U.S. and world news for Sept. 20

Airstrikes: Officials in Gaza say that there were multiple deaths from new Israeli airstrikes on a number of targets in Gaza. They did not provide a casualty count. Fifty people were missing or trapped following the collapse of a four-story building that was hit by the Israelis. Israeli airstrikes also took place against about 100 launching sites for rockets in Southern Lebanon used by Hezbollah.  

Judge: Kentucky State Police report that a sheriff got into an argument with a judge in the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky, and shot and killed the judge. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines turned himself in and was being held. Murder charges were due to be filed. The State Police did not provide details on what the argument was all about.

Three Mile Island: Constellation Energy, which owns the Three Mile Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania that was shut down after a nuclear accident occurred in its Reactor 2 in 1979, says it will restart the Reactor 1 unit. Constellation says it has a 20-year deal to sell the power generated at the nuclear power plant to Microsoft. It says Microsoft will use the electricity to power its data centers that require enormous amounts of electricity in artificial intelligence operations. Constellation characterizes the nuclear power plant as generating carbon-free electricity.

Cancellation: The Catholic News Agency reports that Donald Trump has canceled a visit to a Catholic shrine in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that had been scheduled for Sunday. Trump was supposed to visit the shrine with Polish President Andrzej Duda. They were supposed to unveil a monument to commemorate the four-decade fight of the Polish people against domination by the Soviet Union. While the reason for the cancellation was not disclosed, there’s speculation that it could be because Trump fears offending Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

Robinson: North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, says in an interview with CNN that he will remain in the contest despite calls for him to get out after disclosure that he described himself as a “black NAZI” in postings on a pornographic website and also described himself as a pervert. Robinson has a history of making controversial statements, including mocking adults and children who survived school shootings. Donald Trump has endorsed Robinson.

Russian deaths: The BCC reports that its analysis of data shows that at least 70,000 people fighting for Russia in Ukraine have died in the war that started when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade. The BBC also says that it believes the number likely is higher. The BBC says the death toll includes regular soldiers, mercenaries hired to fight for Russia, and volunteers. The BBC said the volunteers include prisoners who were released in exchange for their going to Ukraine to fight in the war.