The Associated General Contractors Shreveport Chapter recently raised about $250,000 to fund a 10-year permanent construction exhibit so that children visiting Shreveport's Sci-Port Discovery Center can experience the construction industry.

A news conference was held in late October to announce the Kids at Work initiative, to share the names of the local construction industry businesses that supported the project and to accept a check from the Louisiana Construction Education Trust Fund.

Largest single-deck riverboat casino arrives in Lake Charles

L'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino, a $365 million Las Vegas-style resort-casino currently under construction in Lake Charles, moved its riverboat casino through the Port of Lake Charles' Industrial Canal to its permanent home in November.

The boat floated nearly 10 miles at 3 to 4 knots during a three-hour trip.

Jennings-based Leevac Industries LLC delivered the completed vessel to its berth in Lake Charles. Pinnacle Entertainment, parent company of L'Auberge, awarded Leevac a $40 million contract to build the riverboat in three separate sections, then float each hull to the Port Industrial Canal for assembly and finish work.

The vessel's final journey up the Calcasieu River was guided by tugboats.

"We are thrilled to reach another milestone in the development of our Lake Charles resort," said Alain Uboldi, regional vice president for Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and general manager of L'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino.

The casino will be the largest single-deck riverboat casino in the United States and the only single-deck riverboat in Louisiana. The 225-ft. by 330-ft. vessel will feature more than 48,000 sq. ft. of non-stop gaming action. From blackjack to baccarat, video poker to Pai Gow poker, the casino will include 60 table games and more than 1,600 of the newest slot machines, equipped with ticket-in ticket-out technology.

"Another impressive feature of this riverboat casino is its ventilation system," said Uboldi. "To constantly supply the riverboat with fresh air, we have installed state-of-the-art equipment to help keep the air smelling smoke free."

L'Auberge is currently under construction on 227 acres of land and is scheduled to open this spring.