Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Monday, October 23, 2023.

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1. House of Representatives approaches three weeks with no Speaker

Kevin McCarthy's historic ousting has created a power vacuum within Congress. The two previous leading candidates for his replacement, Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise, have both dropped out, ushering in nine new Republicans who hope to grasp the seat, despite none of their successors being able to rally enough votes.

Seven out of the nine Republicans currently running for Speaker of the House of Representatives previously voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. House Republicans are slated to hear from all candidates at a forum Monday night, and will hold a meeting Tuesday to decide which to support.

2. Over 1.4 million Palestinians displaced as death toll rises

In a statement Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has resulted in 5,087 deaths and 15,273 injuries. An addition 95 have been killed in the West Bank, as well as 1,828 wounded. Nearly half of those dead were children.

With no where else to go as Israel ramps up its airstrikes, over 1.4 million Palestinian civilians have been displaced within the Gaza Strip, which is home to around 2 million people.

1,400 deaths have been recorded in Israel, the majority on the initial day of the attacks, Oct. 7. It is estimated less than 500 Israelis have been displaced. An additional 19,000 have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes.

3. Maryland judge killed after ruling on custody hearing

Judge Andrew Wilkinson was shot and killed in his home Thursday just hours after he had ruled against his suspected killer in a child custody case. Pedro Argote, 49, “is considered armed and dangerous," according to Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert, who said in a statement that Argote has yet to be apprehended.

Wilkinson’s death marks the latest threat or attacks against a judge or their family. More than 1,300 threats among federal court personnel were investigated in 2022, according to the US Marshals Service.