 BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple and business trade groups didn't like it, but Gov. Jeff Landry used his political muscle to push a car insurance bill through the state Senate late Wednesday night. Under House Bill 148, the insurance commissioner would have greater authority to reject “excessive” rate increases, which Landry has said would prompt him to blame Temple if rates remain high. A last-minute amendment also would require insurance companies to make their rate filing requests public, which they say this could force them to expose trade secrets. The fight over how to address high car insurance rates has been the highest profile political battle since the legislative session began in mid-April. Read more about what the insurance bills will do.
About 23% of Louisiana third graders scored "well below" target reading levels on a recent end-of-year assessment, officials said, which means they face a high risk of reading difficulties. Under a new state law, some of those nearly 12,000 students will have to repeat third grade. Those students can retake the literacy test twice under the law, which only applies to traditional public schools. If their scores don’t adequately improve and they don’t qualify for an exemption, such as being diagnosed with dyslexia, then they cannot move to fourth grade. Read more about the law's impact.
Another above average hurricane season is forecast for this year, but the outlook isn't quite as grim as it was this time last year. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association officials are predicting 13 to 19 named storms this year, thanks to warm temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and a lack of wind shear. Read more about what to expect. | 
