Good Thursday Morning, thanks for joining me for Up First in the Four States, from KRPS. I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro. Let’s first take a look at local weather,

Sunny, but mild conditions throughout the Four States today, highs in the upper ‘60s. Partly cloudy tonight, cool and calm, lows in the lower ‘40s. More sunshine tomorrow, followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. Highs Friday in the mid ‘70s. Highs warming Saturday and Sunday in the upper ‘70s.

Kansas health care providers are asking state lawmakers to side with them in a fight over drug prices. They say drug companies and health plan administrators are sabotaging a federal drug discount program designed to help rural hospitals and clinics.

A statewide drill today will prepare Missouri Department of Transportation employees for winter weather as the agency faces a shortage of workers.

A new program to assist families stuck in poverty will be coming to Neosho next year. At their meeting Tuesday, the Neosho City Council approved a meeting place for RISE.

Rents shot up across Kansas in the past year, and not just in the big cities.

The LMH hospital says it might leave the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas network for 2022.

Missouri State Representative Ben Baker was on hand Tuesday night at the Neosho City Council meeting to honor the city’s mayor. William Doubek was honored with a State Proclamation.

And now for our feature of the day,

It’s Morning Edition on KRPS; I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro. COVID-19 conditions in the Joplin area have significantly improved over the past couple of months. It appears that the rise in vaccination levels has helped lower the number of patients hospitals are seeing. But how is the rest of Missouri fairing?

If you want to talk to me directly I’m on Twitter @morningsonkrps.

Thanks for joining me for the up first in the Four States podcast. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.