WikiLleaks founder Julian Assange issues a statement from the Ecuadorian embassy. “The US administration’s war on whistleblowers must end.”---

Top of the Alty World

“Official Statement by WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy”—Truthout

A First Amendment battle is brewing at the University of Memphis’s Daily Helmsman, where student journalists claim censorship via budget cuts.—Memphis Flyer

ProPublica reporter Kim Barker talks about millions of Super PAC political spending from the Koch brothers and operatives like Karl Rove that is passed off as nonprofit fundraising for the public welfare.—Democracy Now!

Top of Alty Utah

The Legislature denied the Utah State Democratic Party’s request for a waiver of fees associated with the collection of 14,000 records about legislative redistricting.—KCPW

At a campaign event for Mia Love’s 4th Congressional race, even Republicans expressed doubt about Romney’s health-care plans.—Mother Jones

Salt Lake City Weekly takes a look at the colorful campaign of Ken Larsen, Libertarian for Governor, former medical researcher and retired Santa Claus.---Salt Lake City Weekly

Rantosphere

The High Country News rips Utah’s Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and Mule Deer Foundation for raffling high-priced licenses without oversight over how they spend the money.

“The two groups pocket about $1 million a year from the raffle, no questions asked and no strings attached. In theory, the money benefits everyone by being plowed back into conservation. After all, the wildlife belongs to everyone.Trouble is, as the new watchdog group, United Wildlife Cooperative points out, there is no transparency and no accountability as to how the money is spent.’They could buy a condo in Bermuda for all we know,’ says Utah sportsman Tye Boulter.”--High Country News

The Long View

The Village Voice looks at the New York Police Department’s poor judgment in responding to individuals with mental illness, including a tragic incident where a distraught woman was suffocated by police officers.

“Police logs record the four officers arriving at the Francis home at 10:20 that night. Shauna and Eleen saw the officers wrestle Shereese onto a bed, all four of them piling onto her as they pressed her facedown into the mattress and handcuffed her. Within 20 minutes of the police arriving, Shereese Francis had stopped breathing and Emergency Services personnel were attempting to revive her.”—Village Voice