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US News

Helene Moves Into Georgia After Making Historic Landfall in Florida

What's going on: Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane but has now weakened to a tropical storm. It was the strongest hurricane ever to hit Florida’s Big Bend on record with winds lashing the shores at nearly 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) reported one person died after a sign fell and hit a car driving on a highway in the Tampa area. The powerful storm has already caused power outages for more than 1 million people in Florida and more than 50,000 in Georgia as high winds and heavy rainfall continue to batter the region. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 61 counties ahead of landfall and urged those who can evacuate to leave as quickly as possible. Schools and businesses have closed their doors and flights have been canceled ahead of Helene’s landfall.

Tell me more: Helene is on track to be one of the largest storms produced in the Gulf of Mexico in the last century. Officials warn Helene’s catastrophic wind damage could lead to power outages that will “likely last days, if not weeks.” Most recently, Hurricane Ian devastated Florida in 2022 — killing 161 people and causing $100 billion in damages. However, it could take days to understand the full scope of the damage caused by Helene. President Biden has already approved disaster declarations for Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, as forecasters predict other parts of the southeast will be hit with dangerous winds, rain, and flooding. The ongoing rain also creates the potential for “significant landslides” across southern Appalachia today.

Related: What Is the Waffle House Index and Why Does It Matter? (AccuWeather)

Politics

New York City Mayor Eric Adams Defiantly Stays in an Empire State of Mind

What's going on: A long-standing urban legend claims the New York City Mayor’s office is cursed, and the latest evidence is compelling: Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five federal charges related to bribery, fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations, according to documents unsealed yesterday. Federal investigators say Adams conspired with the Turkish government to accept illegal foreign campaign contributions. The investigation is just one of at least four into the mayor’s administration. The US attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams alleges Adams was “showered” with gifts he knew were illegal, including free travel, “opulent” hotel rooms, fancy meals, and “luxurious entertainment,” like a Turkish bath visit. Officials say he also pressured the New York City Fire Department to approve a new Turkish consulate, despite safety concerns. Williams said Thursday: “This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise.” Adams is scheduled to be arraigned today at noon.

What it means: The calls for Adams to step down are growing louder, but he can’t come to the phone right now — he’s vowed to stay in office, and he vehemently denies all charges against him. He’s also not legally required to vacate his position, but the state’s governor could remove him (and is now weighing whether to do so). If Adams does resign or is removed, the city’s public advocate Jumaane Williams would take over and then a special election would decide the new mayor. (Disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo might be throwing his hat in the ring for the gig). While it's been a dramatic week in New York politics, it's also been a busy year for politicians facing federal investigations, with Mayor Adams now joining a list that includes former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), and former President Donald Trump.

Related: The Feds Needed Eric Adams's Cell Phone — He Said He Forgot His Passcode (USA Today)

Health

A New Study Is Sounding the Alarm About "Contraception Deserts"

What's going on: A new Obstetrics & Gynecology study found that states with the most restrictive abortion bans (including Texas and Mississippi) saw a 5% drop in birth control prescriptions in the first year after Roe v. Wade was overturned. This tracks: 63 clinics have closed across 14 states since the Dobbs decision dismantled Roe, and those clinics didn’t just provide abortions — they also prescribed birth control. Other factors could have also contributed to the decline, including people ordering pills online (not tracked in the study) or switching to other methods like IUDs. The study also found a 65% drop in emergency contraception prescriptions (like Plan B) in states with the strictest bans, compared to states with “moderate” restrictions. Researchers say this is the first national study looking at the impact of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision on birth control and emergency contraception. 

What it means: Nineteen million women of reproductive age are estimated to live in “contraceptive deserts” meaning they lack “reasonable access” to a health center offering the full range of birth control methods. The new research comes as some politicians have begun to target birth control access. Earlier this year, the Texas attorney general sued the Biden Administration over its policy allowing minors to access birth control without parental consent. A CNN analysis found politicians post-Roe legislation promises have fallen short, both nationally and in states with quick abortion bans. Both Missouri and Louisiana rejected bills that would have expanded access to or enshrined the right to contraception, respectively. As lawmakers continue to restrict birth control and abortion, millions of women nationwide are facing increasing challenges in managing their reproductive choices.

Related: Today, a Congressman Is Proposing a Childcare Bill That Could Cap Costs at $10 a Day (TIME)