July 1, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Thirteen Illinois counties eligible for federal flooding aid may be getting more money.

President Bush is raising FEMA's reimbursement level for flood-related public expenses to 90 percent. That means the counties could get another 15 percent of their costs.

Meanwhile, the worst of the Midwest flooding appears over. St. Louis seems to be comfortably handling its crest on the Mississippi River, which is about 9 feet above flood stage. A few businesses are closed, but the message is that St. Louis is running normally.

Above St. Louis, waters in hard-hit Lincoln County, Missouri, are dropping. Communities downstream on the Mississippi are still awaiting their crests.

In Iowa City, the University of Iowa says it plans to reopen a flooded residence hall as soon as August.

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)