The Texas Department of Insurance has just approved a homeowners insurance rate hike for Allstate Insurance of 5.7% and 9.8% for its companies.  Alex Winslow, executive director of consumer group, Texas Watch says "Allstate's rate increases, which run into the double digits, have made Texas rates, already the highest in the nation, making it unaffordable for fixed income homeowners."  Click here to read the full article.