HURRICANE HELENE as viewed from the International Space Station (NASA image).

Hurricane Helene is moving quickly toward landfall on the western shore of Florida as high waves batter the Sunshine State’s northwestern coast.

According to the Associated Press, Helene has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm and the storm surge – a mass of water send crashing in the land –  could be more damaging than the powerful winds.

“The leading cause of death from hurricanes is water, not wind,” said Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Agency,

Hurricane and flash flood warning extend all the way to northern Georgia and western North Carolina. About 320,000 homes and businesses in Florida have lost electric power and six states have declared emergencies including Alabama, South Carolina and Virginia.

Arraignment for NY mayor on Friday

NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams (Wikipedia).

The arraignment for New York Mayor Eric Adams on bribery and fraud charges has been set for Friday.

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, claims that Adams accepted over $100,000 in graft and used his influence to assist Turkey, a nation with authoritarian leadership.

According to The New York Times, Adams maintains his innocence and said, “Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics,” said Adams, who is a Democrat.

The indictments came after a lengthy investigation by federal officers, who seized the cell phones of members of Adams’ “inner circle” for evidence of misdeeds.

Dodgers win 11th NLW title in 12 years

A five-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh inning boosted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night and an 11th National League West title in 12 years.

Trailing 2-0 at Dodger Stadium, the Blue Crew (95-64) tied it with a two-run homer by Will Smith, his 20th home run of the season.

Shohei Ohtani (3-for-5 on the night) singled in the go-ahead run and Mookie Betts singled in two more runs. In the bottom of the eighth, Andy Pages put a bow on it with a two-run home run.

The Los Angeles Angels (63-96) continued their descent into infamy on Thursday as they lost 7-0 to the Chicago White Sox – the team finishing with what could be worst season record in MLB history – in the Windy City. The home team scored seven runs in the fifth to break up a scoreless game,.The Los Angeles Dodgers can clinch the National League West on Thursday if they can defeat the visiting San Diego Padres at home.

IN HIGH SCHOOL football action, the Los Amigos High football team finished its pre-league schedule unbeaten, defeating Western Christian High of Upland 44-12 Thursday night at Monsoor Stadium on the Garden Grove High campus.

Featuring a strong running attack, the orange-and-black were led by Isaac Galindo who ran for 164 yards and one TD, and QB Jayvin Le who added three more scores on the ground.

The Lobos will open Sigma League play on Friday, Oct. 4 by visiting Ocean View High.

Weather:  Stuck in the Seventies

For our West Orange County cities, daytime highs will stays in the mid-to-high 70s right through Monday. Friday’s forecast calls for a high of 75 with an overnight low of 61. There may be be fog in the morning and sun in the afternoon. The chance of rain is 10 percent. Saturday will see a small rise to 77 (59), also with morning fog and afternoon sun with an 11 percent chance of rain.

Sunday will cool just a bit to 76 (60) with partly cloudy skies and Monday will want just a bit to 79 (62), also with partly cloudy skies.