Storm Brewing

Ever since President Grant directed his secretary of war in 1870 to make "meteorological observations . . . of the approach and force of storms," the federal government has been America's official forecaster, providing weather information to the public.

That could change under legislation proposed by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., who says the National Weather Service has grown so sophisticated and technologically adept that it threatens the $1 billion-a-year private forecasting business.

Thank you to Jeff at Library Chronicles for pointing this article out.