The tragic incident took place Umpqua Community College in rural Roseburg on Thursday morning.
In the aftermath, US President Barack Obama stated that his country's gun laws will have to change.
"Somehow this has become routine," Mr Obama said at the White House.
The shooter, who was also a student at the college, had according to eye-witnesses asked people to stand and state their religions before he began firing.
Dozens of police officers and detectives remain the scene now, although authorities have ruled out a link with international terrorism.
Drawing on a message he allegedly posted on social media prior to the tragedy, CNN is reporting that the shooter picked the campus because it was a "soft target".
Social media reports also suggest that the 20 injured are all young women. One of them is critical wounded, while two others are described as being in a "serious" condition.
Following its founding on Dublin’s Mary Street back in the Sixties, Penneys has muscled its way into the likes of the UK, Germany, Portugal, and Spain.
It will also shortly open its first store in the US.
And today it was announced that the popular discount retailer will furthermore expand into Italy, following a successful launch in France 18months ago.
With the first branches opening within a year, the company says it has initially committed to three PenneysItaliastores for 2016 alone.
"The research that we've done would indicate that there is a very good market in Italy for the Primark concept," the company told Reuters.
Penneys now operates in more than 250 stores in nine countries. Ireland – lucky us! – has 38 Penneys stores alone.
The largest store that Penneys, which operates as Primark elsewhere, runs is the sprawling 14,500sq metre branch in Manchester.
The first US store will be unveiled in Boston in September.
Jessie J has revealed she is leaving Britain because of speculation about her love life.
The singer has sold her house in London and bought a property in Hollywood.
The 26-year-old said she is moving to Los Angeles because her talents as a singer are appreciated more in the US.
"In America they see me as a singer whereas here I feel that people don't appreciate my voice,” said Jessie J.
“I've dedicated my life to singing and I want it to be taken seriously. Here it seems that all people want to know is what I've had for breakfast and who I'm sleeping with,” she added.
The former coach on BBC show The Voice came out as bisexual in 2011 and said she’s had one too many questions about her sexuality.
She said, "Sometimes I don't know when to stop. Sometimes I should just say nothing, but I can't help myself and make some big statement when saying nothing would be much more appropriate."
James Corden has been announced as the new host of CBS’ The Late Late Show and will replace Craig Ferguson.
The Gavin and Stacey funnyman is not well-known over in the US, but that is all set to change very soon!
Many media outlets in America have printed articles describing James' successful UK career to date in a bid to enlighten future viewers.
It was announced back in April that Craig was planning to leave the chat show: “At the end of this year I will be stepping down as the host of the show.”
Craig, a Scottish TV presenter, has been the host of The Late Late Show for the past decade after taking over from Craig Kilborn in 2004.
Good luck in your new job, James! We're sure you'll be great!
Every person who has gone a J1 will have these fond (and some not so fond) memories of their time across the pond.
1. Spending a night passed out in a random place
Whether on a beach, your boss’s couch, a kitchen floor or outside your front door because you forgot your keys again, this is something that we’ve all fallen victim too.
2. Started a chant while riding on the public transport
This is mostly one for the lads.
3. Had to explain to at least one American that leprechauns aren’t real.
Sadly, the majority of us have actually had to explain this unfortunate fact to some disappointed Americans. And feel a little guilty for shattering their existence, looking into their sad eyes as they discover that the ginger, dwarf-like mythical creatures actually don’t exist.
4. Forgetting to call your parents to tell them you’re still alive
Having your parents tear the head off you because you haven’t called in 5 days. Answering the phone either still drunk or hungover to shreds because of the time difference and trying to calm your worrying mother down is a mammoth task at the time.
5. Travelling over 3,000 miles only to shift someone in the same college class as you
Hopes are high when you fly out from The Emerald Isle, dying to taste some of the American cuisine. However it all goes south when you come home only after shifting some of the same people you share a lecture hall with back at college. Ah well…
6. Growing a sudden allegiance to an American sports team
We all like to participate in our local teams, however awful they may be. But hey, at least we bring a bit of atmosphere to the stadiums!
7. Receiving desperate care packages from your mammy at home
Having your mammy send over a care package full of Lyons Tea, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk bars, and a family pack of glorious Tayto crisps because you’ve cleaned your bank account out after just 3 weeks in the US!
8. Having sunburn for 3 whole months
It doesn’t take us Irish long to get a nice even burn – 2 hours ought to do it for most! Then we immediately regret our poor decision while we beg our roommates to lube us up at night with some aloe vera to ease the pain. But we never learn our lesson do we? Still, it’s worth it after all that dead skin peels off and you arrive home with a glorious rich mahogany tan, showing off in front of your friends and family like the Greek goddess that you are. Boom!
9. Either totally tarnishing or massively boosting the Irish reputation abroad
It’s one or the other. We Irish are an infectious bunch and let’s face it, the Americans do already love us! However, every summer, we flee the American cities like a murderer away from the scene of a crime. Like human wrecking balls, we came, we saw, we conquered, then left. 90% of the time we do leave a great impression among the Americans, but there are a few who are left with a sour taste in their mouths. And to those, the sincerest of apologies!
10. Putting on at least 2 stone in weight
Remember checking yourself out in the mirror and wondering where those love handles came from? Probably from all those 7/11 hot dogs, McDonald’s burgers and late night Taco Bell Burritos!
12. Totally resonating with the lyrics of The Corona’s San Diego Song
Yep, sure give it a listen now. The Coronas wrote this song while on their J1 in California’s beautiful San Diego. Don’t lie, you can TOTALLY identify with it, can’t you?
13. Having the super-human strength to drink 92 days in a row
It wasn’t easy, but you did it. It was no easy road but getting there in the end is ALMOST worth the several night’s spewing up into a bin, frequent blackouts, ultimate fear and near-liver failure. Almost. Although we can’t even fathom going through all that hell again!
14. Spoken more Irish than you ever have in your life
All those years learning Irish. You think you’ll never use it again and that you’ve completely forgotten it all, but you’re wrong. Stateside is where it all regurgitates out. It’s frequently used as a subtle reminder that you’re Irish and a great weapon for pulling members of the opposite sex. The beauty of As Gaeilge. “Tá é an-mhaith!” See? Still got it!
15. Getting reprimanded by law enforcement
Whether doing something as ridiculous as walking through the street with a can in your hand or something more extreme like hopping over the counter in McDonald’s at 3am and starting to serve your friends, there’s been a few Irish who have been reprimanded by the police. Never a good idea.
16. Shared a house with 30 people
Good Lord, cramped is not the word. “Ah sure look, it’s only 3 months.” Going to sleep in a space the size of a medium mattress is not comfortable in the slightest, especially when you’re sharing it with someone else on those drunken nights. But you’ll never appreciate your own bed more than the day you arrive home from your J1.
17. Took the piss out of some gullible Americans
“You guys are lucky – electricity is a privilege we don’t have at home,” “the legal age of drinking for us is 12 years-old” or even “we don’t have Wednesdays in Ireland.”
18. Being technically “homeless” for a short period of time
That time you spent drifting from apartment to apartment with no summer house in sight. It was only a couple of days but it felt like a never-ending nightmare at the time!
19. Had to explain where Ireland is to an American
No it’s not in the UK, no it’s not beside Australia and NO it’s not “somewhere over at the west coast.” Without a map, you’ll be knackered trying to explain to an American where Ireland is actually located.
20. Adapted a slight American accent
Sometimes you just can’t help it.
Nigella Lawson was turned away at a London airport after being banned from the US for taking drugs.
The celebrity cook was due to fly from London to Los Angeles to act as a judge on TV cooking show The Taste but was reportedly not allowed on the plane.
The 54-year-old ‘Domestic Goddess’ confessed under oath during a trial last year that she had snorted cocaine several times and smoked cannabis in front of her children.
Although Scotland Yard did not act over her confession, it seems the US authorities are taking a tougher stance.
Nigella is said to have arrived alone at Heathrow airport on Sunday morning to catch a direct British Airways flight to LA.
She is thought to have checked in and passed security before being told she could not board her plane. She had to return to the first class check-in to arrange to collect her hold luggage.
The celebrity is said to have tried to enter the US by registering online for permission to travel and confirming she had not been arrested or convicted of offences including taking illegal drugs.
However, the US reserves the right to ban visitors to their country if they have admitted to drug use, even if they have not been convicted.
Before going to the airport, Nigella posted a photo on Twitter with the caption, “Packing for my holiday!”
The photo showed a sunhat, a tube of Colman’s Mustard and a small tin of Maldon sea salt.
It has been confirmed that not only will Simon Cowell return to his rightful place on the X Factor UK judging panel – but that the X Factor US has been cancelled altogether.
Fox announced it was axing the show because “there is no X Factor US without Simon Cowell but we understand and support his decision to focus on the international formats and on the next phase of his personal life”.
In relation to his personal life there is no doubt that Fox are talking about the impending birth of Simon’s first child with Lauren Silverman, due at the end of this month.
Simon seemed delighted with his decision to move to the UK version of the show saying: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning to the X Factor UK. It’s been three years since I last judged the competition so I’m excited to find a global superstar again.”
The biggest question of all remains to be seen – will Cheryl Cole get her seat on the judging panel? We hope so!
