A rare plant is no longer endangered, easing land use rules

The US Fish and Wildlife Service changed the rough popcornflower's status from endangered to threatened. This means land use and development in its habitat will now face fewer restrictions.

When a species is endangered, almost any activity that harms it is illegal. Moving a species to "threatened" status allows the government to write specific rules about what activities are still banned and what are now allowed. This often means developers and farmers can build or work in areas that were previously off-limits.