of the country will continue to see above-average temperatures, according to the outlook released Thursday by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2.

Here's how things are looking on a month-by-month basis.

March

For March, cold temperatures are expected to remain across the northern portion of the country. The Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, Northeast and the northernmost portions of the Northern Plains should see temperatures below average for March.

Contrast this with the South, Central U.S. and most of the West, which are expected to be above average.

The Northeast, likely still longing for some more consistent warmth, will have to wait through March as well.

April

April will begin to really see a shift in what has been ongoing for the country over the winter.

While the below-average temperatures remain for the Upper Midwest and even include parts of the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, the same is not expected for the Northeast.

Above-average temperatures are expected to cover the entire region, which is a very welcome change from the consistent cold that remained for parts of winter.

The southern half of the country will continue to see above-average temperatures, and the highest chance for some warm weather will stretch across the Southern Rockies, Southern Plains and Southeast.

May continues the trend of warmups across much of the Lower 48. The areas that should see the most warming are the West, including much of the Rockies. While still above average, the East could see only slightly above-average temperatures.

The only area leaning toward below-average temperatures is New England (plus Michigan's Upper Peninsula).

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Precipitation Outlook

While temperatures are the topic at hand as millions are waiting for shifting seasons, we can briefly talk about precipitation and what the next three months may hold.

It's more of the same. Wetter across the East and drier across the West. This is good for the East as a surprising amount of the region is actually dealing with drought. So, here's to hoping this long-range forecast verifies.

Even though the West has seen a brief pivot in the overall dry and mild season in recent weeks, they look to return to more of what they saw for most of winter.

What Is Causing The Shift And How Certain Are We Of This Forecast?

As we move into spring, the ongoing La Niña is showing signs of weakening.

For those that need a quick refresher, La Niña occurs when the Pacific Ocean sees below-average temperatures across the central and east-central portions of the equatorial region of the ocean. El Niño is the opposite, with warmer ocean temperatures in those regions. These influence our weather across the entire United States and the entire planet.

With a weakening La Nina expected, this means that a new pattern is arising and conditions will shift. This pattern is the neutral phase of El Niño-Southern Oscillation, which in short means that the Pacific waters are not notably above or below average.

So what do neutral conditions mean for the U.S.?

Well, they do cause slightly more uncertainty in these forecasts, so make sure you take these long-range forecasts with a grain of salt.

Why is there uncertainty? With more neutral temperatures in the Pacific, you have a smaller difference between temperatures between hemispheres as summer is ending in the Southern Hemisphere and winter is wrapping up in the Northern Hemisphere.

You also have weaker winds at the Equator due to the less extreme differences between hemispheres, and the winds are the main driving factor for El Niño and La Niña.

(More:La Niña Fading: What Warming Waters Mean For This Spring, Hurricane Season)

But the tendency of neutral conditions during spring is for above-average temperatures in the South and Southeast and cooler temperatures from the Central Plains to the Northeast, which March's and April's monthly forecasts show especially well.

We also have to talk about the jet stream, which is the main driver of our weather. It begins to weaken around this time of year, which means that our weather patterns are not as easy to predict in the long term.

What we are certain of: A shift toward neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions is coming and will lead to some changes across the country. But a lot of factors contribute to a more uncertain forecast.

Imagine making plans to celebrate Valentine's Day, only for Mother Nature to throw a huge wrench in your festivities.

Millions across the Northeast understand this all too well after experiencing a powerful snowstorm on Valentine's Day, 2007, 19 years ago today.

It all started when a low pressure system began to impact the Mid-Mississippi River Valley the day before Valentine's Day and eventually moved to impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast beginning the 14th.

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The worst hit areas were the Adirondack Mountains in New York and northern Vermont, where snowfall totals exceeded 2 feet.

Burlington saw a 24-hour snowfall total of 25.3 inches, which was an all-time record that stands to this day. The previous record was 23.1 inches set on the 14th of January, 1934.

Across the southern and eastern ends of the storm, warm air mixed in enough to also bring significant icing to the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast of the Northeast, so cities like Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Boston also saw more ice than snow.

Rob Shackelford is a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.

FX; Tyler Mallory/Getty

It's been over 25 years sinceJohn F. Kennedy Jr.andCarolyn Bessette Kennedy's romance ended in tragedy.

The couple captured the attention of the nationwhen they started datingin 1994. They met two years earlier in the VIP fitting room at Calvin Klein, where Carolyn worked as the brand's publicist. By 1995, Carolyn and JFK Jr. — son of PresidentJohn F. Kennedyand first ladyJackie Kennedy— were engaged and later married inan intimate ceremonyon Georgia's Cumberland Island.

On July 16, 1999, JFK Jr.piloted a planeto Martha's Vineyard with his wife and her sister Lauren Bessette on board. All three passengers died when the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 7.5 miles from their destination.

The first installment ofRyan Murphy'sLove Storyanthology chronicles JFK Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn's (Sarah Pidgeon) whirlwind romanceover the course of nine episodes. The series — which premiered on Feb. 12 — is inspired by Elizabeth Beller's bookOnce Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Here are the stars ofLove Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessetteside-by-side with their real-life counterparts.

Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr.

Eric Liebowitz/FX; Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty

Paul Anthony Kelly plays John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Kennedy.

In December 2025, Kelly opened up toInterview Magazineabout how he prepared to play the late magazine editor in his first major acting role.

"Read several biographies, including Rosemarie Terenzio's book," he said. "I watched everything I could. YouTube is great. I also listened to Jr. read his father's bookProfiles in Courageevery day before work to get into his cadence and vocal style. He was a very well-documented individual. There's just so much to take in, so once I got this, I was just a sponge."

Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

Eric Liebowitz/FX; Evan Agostini/Getty

Sarah Pidgeon portrays Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, JFK Jr.'s wife, who worked as a fashion publicist at Calvin Klein.

After receiving backlash about her portrayal, Pidgeon toldVarietyin July 2025 thatplaying Carolynhas been a "fulfilling and incredibly special" experience.

"I know how special Carolyn is to me and I understand how widely beloved she is, so this role comes with a lot of responsibility — and I'm not surprised that people have strong opinions about it," she said. "That's what makes her such an interesting person."

Pidgeon added, "I mean, not only how she dressed, but the woman who worked at Calvin Klein and the person that JFK Jr. fell in love with. She's a human being beyond just these pictures. She really resonates with a lot of people, and she certainly does with me."

Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Eric Liebowitz/FX; STAFF/AFP via Getty

Naomi Watts plays Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the former first lady and JFK Jr.'s mother. Carolynnever met Jackiebefore she died in May 1994.

At the premiere of the show in February 2026, Watts spoke toEntertainment Tonightabout the "daunting" task of portraying Jackie on screen.

"A lot of pressure. Very daunting indeed, but it helps when you've got Ryan Murphy leading it, and you've worked together multiple times before and had a successful experience," she said. "You know, despite my fear and self-doubt, him saying, 'You can do this, you've got this,' does alleviate a lot of that and makes you feel like you could probably pull it off."

Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy

Eric Liebowitz/FX; George De Sota/Liaison/Getty

Grace Gummer plays JFK Jr.'s older sisterCaroline Kennedy. Caroline had a close relationship with her late brother, but has rarely spoken about him publicly.

Presidential historian Steven M. Gillon told PEOPLE in January 2026 that JFK Jr. was one of the only peoplewho understoodthe personal tragedies Caroline faced.

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"It's this contrast between this incredibly private person and this very public tragedy that is striking," he said. "Caroline suffered the same losses that John suffered, except that she also suffered the loss of her brother."

Gummer is the daughter ofMeryl Streep, and her acting credits includeMr. Robot,American Horror StoryandSpringsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein

Eric Liebowitz/FX; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Alessandro Nivola portrays renowned American fashion designer Calvin Klein.

In February 2026, Nivola spoke toMEA WorldWideabout using Calvin's Bronx background to inform his portrayal of the designer.

"At this time that I was playing him, he still had a kind of a bit of Bronx in his voice, but there was also this kind of like lilting sound of somebody who'd spent time around Paris fashion shows," he said. "So, that was important to me to have that both in the voice and for it to like infect every part of my behavior and emotional psychology as well."

Leila George as Kelly Klein

Eric Liebowitz/FX; Steve Eichner/WireImage

Leila George plays Kelly Klein, a photographer and the ex-wife of Calvin Klein. Kellybecame friendswith Carolyn when she started working for the iconic fashion brand in the '90s.

George is known for her roles inAnimal Kingdom,DisclaimerandThe Beast in Me.

Dree Hemingway as Daryl Hannah

Eric Liebowitz/FX; J. Vespa/WireImage

Dree Hemingway playsKill BillactressDaryl Hannah, who dated JFK Jr. for five years in the early '90s.

Hannah first met JFK Jr. in the early 1980s, before reconnecting again at the 1988 wedding of his aunt Lee Radziwill to director Herb Ross. They broke up in 1994.

Hemingway is an actress, model and fashion designer and the great-granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway.

Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette

Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty

Sydney Lemmon portrays Lauren Bessette, Carolyn's sister, who was also killed in the 1999 plane crash.

Lemmon previously starred inSuccession,FirestarterandHelstrom.

Constance Zimmer as Ann Messina

Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty

Constance Zimmer plays Carolyn's mother, Ann Messina.

Speaking with PEOPLE in February 2026, Zimmer opened up about her emotional role as Carolyn's mom.

"At the core,love and grief is universal, so whether you are a mother or aren't a mother, it's like, we all can relate to falling in love and the struggles that come with it, and the part of it that is the hardest is the other side of this story," she said. "I think for me, as a mom, it's even more devastating, but I think it's just devastating across the board."

Read the original article onPeople

A plane passenger's video of a flight attendant offering a compassionate hug has gone viral

NEED TO KNOW

• The flight attendant tells PEOPLE that the woman told him "her father is dying, and if she misses her Beijing flight, she'll miss him."

• Seattle Seahawks radio host Gee Scott Sr. was on his way to the Super Bowl when he captured the fateful moment and shared it on social media

It was an "emergency flight" from Chicago to San Francisco for the Seattle Seahawks' game day radio host Gee Scott Sr. In order to support his team at the Super Bowl, Scott needed to board his early morning United Airlines flight for the Golden City on Feb. 8.

Scott tells PEOPLE he was seated "way in the back" in a "cramped" coach seat, waiting for the flight to depart. Initially he was by himself, but eventually a female passenger sat next to him.

"This lady was crying," he tells PEOPLE. Although she was speaking in a language foreign to him, he could tell she was upset.

"I kind of wonder if she's getting ready to go see a loved one, like a loved one passed away," Scott remembers thinking. "I can just kind of feel that vibe even though I didn't understand what she was saying."

Courtesy of Gee Scott Sr.

Scott says after that he went about his own business and wasn't paying attention, until one of the flight attendants arrived with the beverage cart."All of a sudden, she starts crying again and she's asking — in English — 'Hey, what about my flight,' and 'I don't know if I'm gonna be able to get my connecting flight,' " Scott says.

Next, he remembers the flight attendant taking a moment to stop and comfort the passenger.

"It was the way he knelt down," Scott says. "I pulled out my phone and I just started recording… Then when he was done, he's like, 'Hey, give me a hug.' "

"He goes to hug her and I'm telling you, it changed her," he adds. "They embraced and he got up and he finished along with his job. She looked at me, and she started to smile, and we gave each other a high five."

It was a sweet moment Scott was excited to share with his followers on social media.

Courtesy of Gee Scott Jr.

"I posted onInstagramand posted it onX… less than five minutes later, it was at 6,000 views," Scott says. "It just went crazy."

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Even before Scott got off the plane, another flight attendant approached him and let him know his video was going viral.

Eric Cato, a Chicago-based flight attendant of five years, tells PEOPLE the morning started off with a "typical delay." He was able to tell early on that the 45 minute hold up was going to cause issues for the hundreds of passengers with connections on the flight.

Courtesy of Eric Cato

Cato says he typically reviews options with his passengers including upcoming alternative flights and other accommodation options. And that's what he wanted to offer to the woman on the plane. However, he checked the flight status and learned the plane was only going to be 11 minutes late as they were able to make up time in the air."When I told her that, she just started crying," Cato remembers. "She was telling me that her father is dying, and if she misses her Beijing flight, she'll miss him."

Cato says he immediately tried to empathize with her: "I can't imagine how it is to lose a parent, but I know how it is to be away from your family and a loved one is sick, is dying, because that's happened to me before. So I was able to put myself into her shoes."

In the end, Cato says the passenger was able to make it to her next gate and the plane landed only four minutes past its scheduled arrival.

While Cato says he's given hugs to passengers before, this one "hit a little different."

"I just knew that she was so far from home and flying all the way back to where she was from. Just to see your father, to see your dad, who's sick, who's passing away, that was tough," he says. "It was a beautiful moment, but also a very sad moment as well."

Courtesy of Eric Cato

The virality of the moment gave Cato the opportunity to reflect on his career as a flight attendant and fully realize the impact he's had on his customers."My cousin yesterday, she reached out, and what she said was very spot on. She told me, 'You reveal your true self when no one is watching or when you're unaware that someone is observing. My cousin just demonstrated who he was to his core, a personification of kindness and compassion.' "

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

He adds: "You never know what anyone is going through. It's okay to pause whatever you're doing to just sit there and listen… This is who I am, I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing to listen to you and help you find a solution."

Read the original article onPeople

Frenesy Film Company / Per Capita Productions / Album; Jim Sheldon/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

NEED TO KNOW

• Valentine's Day is a holiday for horror movie lovers, PEOPLE staffer Bailey Richards argues

• The Writer/Reporter has created a list of seven horror-romance movies for Valentine's Day viewing that includes slashers, vampire movies and more

• Thirst, Bones and All and Valentine are among the recommendations on the list

Valentine's Day is for lovers. Horror lovers, that is.

With Feb. 14 here, it's time to make a decision — and I'm not talking about where to make a dinner reservation or what to buy for a last-minute gift. No, I'm talking about the most important decision of all: what movie to watch on the holiday of love.

Whether spending Cupid's Day solo, commiserating with pals or seeking something to watch with a special someone, it's a tough choice. But I'm here to help.

More specifically,as I have done for holidays past, I am here to offer up a selection of horror-romance flicks ideal for Valentine's Day viewing — from obvious choices like slasherValentineto under-loved recent releases likeYour Monster.

Anyone looking to bah-humbug their way through Lover's Day, beware: This isnotan anti-Valentine's list. It is a list for those who enjoy the lovey-dovey, but prefer it with a side of ooey-gooey. It's a simple fact — some peopleprefer their Valentine bloody!

For anyone who thinks they fit the bill, grab your popcorn and candy hearts, and read on — if you dare for seven Valentine's Day movie recommendations, carefully curated byPEOPLE's resident horror enthusiast.

Lisa Frankenstein

Michele K. Short/FOCUS FEATURES

As I have previously written ofZelda Williams' deeply underrated directorial debut,Lisa Frankensteinis "the perfect Halloween rom-com." But what I failed to mention is that it is also the perfect Valentine's Day horror movie. Frankly, it is also just the perfect every-single-day watch. (Did I mention that I love this film?)

This campy, candy-colored retelling of Mary Shelly's classic story — fromDiablo Cody, the screenwriter behind another great horror-romance entry,Jennifer's Body— expertly balances the saccharine with the sanguine, making it the ideal V-Day viewing. Bonus points for anyone who watches with their undead honey.

Valentine

Diyah Pera/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

An oft-forgotten entry in the early 2000s slasher-ssance — once upon a time, every horror movie wanted to beScream, and who can blame them? This one is a must-mention on any Valentine's Day horror list.

Denise Richards, Marley Shelton and more fear for their lives as a serial killer takes Cupid's Day very literally, donning a cherub mask to draw blood with a creative arsenal. I'm talking everything from a bow and arrow to a hot tub. And if that's not enough to inspire a Feb. 14 viewing, it alsostars Angel himself(David Boreanaz).

Thirst

Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

A criminally underrated gem in the unparalleled catalog of Park Chan-wook, this 2009 vampire flick is more experience than film.

Like any movie from theOldboyandDecision to Leavedirector, it is a feast for the eyes, oozing style even when it isn't dripping blood.

Plus, Song Kang-ho and Kim Ok-vin make it impossible to peel one's eyes away from the screen, bringing palpable chemistry as a bloodthirsty Catholic priest and the wife of his childhood friend, respectively.

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It is essential viewing for any sexy vampire movie enthusiast.

Queen of the Damned

Jim Sheldon/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Speaking of sexy vampire movies, nothing says Valentine's Day quite likeAaliyahflashing her fangs in a bathtub full of rose petals toDeftones' "Change (In the House of Flies)."

The singer's turn as the luminous Queen Akasha in this 2002 horror-fantasy film — plus, a soundtrack from Korn's Jonathan Davis andStuart Townsend's rockstar spin on iconic vamp Lestat de Lioncourt — make it the perfect Lovers' Day viewing for Anne Rice aficionados, nu metal lovers and everything in between.

Bones and All

Swap conversation hearts and chocolate-covered strawberries for something … fleshier ... this Valentine's Day. I dare you.

Though not for the faint of heart, it is difficult to find a film with more of it thanBones and All.Luca Guadagnino's tender romance, which sees Taylor Russell andTimothée Chalametfall in love on the run, cuts deep while maintaining an aura of softness so rarely seen on screen.

It is both grotesque and delicate, quiet and loud — so loud that one feels the characters' connection reverberating in their brain for hours after viewing.

Innocent Blood

There are simply not enough vampire crime movies in the world. But thankfully, there isInnocent Blood.

For anyone whose Valentine would rather watchThe Godfatherthan a romantic comedy, consider meeting in the middle — or, more accurately, somewhere else entirely — with this off-the-map 1992 horror-comedy-fantasy-crime thriller.

It is silly and sexy, with gorgeous neon lighting, ruby-eyed vamps and an all-time performance from Robert Loggia.

Your Monster

FlixPix / Alamy Stock Photo

A unique blend of horror, romance and musical, this underseen jewel starringScreamalumMelissa Barrerais an absolute blast, and it baffles me just how much fell under the radar following its 2024 release.

InYour Monster, Barrera stars as a timid actress who finds love in an unexpected place (her closet, to be exact) with the titular beast, portrayed by Tommy Dewey.

Both leads drip with charisma — Dewey from beneath a thick layer of makeup — making it nearly impossible to watch without a kaleidoscope of stomach butterflies and ear-to-ear grin.

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Sara Jo Mathews and her family did their part to fight thewildfirethat ravagedNew Mexico. By the time it was over, her businesses had suffered substantial losses. She's still waiting for a payment from the federal government to help her recover.

The wait has been frustrating. But making matters worse: While she's in limbo, the government employee responsible for distributing payments to people whose homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged has already received a six-figure payment.

"They cannot figure out for the life of them how to pay us," said Mathews of Las Vegas, New Mexico, "but they sure as hell figured out how to pay themselves."

From floods to fires: See FEMA respond to disasters across the US

Four years after the fire, the worst in New Mexico's history, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is facing questions about how it has administered a compensation fund set up by Congress to help the wildfire victims. Critics are demanding to know how the money has been distributed, who has received it and whether it's going to the people who need it most.

People who have filed claims complain that the review process has been complicated, frustrating and painstakingly slow and that cases are closed with no notice and no money awarded for their losses.

"Getting money fromFEMA, that's like getting blood from a rock," Mathews said. "They're not giving us anything."

On Thursday, Feb. 12, FEMA placed the director in charge of distributing the money and his deputy on administrative leave after revelations that each received six-figure payouts through the program while other victims are waiting for their claims to be processed.

Jay Mitchell, who works out of the FEMA claims office in Santa Fe, and his wife, Lisa, a real-estate broker, were awarded $524,000 through the compensation fund last year, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. The money was to be used to repair smoke and ash damage to the couple's home in Angel Fire, New Mexico, and to cover Lisa Mitchell's reported business losses, the documents say.

An independent news outlet calledSource New Mexicowas the first to report the payments.

Lisa Mitchell said in a brief phone interview with USA TODAY that she and her husband have been unfairly targeted. "We're being harassed for absolutely no wrongdoing," she said, declining to respond to a reporters' questions.

Jay Mitchell's deputy, Jennifer Carbajal, and a woman named Jennifer Sanchez, identified in local news reports as her ex-wife, also received $267,000 for smoke and ash cleaning and for flooding at a consulting business in Pendaries, New Mexico, the records show.

FEMA and Carbajal did not respond to requests for comment. But Paul Judson, a deputy assistant administrator in FEMA's headquarters in Washington, stressed in an email to staff of the Santa Fe office that the decision to place Mitchell and Carbajal on leave "does not reflect a finding of wrongdoing."

Judson did not say how long either would remain on leave or whether they will be paid while they are away. Juan Ayala, a senior FEMA official, will oversee the office's daily operations, he said.

Criticism of FEMA's handling of the payments comes as the agency is already under intense scrutiny in Washington. PresidentDonald Trump's administration has initiated a dramatic overhaul of the agency, which is responsible for coordinating the federal government's response to natural disasters. Trump has repeatedly characterized FEMA as ineffective and has pushed for states to have a larger role in disaster response.

Hundreds of jobs at the agency have been eliminated since Trump began his second term last year. A lawsuit filed in January by employees' unions and public interest groups says claims the Department of Homeland Security plans even deeper cuts, with more than 10,000 of the agency's roughly 20,000 employees expected to be terminated in the coming months.

Questions about the agency's handling of the compensation fund for the wildfire victims and the disclosure that Mitchell and Carbajal each received large payments have infuriated several of the state's elected leaders and families and business owners who are still waiting for their claims to be processed.

"It's a slap in the face that Mr. Mitchell and his wife got paid out," said Maria Lowe, a community activist who has been assisting people with their claims. "He should be ashamed of himself."

'Disproportionately devastating':California to investigate if Eaton Fire response involved discrimination

'Like poking a rock with a stick'

Mathews and her family did what they could to help friends and neighbors as the flames scorched and scarred just about everything in their path.

They housed firefighter crews on their ranch. Her restaurant, the Prairie Hill Café, provided meals to neighbors whose homes or businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged. Her father, Oren Mathews, who owns a gravel and well-digging company, dispatched water trucks that helped save other people's homes.

Mathews vividly remembers riding in one of her father's water trucks through thick smoke as black as the night to help family members and other ranchers save their homes.

At one point, a state trooper who had blocked the road with his vehicle stopped them and said they would not be allowed to continue. It was too dangerous, he said. The truck driver, one of her father's employees, told the officer to move his car and let them through or he'd run over it.

"You'll have to shoot us to stop us," he said.

Mathews' father suffered smoke inhalation while helping battle the flames and had to be hospitalized. He now has permanent lung damage. But people like him weren't willing to watch their homes and ranches go up in flames without a fight.

"We're stewards of our land," Sara Jo Mathews said. "They were not going to abandon their ranch that's been here for generations and their sheep and their horses and their cows to let them burn. They stayed and fought."

The destruction from the inferno, known as the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, was surreal.

More than 341,417 acres of rugged mountain terrain burned across three counties in northern New Mexico between early April and late June in 2022. The conflagration started as two separate fires – one that resulted when the U.S. Forest Service lost control of a prescribed burn at the base of Hermits Peak in the Pecos Wilderness, the other when a holdover burn pile from the previous winter reignited near Gallinas Canyon.

Heavy winds fanned the flames and merged the two fires into one. As many as1,400 structures, including houses, were destroyed. Dozens of others were damaged.

People lost homes, cars and trucks, businesses, livestock, pets, even their land. Buildings that were left standing suffered heavy smoke and ash damage. Flooding in the following weeks and months worsened the damage and the misery.

To help with the recovery, Congress created a special fund in September 2022 and provided $5.4 billion to compensate those who suffered losses. The goal was to set up a simple, expedited process to submit a claim. Jay Mitchell, who had worked for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, was hired in April 2024 to oversee the FEMA claims office responsible for distributing the money.

But people who sought compensation say the process for filing claims was far from quick or easy.

FEMA demanded detailed paperwork, such as insurance forms or payroll records, that many mom-and-pop businesses didn't have. Some people filing claims complained that they spent hours gathering the necessary documents – only to have FEMA lose them and ask for them again.

As of Feb. 4, FEMA had paid 23,549 proof of loss claims totaling $3.36 billion, according to the office of Sen.Martin Heinrich, D-NM. How many claims are pending is unclear. FEMA did not respond to a request to provide those numbers. But community leaders say at least 73 people who suffered total losses to their homes or businesses are still waiting for their claims to be processed. The number of pending claims is likely significantly larger since people can file multiple claims.

Aninspector general's reportissued on Feb. 24, 2025, found that 13% of claims already filed were overdue a response. Specifically, FEMA had not acknowledged 1,508 of 11,695 active claims more than six months after they were filed, the report said.

Lowe said at least 20 of the 75 people she has helped with their claims are still waiting to hear how much money they'll receive, if any.

One of them is El Rialto Restaurant, a small family-owned eatery in Las Vegas, New Mexico, that has been in business for over half a century. The business was forced to shut down for extended periods during the fire and its aftermath, Lowe said. The owner filed a claim with FEMA in July 2024 to recover his losses, but nothing happened.

Lowe got involved, helped the owner find the necessary documents and filed them with FEMA. The "navigator," or FEMA employee assigned to the case, estimated the restaurant's losses at $180,000. Lowe thought they were higher, but was still gathering paperwork to make her case. The navigator advised them to sign the paperwork and said the loss estimate could be adjusted later, Lowe said.

Lowe was stunned when she discovered later that he had closed the case without telling them. The restaurant would get no money. When Lowe complained, the navigator suggested she should appeal and even said he thought she had a good case, she said.

"He just needed me to sign something so he could close out the case," a frustrated Lowe said. "He never had any intention of allowing us to submit further documentation."

Mathews said dealing with FEMA has been exasperating. "It's like poking a rock with a stick and saying, 'Move! Move! Move!'" she said.

Three members of New Mexico's congressional delegation – Heinrich, Sen.Ben Ray Lujanand Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez – say they have been working with claimants to help them get the money they are due.

In November, the three lawmakers, all Democrats, sent a letter to FEMA raising concerns about how the program had been administered, citing a lack of communication, trust and urgency by the agency. They demanded to know how many claims are outstanding, how many are tied up in appeals and how much of the funding has been spent on administrative costs.

FEMA has yet to respond, Heinrich's office said.

'A big problem'

The revelations that Mitchell and Carbajal had received six-figure payments added to the frustration. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the three Congress members have called for Mitchell's resignation.

"When the person in charge of claims moves himself to the front of the line and receives a half-million-dollar payout while thousands of others are still waiting to be made whole, that's a big problem," said the governor's spokesman, Michael Coleman.

If Mitchell refuses to resign, Coleman said, he should be fired immediately.

State Rep. Joseph Sanchez, a Democrat whose district in northcentral New Mexico was the epicenter of the fires, said residents of the impacted areas "deserve much better than how they have been treated by FEMA."

"Jay Mitchell just go," he said.

Families and businesses affected by the fire are hurting, but they'll survive, Mathews said. New Mexicans are strong, she said. Some live in communities that were founded centuries ago and are among the oldest in the nation.

"Long after the federal government forgets us, we'll be here, pulling each other up, helping one another," Mathews said. "We have survived because of our resilience and our close-knit communities. And we're not going to give up."

With or without the government's help.

Michael Collins writes about the intersection of politics and culture. A veteran reporter, he has covered the White House and Congress. Follow him on X: @mcollinsNEWS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:A FEMA director got wildfire payments while New Mexico victims wait