News from rural America.

Farmers face skyrocketing healthcare costs if Congress fails to act this month, residents of communities without mental health resources are getting trained themselves and a flood-devasted Texas theater group vows, 'the show must go on.'

TRANSCRIPT

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, this is the news from rural America.

Farmers and ranchers across the country expect to see a sharp hike in health insurance costs, leaving many with a no-win decision.

More than a quarter rely on the Affordable Care Act, but tax credits that reduce premiums are about to expire, and Congress looks deadlocked on extending them.

Minnesota's Carol Kohlseth and her husband grow alfalfa, soybeans, and wheat.

I think it's going to be really hard for younger farmers.

The average age of farmers, they're all getting older, but who's going to do it if so discouraging?

The 53-year-old Coleseth was diagnosed with breast cancer this fall, just as the farm's income rose above the level for a state-administered insurance plan.

Right now, they pay $1,600 monthly for an ACA plan, but without the tax credits, they'll pay an extra $400 or go without insurance and hope the cancer doesn't return.

Elizabeth Jong is with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

A lot of people are going to drop health coverage altogether as a result of these expiring tax credits.

This comes as farming was already troubled by low prices, high costs and falling exports.

A mental health program is helping train rural community members to respond in the event of emergencies.

Susanna Brown reports.

Nearly two-thirds of rural counties don't have access to mental health providers, but community-based training can help.

Jamie Hagenbue with Mental Health First Aid says their training lets non-professionals spot and respond to mental health and substance abuse issues.

Having the initial skills to be able to recognize if somebody's becoming unwell and how to approach and then what resources do exist and being able to navigate them to those resources is critical.

The program trains everyone from pastors and bus drivers to teens, folks who can support their neighbors until professional help is available.

It could take an hour for an ambulance to get there.

Being able to get the tool to help assist that person, especially if they're having a substance use crisis, could really truly save a life.

I'm Susanna Brown.

A Texas theater group lost nearly everything in July's Guadalupe River floods, but still says the show must go on.

The floods hit just days before opening night for the Jimmy Buffett musical, "Escape to Margaritaville."

And Sarah Tacey with the Hill County Arts Foundation says nothing could have prepared her for what followed, like the paperwork FEMA needed to help cover the losses.

You have a terrible disaster and you are desperate for help, but you don't know what to do.

Tacey says the theater group was delighted when the community poured in to help with cleanup, then bought tickets for a scaled back Margaritaville production.

We had volunteers from all over the place, people I didn't even know, and then people who hadn't been out here in years.

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, I'm Roz Brown.

For more rural stories, visit dailyyonder.com.