Richard Pratt's stories

Alliant Energy typical combined cycle natural gas power plant

Fairfax officials hear details of proposed Alliant gas-fired power plant

Attendees of a Fairfax City Council meeting Tuesday night, Sept. 9 offered decidedly mixed perspectives on an Alliant Energy proposal for a combined-cycle natural gas power plant just southeast of the Fairfax city limits. An estimated 45 attendees packed the…

Iowa City wagyu ranch establishing national reputation, genetic excellence

Sarah Bailey and Kyle Schuchmann of Jiyu American Wagyu talk about the genetics of Wagyu…

A full-blood Wagyu is shown at one of Jiyu American Wagyu’s farms. CREDIT RICHARD PRATT

Federal agency grants waiver to propel potential Duane Arnold restart

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a waiver request from NextEra Duane Arnold…

Duane Arnold Energy Center

New Eastern Iowa Health Care pharmacy grand opening represents latest expansion of its mission

The grand opening of the Eastern Iowa Health Center’s new pharmacy is about more than…

Joe Lock Juliet Abdel Sami Scheetz Eastern Iowa Health Center pharmacy grand opening

Linn supervisors approve first reading of nuclear energy zoning amendment

Linn County supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve the first reading of a new county…

Kirsten Running-Marquardt nuclear zoning amendment

Hiawatha leaders celebrate city’s past, future at State of the City event

Most towns like to claim they’re experiencing dramatic growth, but Hiawatha Mayor Steve Dodson found…

Hiawatha mayor Steve Dodson State of the City

Council member Todd at LightLine groundbreaking: Project will restore ‘circle of life’

Cedar Rapids City Council member Dale Todd borrowed a trope from a classic Disney movie…

Dale Todd LightLine Loop groundbreaking

Renewable energy is big in Iowa, but can growth continue?

In the past decade, renewable energy production has surged across the United States, a trend…

This 86.1-kilowatt solar array, located on the Wernimont farm near Peosta, was installed by Eagle Point Solar in 2022. CREDIT EAGLE POINT SOLAR

WITH GALLERY: Cedar Rapids leaders dedicate latest flood protection project near Czech Village

Flood protection for the west side of Cedar Rapids has taken a significant step forward,…

Cedar River flood protection pump station

Cedar Rapids leaders reflect on 2020 derecho at five-year commemoration ceremony

The August 2020 derecho inflicted billions of dollars in damage across the Midwest, including a…

Cedar Rapids derecho tree planting

Ingredion hosts groundbreaking ceremony for $50 million Cedar Rapids expansion

Ingredion leaders and government officials took an opportunity Wednesday, at a groundbreaking ceremony in Cedar…

Ingredion plant manager Patrick Small

Airport commissioner: ‘We feel blindsided’ by Alliant power plant proposal

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission and Alliant Energy representatives shared starkly different perspectives Tuesday morning…

Marty Lenss Eastern Iowa Airport

Airport commission sets special meeting Tuesday to discuss Alliant power plant proposal

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to discuss Alliant…

Alliant power plant proposed location

Zeam focuses on ‘life in real time’ streaming

In a way, Jack Perry’s launch of Zeam has been a natural progression of the…

Zeam encoding studio

QTS data center groundbreaking canceled in wake of deadly New York shooting

The groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for this morning at the QTS data center site in southwest…

QTS data center

Proposed Alliant power plant near airport raises concerns

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission is expressing safety and proximity concerns about an Alliant Energy…

Alliant power plant proposed location