Good Monday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: A little-known 1961 Boulder rule could shape the future of NCAR’s Mesa Lab. As federal officials weigh restructuring — including a possible sale — a city charter provision tying water service to the lab’s scientific mission could cut off city water if ownership changes. The issue surfaces as the NSF seeks ideas for NCAR’s future and Colorado leaders push back. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Stephenson’s coverage of federal science cuts is also having national impact. On Feb. 12, she reported that NIST was moving to limit foreign researchers at its labs, including in Boulder, with three-year caps on international staff. Days later, NIST publicly responded, citing our reporting. Now, two U.S. House members are demanding answers, saying they hadn’t understood the scope until our reporting came to light.…