The Mississippi River is expected to crest late this weekend or early next week between the Twin Cities and LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The river is already higher than it's been at any time in Minnesota since the record flood of 1965. The Coast Guard has closed the river to all boat traffic and bridges are threatened at Prescott, Wisconsin; Red Wing, and Wabasha. The National Weather Service has been warning of this flood for months and communities along the river have developed elaborate contingency plans. Barge operators are suffering high costs from being idled but as Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports, flooding along the Mississippi isn't expected to cause the widespread damage residents of northern and western Minnesota have faced. | D-CART ITEM: 6449 | TIME: 4:31 (WATER SOUND TO FADE AFTRWARDS, RUNS TO 5:1