is nightline tonight. hurricane helene, the deadly storm slamming ashore in florida as a catastrophic category four storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles an hour. the flood threat and hundreds of thousands without power. our team is in the path of the storm. plus power broker, new york city

mayor eric adams shocking federal indictment. >> he told the public he received no gifts even though he was secretly being showered with them. >> accused of corruption, fraud and taking more than $100,000 in bribes from a foreign nation. >> i look forward to defending myself. >> the shockwaves through the government of america's biggest city and hayden panettiere. she rose to fame as a cheerleader on heroes. >> i'm tired of trying to be someone i'm not. >> then showed us life as a country singer on nashville. now she's back on screen in amber alert, a movie with a message. >> i think i see the car from the amber alert. get closer as soon as they read the script, i was like, i do believe that things happen for a reason. >> pulling back the curtain on her wellness journey. >> sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back. plus, the joker is me.

>> the ticking time bomb, lady gaga says, is set to explode in joker folie a deux. >> nightline will be right back. joker is me. >> immerse yourself in candy crush music season for your chance to win three epic music for over 50 years chance to win three epic music experiences anywhere in the () purina cat chow has been helping cats feel at home. with trusted nutrition, no wonder it's the number one dry cat food in america. come home to cat chow.

>> thanks for joining us. breaking news as we come on the air tonight, hurricane helene

ravaging the coastline. the strongest on record ever to hit the big bend area of florida. coming ashore tonight as a monster category four storm roughly a million customers have already lost power. helene wielding a catastrophic storm surge along the way. this video in from fort myers beach, where the lee county sheriff's department and marine deputies are preparing for rescues. our team is on the ground across the storm zone, and we begin tonight with abc's victor oquendo in tallahassee, where the mayor is warning this could be the most intense and destructive storm in the city's history. >> victor juju this is shaping up to be a catastrophic hurricane for florida's big ben. here in tallahassee the rain. it has been consistent for hours now, and the winds are starting to intensify. we know they'll get worse throughout the night, and that's what we have to watch. so closely. they can become incredibly dangerous here in tallahassee. and here's why. florida's capital is known for its trees, its canopy roads. just take a look above me here with powerful winds. like what

helene is packing, those trees can come crashing down on top of homes. they'll be blocking roads and bringing power lines down. we fully expect power outages to increase exponentially throughout the night. the south of us, along the coastal areas of the big bend. it's the historic storm surge that is so incredibly concerning. officials say we could be seeing 20ft of storm surge and say that would be unsurvivable. at this point, the time to evacuate it has come and gone. it is hunkered down time. and whether you are riding this out at home or in a shelter, if you are in helene's path bracing for a long night ahead. juju. >> victor. thank you. we go now to abc's chief meteorologist ginger zee in saint petersburg. >> ginger, you know, juju, we've been seeing 60 to 70 mile per hour gusts. >> just rocking us here around tampa bay area. >> but we're in saint pete. and for 18 hours, we took off shore flow big time coastal flooding the sea walls around us were breached. >> we can't even be near that

right now. but obviously we're still very gusty with a storm that is making landfall in the big bend or has that was so far from us. >> that's what's wild about this part of florida. we did this in idalia and the beaches outside of saint petersburg, on that side where they're getting the onshore flow, treasure island up to clearwater, that's where we're going to see that big damage happening here as the winds stay with us. then we'll start to dwindle, because by the time we wake up five, 6 a.m, the center of the storm is up in northeast georgia, western south carolina already. so it's moving really fast, screaming across the state. it's going to impact so many people. >> juju ginger thank you. joining me now is abc meteorologist somara theodore. samara give us the latest. all right. >> so this storm juju has made landfall in perry florida about ten miles southwest south of perry, florida. and it came in as a category four storm. extremely strong. one thing i do want to note is it's moving. so quickly to about 24mph to the

north northeast. that's very fast for a hurricane. it's zooming in to southern georgia, and by early morning before daybreak, places like macon, middle georgia, bibb county, they're going to be seeing hurricane force winds as it continues on its trajectory towards places like atlanta. >> you've been tracking the storm for hours. how much further northwest is it headed? >> well, we're actually going to see this storm kind of end its life towards the tennessee valley. so by tomorrow afternoo, heavy rainfall is battering places like asheville, north carolina, parts of tennessee, not just any rainfall. this is going to be catastrophic and historic there. this is historic flash flooding that they're on the brink of in places like asheville. wherever you're seeing that pink on your screen, we have an extremely high risk for flash flooding. they could see totals up to 20in. >> we know about the storm surge and the danger of flooding, but tell us about the power that this storm packs and how it ranks. >> that's a great question,

juju. so at 2 a.m. on thursday morning, this was a category one hurricane. by the afternoon it was a category four. so we saw this rapidly intensify. a lot of that attributed to the warm waters in the gulf of mexico, about 2 to 4 degrees above average. the barometric pressur. that is what we use to help rank on how strong a storm system is dropped to 9.38 938 millibars. so that means that it is now ranking in the top ten strongest storms to make landfall in the state of florida. >> that's incredible. and we know that you'll be watching and tracking the storm every step of the way. so thank you so much for joining us. and of course, we'll continue to follow the latest on the impact of the storm on abc news live. overnight and on gma in the morning. and we're going to turn now to the story that has rocked america's largest metropolis in new york city. eric adams has become the first sitting mayor ever to face criminal charges. the indictment contains a litany of allegations, all of which adams has denied, and says he will fight. here's abc's senior investigative correspondent erin

katersky. >> we are not surprised. we expected this. this is not surprising to us at all. >> an act of defiance amid a chaotic fall from grace for new york city mayor eric adams, the leader of the largest city in the country. adams hit with federal charges in an indictment unsealed today. how are you doing, man? the accusations go back a decade to mayor adams time as brooklyn borough president and include allegations of campaign finance violations, bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. >> mayor adams engaged in a long running conspiracy in which he solicited and knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors and corporations. as we allege, mayor adams took these contributions even though he knew they were illegal, and even though he knew these contributions were attempts by a turkish government official and turkish businessman to buy influence with him.

>> it's a tangled kind of story, but at bottom it's almost simplistic and it's kind of like a really typical type of political corruption case. >> there is a lot in this 57 page indictment. but if you if you boil it down to its smallest points, what the s.d.n.y is arguing is that mayor adams operated in almost a pay to play type of scheme, that he solicited money from the turkish government. they gave him money to the tune of $100,000 when it came to upgrades for traveling on turkish airlines, for international flights, and to stay at lavish hotels, and that they also created this straw contribution system where they would give money in the name of others or just fake names, and the mayor would get money for donations year after year after year. >> he kept the public in the dark. he told the public he received no gifts even though he was secretly being showered with them. >> the indictment is sweeping.

it's a federal indictment, which means it's handled by the u.s. attorney. federal authorities were the investigators here. it would be prosecuted in federal court in the southern district of new york, in manhattan, the same court where bernie madoff, sbf, those people, senator menendez, who just recently was convicted, that's the that's the office that's prosecuting the case. >> over the past year, the adams administration has been marred by allegations of scandal after scandal sweeping federal raids targeting several of the mayor's top aides. >> another top aide to mayor eric adams has resigned. >> new york city's mayor, eric adams, has been indicted on federal charges. >> last november, adams chief fundraiser, briana suggs, had her home raided by federal officials who seized cell phones and laptops about ten months ago, the investigation really burst into the open. >> the mayor's key fundraiser ended up getting swept up in this. >> since then, no arrests, but a cascade of raids and resignations have rocked the adams inner circle to its core, including of then nypd

commissioner edward caban, followed by a raid last week on the home of the interim commissioner, thomas donlon, who had just stepped in to replace him. it was shocking. >> wther you're an average citizen or a public defender of almost a decade like myself, to see this widespread and sprawling investigation where one person would have their cell phone seized like a deputy of the mayor or the commissioner of the nypd, and then another person would step up and take their position, and then their phones would be searched. >> more than a dozen members of the mayor's team have faced some kind of scrutiny, including leaders of some of the city's most crucial departments. >> it really is a wide ranging investigation. we really have never seen anything like it. we have never seen a sitting mayor of new york city ever be arrested and charged. second thing is, we're seeing a number of people in the mayor's orbit confidants, intimates, direct reports, people that were handpicked by him who are swept up in this, wrapped up in the

federal dragnet. >> close advisers to the mayor, including sheena wright, the first deputy mayor, her partner david banks, the chancellor of schools, who announced his retirement earlier this week. his brother philip banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, and timothy pearson, adams senior adviser, who all had electronic devices seized in early morning raids on september 4th. but none has been accused of crimes. adams spent part of the day yesterday at a u.n. reception hosted by president biden, prompting questions about whether the president and the embattled mayor have spoken. >> and adams was also at a reception last night with the president at the met. did they talk? i can confirm to you that the president did not see the mayor and they did not speak. >> the mayor's team pushing back every step of the way. adams defense attorney, alex spiro denying the charges. >> there's no corruption. this is not a real case. we're going to see everybody in court, hopefully tomorrow, if not monday. and i have nothing further. >> and i look forward to defending myself and defending

the people of this city. >> adams will be arraigned tomorrow at noon friday. >> as mayor adams arraignment on the five counts in this indictment, and it's going to be a very unique situation because we've seen 110 men in the history of new york be mayors. but this will be the first time that a sitting mayor is indicted on federal charges. >> our thanks to erin when we come back, she's played a cheerleader and a country star. but hayden panettiere says she hopes her new role will inspire others to become real life heroes. >> straight ahead, right in >> straight ahead, right in front crohn's symptoms kept me out of the picture. now i have skyrizi. ♪ i've got places to go and i'm feeling free ♪ ♪ control of my crohn's means everything to me ♪ ♪ control is everything to me ♪ and now i'm back in the picture. feel significant symptom relief at 4 weeks with skyrizi, including less abdominal pain and fewer bowel movements.

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>> our next guest is best known for roles in movies and hit tv shows like nashville and who could forget heroes? and now she's starring in a new movie, amber alert, and she's here to talk about that and much more. hayden panettiere, welcome to nightline. >> thanks for having me. >> or i should say, welcome back to nightline, because the last time you came, you talked about your wellness journey. how is that going? >> it's going well. it's all a process. it's. every day is a new step. sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back. but it's a journey. >> and you're doing well, though it sounds like. >> no, i am doing well. and i'm very proud of this movie that that i have coming out. >> so let's talk about it. it's called amber alert and i want to first play a clip and then we can dive in. okay. look >> i put it out without a plate number. >> i bet it looks just like the one in the picture. >> yeah, but we probably drove

past, like, five of these already. what if that is the one? >> oh my goodness. you can the heart thumping music. you can feel it. it's a thriller about you chasing down an amber alert. tell us what drew you to the project. and as a mom, how does it hit you? like this child is in danger? >> oh my gosh. well, the project came to me and as soon as i read the script, i was like, i do believe that things happen for a reason. and i was so grateful that it landed in my lap, because i've always thought of myself as a hero, as being the first to, like, run in to help anybody, save an animal, save a human being. but i realized that i wasn't doing my due diligence with these amber alerts that i would. i would see them and lik, pray that that the child, everything was going to be okay. but i was of the mindset for some reason that i was just one

person. the chances of me being the one to help or find something you know are slim to none. so don't look around and i'm in a rush. this movie is not just a thriller that i want people to see and enjoy watching, but it's also a psa. and to remind people that they can make a huge change in people's lives if they just take one moment to look around them, do their due diligence, and we can save children and families. >> 911 what's your emergency? >> yes, i think i see the car from the amber alert. get closer go >> you talk about the movie being a psa, but you've also done so much to raise public consciousness around postpartum depression because you bravely came forward and talked about your own story. >> well, i didn't think it was anything to be embarrassed by. and i realized how much stigma

there was around it, and that women everywhere needed to hear that they weren't alone, that that they should not listen to the naysayers who say, it's all in your head. you know you're making it up. you're making a choice, a decision to be depressed. and you're like, why did i choose that? why would that be my choice like that makes zero sense. >> and you've been so outspoken about your own grief journey because i know you lost your brother last year, and i'm so sorry. my condolences. but your body reacted in your grief journey. >> yes, we all react in different ways. i mean, it's wild what the body can do when it's under stress. it looks different on everyone, and we ourselves are as shocked as the people around us. >> and for you, you talked about how you put on a lot of weight really rapidly. but in addition to that, you talked about the agoraphobia that you found because you didn't want to be seen in public, etc. by paparazzi. and yet you also talk

about the hopeful side, which is that you found a trainer who really helped you kind of almost become a life coach. >> yes. marnie alton helped save my life. my mental health, my physical health. she's not just a trainer, but she has become a dear friend and the most incredible therapist. >> well, you've been through a lot and i'm grateful for you for sharing. give us one last thought about what's in the future for you. because i know you're thinking about writing a memoir. >> yes, i am. and what i didn't expect was that life was going to keep happening to me while writing the memoir. so i don't know how it's going to end, but more chapters keep being added into it. but, you know, i keep my brother in mind and i want to leave this world a better place than i found it. >> well, your brother was lucky to have you. and again, we give you our condolences. thank you so much for joining us and for

sharing so much. >> thank you for having me. all right. >> and you can catch amber alert in select theaters and available on demand this friday. when we come back, lady gaga drops new music ahead of joker folie a deux and unleashes her inner harley quinn. they don't care as long as there is a jester. >> just a fool as foolish as he can be. there's always a joker. that's the rule. but faith is the habit. i see. the joker is the habit. i see. the joker is me. the ines. that's why he switched to dovato. dovato is a complete hiv treatment for some adults. no other complete hiv pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable than dovato. detect this: leo learned that most hiv pills contain 3 or 4 medicines. dovato is as effective with just 2.

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>> and finally, tonight it's a gaga stravaganza. you should see it out there. >> they're all going crazy for you. >> the superstar is set to drop harlequin tomorrow. she's called it a companion album to the hotly anticipated joker. folie a deux. gaga and joaquin phoenix thrilling fans at the film's london premiere. abc's chris connelly sat down with them. >> i tried to create an inner storm for her that would, like, just feel like when they were together that there was like a ticking time bomb inside of her. and you just never knew when it was going to go off. >> you can catch the full interview tomorrow morning on gma and later on nightline. and that's nightline for tonight. you can watch all of our full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here. same time tomorrow. thanks for staying up with us. good night. america >> more americans choose abc