Transportation corridors opened over and on the Mississippi River Wednesday as flooding continued to recede at a rapid pace. Areas along the Mississippi River from Iowa to St. Louis reported water levels dropping about a foot each day. Many locks along dams were being opened on Wednesday and Thursday. Many folks are returning to their homes to assess the damage caused saturated soils and several weeks of heavy rainfall. Current forecasts suggest conditions will continue to dry out across much of the Midwest and Plains through the July 4th weekend.