Hurricane Helene forecast to make landfall in Florida as Category 4 storm

All eyes are on Hurricane Helene as the storm is strengthening on its way to Florida — now projected to become a Category 4 storm. And we have a preview of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” ahead of his visit to the White House. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

Hurricane Helene to rapidly intensify before making landfall in Florida

Hurricane Helene is barreling toward Florida. The Category 1 storm is expected to rapidly intensify before making landfall in state’s Big Bend area Thursday evening, Sept. 26.

The National Hurricane Center said Helene is expected to be a “major hurricane” when it hits Florida, possibly even a Category 4 storm. Colleges and airports have been closed in parts of the state.

Hurricane Helene Causes Massive Flooding and Damage in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Severe flooding and material damage have been reported in Quintana Roo, with the Cancun hotel area heavily impacted. Thankfully, no loss of life has been reported. Recovery efforts are currently… pic.twitter.com/7Rq0YRTrPo

— Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) September 26, 2024

Evacuation orders have been in place in multiple counties since Wednesday, Sept. 25, and the National Weather Service is warning “a catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely.” Storm surges are expected to get up to 20 feet or more in some places — that’s like a two-story building.

While the storm is expected to weaken after making landfall, meteorologists say its damaging winds will likely be felt well inland. 

New York City mayor to face at least one federal charge

A grand jury has indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams on at least one federal criminal charge, sources familiar with the matter told the New York Times. This comes as Adams has been under federal investigation for months, over his alleged connection to Turkish officials and businessmen, as well as campaign donations he supposedly received. 

However, we do not yet know the exact charges Adams will be facing.

Once the indictment is unsealed, Adams will become the first mayor of New York City to face a federal charge while in office. Previously, Adams has denied any wrongdoing saying it’s political payback for his complaining about the migrant crisis in New York City.  

On Wednesday night, he vowed to stay in office and fight the charges.

“Enough, I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,” Adams said. “If I’m charged — I know I’m innocent — I will request an immediate trial so the New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor.”   

Once charged, it’s not clear when he would surrender to authorities.

Congress passes stopgap bill to avoid government shutdown

Congress has passed a temporary measure to keep the government from shutting down for at least another three months. The spending bill will keep government agencies funded at their current level until at least Dec. 20.  

It also sets aside an extra $231 million to bolster the Secret Service in the wake of two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump. 

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed, in many senses, his hands were tied when it came to the bill. 

“While continuing resolution’s never ideal — none of us like them, it’s not a way to run a railroad — it allows Congress to continue serving the American people through the election,” Johnson said. “This is not the House’s fault. It’s the Senate’s fault. They passed not a single appropriations bill, so there was nothing for the two chambers to negotiate in the end, and there was no agreement on the top line spending number. So, we had, we had no choice.”

Tonight, we have voted to avoid an unnecessary government shutdown at the end of the month.

The government will stay open.

Vital government services will not be halted.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 25, 2024

Over in the Senate, the bill passed by a 78-18 margin. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Americans can breathe easy, because both sides have chosen bipartisanship. Congress is getting the job done.” 

The bill now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

Zelenskyy to meet with Biden at White House to discuss ‘victory plan’

A day after delivering a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Biden in Washington D.C. at the White House. They’re set to discuss what Zelenskyy is calling his “victory plan” for Ukraine’s ongoing war against Russia. 

While the specifics of the plan are still unknown, the Associated Press has reported it includes the guarantee of NATO membership for Ukraine and permission to use long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory. The plan also will seek to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and increase sanctions against Russia. 

On Wednesday, President Biden met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N., where the White House said Biden informed Zelenskkyy he will be directing “a surge of security assistance to Ukraine.”

I met with President Biden @POTUS on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and expressed my gratitude for the unwavering U.S. support, which is saving lives and helping Ukraine defend its independence.

I told President Biden about the situation on the frontlines and raised…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 25, 2024

While in Washington, Zelenskyy is also scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and a group of bipartisan senators. 

Zelenskky was expected to meet with former President Trump this week but reports now say that is no longer likely. 

At a campaign stop in North Carolina, Trump said Ukraine has been absolutely obliterated due to the war.

US calls for 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah

There are new talks for cease-fire in the Middle East — this one between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The U.S. is calling for a 21-day cease-fire across the Israel-Lebanon border.   

In a statement, the White House said the cease-fire would “provide space for diplomacy.” It added the situation between Hezbollah and Israel is “intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.” 

The deal is supported by U.S. allies including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Qatar. 

Lebanon’s prime minister told Reuters he has hopes a cease-fire can be reached soon.

⭕️Approx. 75 Hezbollah terrorist targets in the area of Beqaa and in southern Lebanon were precisely struck by the IDF overnight.

These targets included weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers, terrorists, and terrorist infrastructure.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 26, 2024

Meanwhile, the fighting continues, as the Israeli army says it struck 75 Hezbollah targets including storage facilities for weapons Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This followed strikes on Wednesday that killed at least 72 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.   

There are also reports that Israel is now preparing to launch a ground assault.

OpenAI eyes move to for-profit as top execs exit

OpenAI, one of the biggest companies in the world of artificial intelligence, is undergoing some “real” change. This comes after its Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who helped develop the company’s chatbot ChatGPT, resigned on Wednesday, followed by word that its chief research officer and a research vice president were also leaving. 

The departures come amid reports that the company is planning to switch from being a non-profit organization to a for-profit one, making it more appealing to investors. There would still be a non-profit segment that would pursue charitable goals and own a stake in the company. This transition, however, would take years to complete. 

CEO Sam Altman would also own a chunk of the company. 

These changes come as OpenAI is reportedly pursuing a funding round that would value the company at more than $150 billion.