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ST. LOUIS (AP) - Levels of the Mississippi River are slowly dropping at places north of St. Louis, slowly rising to the south.

By Wednesday afternoon, a few smaller levees had been overtopped or breached, especially in Lincoln and Pike counties. But the makeshift levees in Clarksville, Mo., and Dutchtown, Mo., were holding. There were no reports of any Missouri towns in imminent danger.

A father and son were rescued from the river Tuesday near Crystal City after their small fishing boat became blocked by debris. Rescue crews advised staying off the river during flooding.

The Mississippi is expected to crest by Thursday morning in the Cape Girardeau area, but it will remain well above flood stage at most Missouri towns into next month.

Flooding also continues on the Missouri and smaller rivers.

CHICAGO (AP) - An Illinois state senator has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after being accused last year of trying to board a flight with a gun.

Donne Trotter's attorney, Thomas Durkin, says his client entered a guilty plea to reckless conduct on Wednesday as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Durkin says the deal calls for the conviction to be stricken if Trotter successfully completes a year of non-reporting court supervision.

Durkin says a judge approved the agreement on Wednesday.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - State employees could keep firearms in their vehicles on state property under a bill heard by a Missouri Senate committee.

The measure considered Tuesday by the Senate General Laws Committee would allow those employees to have a firearm in their car if it is locked and the gun is not visible.

The legislation would also increase penalties for convicted felons who use an illegal firearm while committing another crime. But the committee's chairman, Republican Sen. Brian Nieves, said he wants to take that provision out of the bill.

The House has already passed the measure, and Nieves said he wanted the Senate committee vote on it Wednesday.