US Top Stories from Associated Press (AP)

A third pair of female Marine lieutenants has failed to complete the Corps' Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Va. The Marine Corps Times embedded a reporter with the latest class of candidates. It reported Wednesday that one of the women was pulled for falling behind schedule. The other made it to the course's end but did not meet its standards, as did six men, the newspaper said.

The head of Afghanistan's army said that the fate of fighting in his country rests with the leadership in Pakistan and that insurgencies could come to a standstill with one simple command. "The Taliban are under [Pakistan's] control," said Afghan army Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi to the BBC. "The leadership is in Pakistan."

The Army psychiatrist accused of going on a shooting rampage in 2009 at Fort Hood, Maj. Nidal Hasan, asked for a three-day trial delay to consult with an attorney who's offered to represent him , former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.

Egypt's military command told President Mohammed Morsi in a Wednesday posting on Facebook they're not leaving, they're not ceding the fight, and they'll fight to death until he caves to their demands or leaves office. The Facebook posting was called "The Final Hours."

The official who's supposed to watch the Department of Homeland Security and report misdeeds on behalf of the American taxpayer is now himself under fire, facing congressional investigation for suspected nepotism and covering up a Secret Service prostitution scandal.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) , They were fathers and expectant fathers. High school football players and former Marines. Smoke-eaters' sons and first-generation firefighters. What bound the members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots together was a "love of hard work and arduous adventure," and a willingness to risk their lives to protect others. And now, 19 families share a bond of grief.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) , A 10-year-old girl who had two adult-lung transplants after her parents sued to change national rules regarding organ donations underwent surgery Tuesday to repair her diaphragm. The operation performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is expected to allow Sarah Murnaghan to breathe on her own.

CAIRO , With the clock ticking, Egypt's besieged president said Tuesday that he will not step down as state media reported that the powerful military plans to overturn his Islamist-dominated government if the elected leader doesn't meet the demands of the millions of protesters calling for his ouster.

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SANFORD, Fla. (AP) , A medical examiner from Jacksonville has testified for prosecutors that George Zimmerman's injuries were insignificant. Medical examiner Valerie Rao took the witness stand Tuesday after prosecutors played a video recording of an interview Zimmerman gave to conservative talk show host Sean Hannity last year.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) , Who could blame Paul and Hava Forziano for celebrating Independence Day a few days early? The mentally disabled newlyweds, who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against...

BOSTON (AP) , A former drug dealer says he built a booming business with James "Whitey" Bulger (BUHL'-jur), even as Bulger insisted on hiding his involvement and eventually threatened the dealer's life. William Shea testified Tuesday at the reputed gangster's trial that he built a cocaine-dealing business with Bulger in their South Boston neighborhood that pulled in six figures a week.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) , Wind more powerful than the gusts that swept an Arizona wildfire over the weekend, killing 19 members of a Hotshot crew, were expected to whip up the flames Tuesday as crews work to corral the blaze feasting on tinder-dry vegetation.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) , Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, based in Prescott, were killed Sunday when a windblown wildfire overcame them north of Phoenix. It was the deadliest single day for U.S. firefighters since 9/11. Fourteen of the victims were in their 20s. Here are the stories of those who died: ___ ANDREW ASHCRAFT: AN ATHLETIC, GO-GETTER

Allen West is not known to stay mum when something rubs him the wrong way. Lady Gaga clutching a rainbow flag and amending the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" was no exception. The performer sang during a New York City gay pride event, "O say does that star-spangled flag of pride yet wave," then substituted "land of the free, and the home for the gay."