As Hurricane Helene, now a Category 2 storm, barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, the state is bracing for life-threatening conditions. Helene’s storm surge is expected to reach 15 to 20 feet in some areas, posing a severe risk to both life and property. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has highlighted Helene’s unusual size, with its wind field extending 275 miles from the center, ensuring that the storm’s effects will be felt well beyond its direct path. The Appalachian Mountains may even experience severe impacts as the storm moves inland, bringing heavy rainfall and powerful winds far from the coast.

Floridians should prepare now, as the storm is set to make landfall Thursday night, but its effects could arrive much earlier. Helene is shaping up to be one of the most significant weather events of 2024.

In shocking political news, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on charges related to a campaign contribution scheme spanning over a decade. Unsealed earlier today, the 57-page indictment accuses Adams of bribery and accepting illegal donations for his 2021 mayoral campaign. The FBI raided the mayor’s residence and seized his phone in a dramatic turn of events, signaling a potentially turbulent political future for the once-rising Democratic star.

As Adams battles these charges, questions about trust in political leadership loom large, especially in a city as diverse and politically active as New York. What will this mean for the city’s governance and the Democratic Party’s influence heading into next year’s elections?

Just weeks before Election Day, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., ignited controversy with a racist social media post that has drawn significant backlash. Referring to Haiti as the “nastiest country in the western hemisphere,” Higgins suggested Haitian migrants should “get their ass out of our country.” This inflammatory statement follows on the heels of Donald Trump’s comments about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating pets in Ohio, sparking threats of violence.

In a political climate already rife with division, Higgins’ rhetoric only serves to widen the gap. With the GOP hoping to make inroads with Black voters ahead of the election, this controversy likely won’t help their efforts. The question remains: How will these damaging statements affect the Republican Party’s strategy moving forward?

It wouldn’t be 2024 without celebrity drama making headlines. Cardi B and Offset are back in the news—this time, the rapper publicly slammed Offset after he accused her of cheating while pregnant. In a fiery social media post, Cardi B expressed regret over her relationship with Offset, continuing a trend we’ve seen with celebrities where public loyalty seems to take a backseat.

Infidelity in high-profile marriages isn’t new. From Dave Grohl’s secret love child to the breakups of Shakira, Chance the Rapper, and Adam Levine, 2024 has proven that even the glitz and glam of celebrity life can’t escape relationship scandals. Perhaps monogamy is a dying concept in today’s entertainment industry, but one thing’s for sure—drama like this keeps the gossip mill spinning.