News from rural America.

Louisiana residents sue to unwind a SpaceX project, Nebraska’s farmers will get millions in relief from the USDA, an Oregon nonprofit is helping older adults accelerate their digital technology skills, and school cell phone policies create student concerns.

TRANSCRIPT

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

When SpaceX announced it would build a massive spaceport on Louisiana's Pekan Island, company representatives promised residents of Vermilion Parish they wouldn't experience any negative impacts.

But they soon backtracked, and backlash has followed.

Reporter Delaney Nolan with The Lens, based in New Orleans, says SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, plans 30 launches a day.

She notes the 300 residents living just six miles away are worried about ecological damage and losing access to their property.

This is going to be a $100 billion spaceport with five sites and 10 launch pads.

The spaceport would occupy a third of the island.

And Nolan says residents have sued a pair of Vermilion Parish government bodies for granting SpaceX a tax break.

There was a lawsuit filed alleging that SpaceX has violated open meetings laws with the way that they brought about this deal.

Is this going to be worth the damage it causes for the people who already live here?

Nebraska farmers have watched major crop prices decline this year, so welcome news of federal assistance to help with rising costs.

The USDA's investment of $900 million is also expected to strengthen rural communities by supporting local businesses and conservation efforts.

Hilary Marickel leads Nebraska's Farm Service Agency.

It'll help producers cover these operating costs for this year and prepare for the 2027 growing season.

It comes at a critical time of the year as producers in Nebraska are harvesting our 2026 crop.

Many older adults are adopting digital technology, but research shows they still lag behind in navigating tasks online.

An Oregon nonprofit aims to close the gap by improving its digital literacy program for older adults in libraries and community centers in rural areas.

Olivia Robinson with the group Age Plus says nearly everything that keeps people healthy and connected has moved online.

Healthcare, transportation, a lot of social connection, prescription refills, and if someone doesn't know how to access a portal or even use a mouse or a keyboard, then care gets harder.

It's estimated some 22 million Americans, aged 65 and older, still don't have residential broadband.

Rural and urban schools in 45 U.S. states have cell phone use policies, but students want to say in the decision-making due to concerns over communicating during a crisis.

The study shows 64% of high schoolers support a cell phone ban during class time, with a third of students opposed.

Researcher Michael Parent with Hope Lab believes students would feel safer if they helped craft the guidelines.

Schools do have these policies to keep kids safe, but it doesn't seem like policies are being built or pushed out with young people being involved so they can actually understand why the policies exist.

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

For more rural stories, visit dailyyonder.com.