By Chris Taylor
Paducah, KY – Commercial traffic has halted in the wake of historically high waters along the Ohio River. All locks south of Louisville to Cairo, Illinois are out, leaving the nation's busiest stretch of river at a commercial standstill. Ingram Barge Assistant Vice President Jerry Knapper tells the Paducah Sun his and other river companies are collaborating to decide priorities of cargo when locking resumes. Most cargo traveling the Ohio is coal, petroleum or chemicals; and their priorities are assumed by critical need, public demand and how many jobs are affected by its delivery. The halted river traffic is expected to cost the industry millions in revenue and lead to increases in consumer prices.