Traveling more than 3,000 miles is a big trip for anyone, but imagine doing it as Harry, a three-inch tall praying mantis.
Harry, the star resident of New Orleans’ newly opened Audubon Insectarium, will begin a three-week journey Oct. 31 when he hits the road for his educational tour titled Harry’s Big Adventure.
The trip, presented by [...]

Lured by congressionally authorized tax credits and other financial incentives after Hurricane Katrina, a procession of developers announced plans to build high-rises.
Adding to the tension for commercial investors: Construction and insurance costs have soared.
At least one big plan — a $400 million proposal by Donald Trump to construct the city‘s tallest building — is going [...]

New Orleans — ARCS Commercial Mortgage Co., based in Calabasas Hills, Calif., is providing permanent financing for the conversion of a vacant building into 1201 Canal Apartments and Condominiums. Once complete, the property will feature 122 rental units and four condos. Located in the Krauss Building near the French Quarter of the city, the community [...]

The New York-New Jersey Port Authority and American International Group said on Friday they had reached a preliminary agreement to let the insurer buy Dubai Ports World’s stake in the Port Newark container terminal.
The high-profile deal, which aims to ease security concerns raised last year by the prospect of a company owned by [...]

Six major U.S. port operations will come under U.S. ownership after Dubai Ports World cleared a $50 million hurdle Friday to end a yearlong political conflict over security at the nation’s cargo terminals.
DP World, based in United Arab Emirates, agreed in December to sell its U.S. ports operations to AIG Global Investment Group, following months [...]

The city’s public housing agency plans to ask a judge to bar anyone from entering projects without permission and will file claims against some who are trying to avert the buildings’ demolition.
Officials say damage from Hurricane Katrina has left thousands of apartments in housing projects unsafe.
Yesterday, attorneys for the Housing Authority of New Orleans e-mailed [...]

The federal government hopes to talk 100 of the country’s top firms into bringing 100 jobs each to New Orleans to help the city recover from Hurricane Katrina, the head of the federal recovery operation said.
The object is to help rebuild the city’s middle class, Donald Powell, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, told [...]

Many Americans dream of owning a beachfront home with ocean views, but big home insurance firms are retreating from the Atlantic coast amid fears that climate change will unleash more dangerous hurricanes.
The insurers say the risk of a “perfect storm” causing vast damage to communities along the Atlantic coast has simply become too high since [...]

As if trying to turn around the district’s academics and finances weren’t enough, Pittsburgh Public Schools now is helping to run a condominium.
The school board last month agreed to appoint three representatives to a condo board that will manage a Downtown building housing part of the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
The [...]

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, the premier resort destination on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, will feature an animated schedule of traditional holiday celebrations and festivals this holiday season. Both families and adults will find festive holiday events for every day of the season. From joyful serenades to traditional family feasts to festive fireworks, Sandestin promises [...]

Millions of dollars in property and home sales primarily in the immediate area around Toledo Bend Reservoir are keeping real estate agents busy. And although many of the buyers are people looking for retirement spots, a new category is investing in the area.
For the past year, a larger part of the lookers and buyers are [...]

Deluxe hotel chains, boosted by the overall strength in the hotel industry, are shuttling billions of dollars into global expansion and renovation projects, in some cases at what the companies are calling unprecedented levels.
Luxury hotels have benefited from increased demand boosted by the resurgence of corporate profits , and hoteliers within that tier are capitalizing [...]