BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. forces battled holdout fighters Thursday at a palace and a mosque in Baghdad; one Marine was killed and up to 20 wounded.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents using suicide and roadside bombs killed at least 21 people, including a U.S. soldier, on Thursday in the latest of a series of attacks aimed at wrecking Iraq's constitutional referendum next week.

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somali pirates and their hostage American sea captain were adrift in a lifeboat Thursday off the Horn of Africa, shadowed by a U.S. destroyer with more warships on the way in a U.S. show of force.

The first stand-alone U.S. Air Force magnet high school in the nation will begin taking applications Wednesday in Gilbert in a first-come, first-served process expected to draw hundreds of applicants from all over the Valley.

Our military protects and defends us, but it’s a lesser known fact that they also entertain us. The United States Air Force Concert Band and the Singing Sergeants do just that with a free community performance October 25 at ASU Gammage.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — As the nation's military academies try to recruit more minorities, they aren't getting much help from members of Congress from big-city districts with large numbers of blacks, Hispanics and Asians.

Competition is stiff for admission at any U.S. military academy, but five seniors at Mesa's Mountain View High School passed inspection this year. Five cadets from the same graduating class could be a state record, although academy recruiters did not have historical data available.

Sophomore, Sarah Galvin, 16, is hard at work preparing for her oral presentation to the United States military at the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), to take place next month. Galvin’s presentation of an Android application to control a robot took first place at last weekend’s state competition and she took home a $2,000 college scholarship and an all-expenses-paid invitation to the national finals.

Stagnant enrollment at the Technology and Leadership Academy has forced Gilbert Unified School District officials to consider phasing out the students next year and starting a new program in 2007.

Stagnant enrollment at the Technology and Leadership Academy has forced Gilbert Unified School District officials to consider phasing out the students next year and starting a new program in 2007.

LAHORE, Pakistan — Black-clad Pakistani commandos overpowered a group of militants who had seized a police academy, took cadets hostage and killed at least six of them Monday in a dramatic challenge to the civilian government that faces U.S. pressure to defeat Islamic extremists.

The Technology and Leadership Academy in Gilbert had a bumpy start, but students now know where they are going, rooms have desks and things are running smoothly, said headmaster Lt. Col. Lowell "Ed" Fox.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The first video image of Osama bin Laden in nearly two years was broadcast on Al-Jazeera Wednesday, the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The al-Qaida leader was shown walking through rocky terrain with his top aide, both carrying assault rifles.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The first video image of Osama bin Laden in nearly two years was broadcast on Al-Jazeera Wednesday, the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The al-Qaida leader was shown walking through rocky terrain with his top aide, both carrying assault rifles.

Ahwatukee student graduates from USAFA

Ahwatukee student graduates from USAFA

It is interesting that you encourage people to consider not voting for Romney when he did not serve in the military, but went on a two half year LDS mission. I think you underestimate the desire for LDS young men to serve a mission. My son, graduated top of his class, worked hard in sports so he could attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a $415,000 dollar scholarship to the AFA. He worked hard, he was on the dean’s list, was also in the 22 squad (Raptors) which finished first in the school and was able to stand behind President Obama at the graduation. He gave all this up to serve a mission in Chile. That is how important Mr. Romney also felt. He did this with the hope that there will be no major budget cuts to the AFA so that he may return there.

Gilbert school officials unveiled their newest proposal for a school that would model itself after an ancient teaching method.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Dave Matthews Band will play for Army football next month - at two free shows. The U.S. Military Academy beat out Air Force, Navy and more than 100 other colleges that participated in the World's Loudest Pep Rally contest to win a visit from the rock star. Matthews will play for cadets Nov. 14 and 15.

NEW YORK - Lance Bass' boyfriend, Reichen Lehmkuhl, says he and the former `N Sync star have been dealing with threats ignited by his new memoir about the trials of being gay while serving in the military.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -President Bush, preparing new Air Force officers for war, cast the fight against terrorism as a struggle between freedom and tyranny similar to World War II and the Cold War.

Desert Ridge High senior Cody Sellers will be studying business finance at Northern Arizona University, thanks to $52,000 in scholarships.

Marisa Janine Whitaker is one step closer to achieving her dream job.

Marisa Janine Whitaker is one step closer to achieving her dream job.