Richard Pratt's stories

BHFO, Cedar Rapids-based online fashion retailer, closing
BHFO, the discount fashion retailer headquartered in Cedar Rapids that helped revolutionize online apparel sales, is closing its doors, company CEO Stacie Sefton confirmed Friday, Oct. 31. “It is with a heavy heart we are announcing the closure of BHFO,…
Linn County officials look to develop zoning standards for gas-fired power plants
As Alliant Energy continues to evaluate possible Linn County sites for a new natural gas-fired…

Linn County officials review land use considerations for data center zoning code
Members of the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission voiced a number of concerns regarding…

Collins Road Square shopping center for sale
Collins Road Square, one of the largest shopping centers in the Cedar Rapids area, is…

Waypoint campaign to establish apartments for residents without homes
As Waypoint Services works to transition the 30-year-old Madge Phillips Center from a shelter to…

Final building in The Fountains under construction
A mixed-use building under construction in The Fountains in northeast Cedar Rapids will serve as…

Local restaurateur Jade Luter flips concepts for Pregame Brew & Chew, Mas Margaritas
A number of new developments are in the works for several locations in local restaurateur…

QTS speaker at CBJ symposium: Data centers, AI are already central to modern society
Data centers, and their AI processing capabilities, have grown to become an integral part of…

Hiawatha leaders hail Igram Village as ‘monumental development’
Hiawatha leaders hailed the Igram Village project as a “monumental development” in the city’s history…

As Google considers Linn County data center, county leaders seek water resource study
As Google reportedly considers building its second data center complex in Linn County, county supervisors…

Alliant Energy ‘deprioritizing’ proposed Fairfax site for new power plant
UPDATED WITH FAIRFAX CITY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENT: In the wake of concerns raised by Eastern Iowa…

Sierra Club: Restarting Duane Arnold would be ‘a mistake’
Restarting the Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear power plant near Palo would be “a mistake”…

EntreFEST to be held in Iowa City in 2026
The 2026 edition of EntreFEST will be held in Iowa City, organizers announced Wednesday, Sept.…

Juliet Abdel talks Cedar Rapids’ appeal, development strategy and more
Juliet Abdel began her tenure July 28 as president and CEO of the Cedar Rapids…

Utilities, advocacy groups united in support for renewable energy development
Iowa utility companies and advocacy groups are largely united in their support of developing large-scale…

Burlington Trailways laying off Iowa workers as company discontinues intercity bus service
Burlington Trailways will be laying off a number of employees in Eastern Iowa, including in…






