Mississippi River falling in Missouri towns

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A dry week has been good news for river watchers in Missouri.

The Mississippi River has crested and is on the decline from Hannibal to the north to Cape Girardeau to the south.

Hannibal officials removed the flood gates Thursday after the river dipped below 18 feet - still two feet above technical flood stage. The crest was 20.7 feet on March 15.

In St. Louis, the river on Friday was at 30.9 feet, less than a foot above flood stage.

And in Cape Girardeau, the river was still at 38 feet after a crest of 38.6 feet on Wednesday, but was expected to fall to flood stage of 32 feet by the middle of next week.

The Missouri River was within its banks at all locations in Missouri.

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