By Jamie Ross with John Taylor  Email Listen to this briefing Good morning. It’s Friday, Sept. 27, and this (pretty tricky) asteroid quiz is a perfect way to welcome Earth’s temporary second moon this weekend. Now let’s get to the news. Helene made landfall as a hurricane in Florida. Last night: Helene hit the state’s Big Bend region, where storm surge could reach 20 feet. At least three people have been killed by the storm — follow live updates here. Its scale: Helene is one of the biggest storms on record to strike the Gulf Coast, and its impacts will be felt hundreds of miles from its center. Track the storm’s path here. Read this story            JD Vance harshly criticized Donald Trump’s record in private 2020 messages. What he said: That his future running mate “thoroughly failed to deliver” in office. The texts cast doubt on Vance’s story of how he embraced Trumpism — read them here. Other Trump news: He’ll meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskytoday, and it could be tense. And Trump’s new campaign ad is stuck in a time warp — we fact-checked it here. One more thing: Tucker Carlson is on a nationwide tour, but he doesn’t seem to know why. Read this story            The indictment against New York Mayor Eric Adams was unsealed yesterday. The charges: He is accused of bribery, wire fraud and seeking illegal campaign donations — read the indictment here. The allegations stem from before and after he became mayor. What now? The police officer turned politician said he’ll remain in office, despite calls from fellow Democrats to resign. If convicted, he could face years in prison. Read this story              Israel’s prime minister will deliver a high-stakes speech in New York. This morning: Benjamin Netanyahu will address the U.N. General Assembly. It comes after he dismissed a U.S.-backed push for a 21-day cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Why it matters: Netanyahu faces growing anger — at home and among world leaders — for Israel’s devastating war in Gaza. And now, Israel is on the cusp of a wider war. Read this story            The U.S. hit a grim modern-era milestone last night. What happened: Alan Miller — convicted of killing three men in 1999 — was executed in Alabama. It’s the fifth death sentence carried out in the past week. The bigger picture: It’s the 1,600th since 1976, when the Supreme Court allowed most state executions to resume. And recent deaths have prompted backlash. Read this story            ADVERTISEMENT     A novel drug for schizophrenia was approved yesterday. What is it? Cobenfy, which trials showed was effective without causing common side effects. It’s a major breakthrough in a mental illness that affects 2.8 million Americans. Other health news: You can order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail again — request your tests from the government here. Read this story            A 3,775-year-old log may hold the secret to slowing climate change. This ancient log found in Quebec, Canada, may point to a cheap, low-tech solution for storing carbon. (Ning Zeng) Why? The log, found under a farm in Canada, lost less than 5% of its carbon over the centuries. Its underground conditions kept it unusually well-preserved. Why it matters: It suggests that burying wood in the right spot could keep carbon out of the atmosphere — and help to delay the worst effects of global warming. Read this story