BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer If a kid finishes third grade and is still struggling to read, should they be allowed to advance to the fourth grade? Research is clear that such a student is very likely to struggle for the rest of their academic career. But holding students back a grade can cause all sorts of complications. Louisiana is proposing a rule that would set a hard line on advancing third graders. It could affect thousands of kids. This story explains the idea, the research behind it, and the potentionally huge implications for our state. The number of kids who have accidentally shot themselves has grown sharply in the past few years. The cases often end fatally, like the case of a 3-year-old boy in Gardere who was killed after he found a gun in couch cushions. A coalition of law enforcement, teachers, and others thinks better gun safety is the answer. Here's what they're doing to try and keep kids safe. In flood-prone parts of the Baton Rouge area, retention ponds are supposed to be a key tool to avoiding disaster. But what happens if your pond fills up? Neighbors of a big Ascension Parish townhome project say it is causing dirt to stream into their pond, which could make them more likely to flood. Here's what's going on, what state regulators are doing about it, and what it says about stopping floods in our region. Want to read our stories as they appeared in the newspaper? Check out our e-edition here. | 