Students in Los Angeles County are leading a push to demilitarize school police.

Top of the Alty World

“Why Are Police Using Military-Grade Weapons in High Schools?”—Rolling Stone

A new study has found a high number of urban streams in the United States contaminated with pesticides.—High Country News

Democrats running in competitive congressional races are quoting Ronald Reagan and the Bushes but not mentioning Barack Obama.—Slate

The Asian Republican Coalition is mostly white and mostly endorses white candidates.—Mother Jones

Top of Alty Utah

Charges have been dropped against a former police officer who gunned down an unarmed woman.—Salt Lake City Weekly

Democrat Doug Owens has been accused of an FEC violation by the Utah GOP.—Utah Politico Hub

The NAACP in a report has linked energy policy and human rights and has called on Utah to reform its energy standards.—Utah Political Capitol

The Human Rights Campaign inducted Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT into it's Hall of Shame for members of congress most opposed to equality.—Q Salt Lake

Rantosphere

Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman, once a fierce critic of President Obama makes the argument that his presidency has been a historic success.

“Obama faces trash talk left, right and center – literally – and doesn't deserve it. Despite bitter opposition, despite having come close to self-inflicted disaster, Obama has emerged as one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history. His health reform is imperfect but still a huge step forward – and it's working better than anyone expected. Financial reform fell far short of what should have happened, but it's much more effective than you'd think. Economic management has been half-crippled by Republican obstruction, but has nonetheless been much better than in other advanced countries. And environmental policy is starting to look like it could be a major legacy.”—Rolling Stone

The Long View

Alabama Judge Tom Parker is leading a movement seeking a new tack to dismantling legal abortion, a cause he championed at a 2005 conference at the Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

“The atmosphere at Parker’s Witherspoon appearance was far warmer, and his remarks there were even more candid. A DVD of the session shows him gripping the lectern, dressed in a gray suit and blue tie, as he railed against the perceived sins of jurists at every level. “It’s the judges who have legalized abortion and homosexuality … They are shaking the very foundation of our society.”

Parker made it clear that he had no intention of letting legal precedent get in his way. “We cannot fall under that trap,” he insisted. “We have to stand for what’s right.” The one thing he most wished for the young men before him was that they find a way to gain positions of influence and turn them to God’s purpose. No opportunity to do so should be shrunk from or wasted.”—ProPublica