Richard Pratt's stories

Why Iowa is betting on nuclear energy to meet surging electricity demand
The push to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center began almost immediately after the facility ceased operations following the August 2020 derecho, as local residents and experts questioned the shutdown decision. That drumbeat has become a full-fledged chorus in the…
‘We deserve better’: Teamsters host strike rally at Cargill plant in Cedar Rapids
Amid raucous rallying chants such as “when we fight, we win,” members of Teamsters Local…

Years in the making, work on ConnectCR project set to begin next year
In the grassroots planning stages since the early 1970s, construction of the two-phased ConnectCR project…

Lil’ Drug Store continues explosive growth as it celebrates 50 years
Back in 1974, Lil’ Drug Store began with a simple value proposition: “If you’re driving…

Negotiations with mediator set as strike against Cargill in Cedar Rapids enters second week
Negotiations are set to begin Wednesday with a federal mediator regarding the ongoing strike by…

Cedar Rapids casino proponents: Cedar Crossing will be ‘game-changer’
As speaker after speaker touted the economic and cultural benefits of the proposed Cedar Rapids…

Teamsters begin strike against Cargill corn plant in Cedar Rapids
Members of Teamsters Local 238 voted Tuesday, Oct. 1 to authorize a strike against Cargill’s…

Cargill workers in Cedar Rapids warn of possible strike
Representatives of Teamsters Local 238 in Cedar Rapids are warning of the possibility of a…

New Holiday Inn and Suites in Marion to open by late November
Construction of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, the third hotel in Marion and its…

Cedar Rapids council picks Conlon to develop new 136-room hotel near New Bohemia
Conlon Construction has been selected as the developer of a new 136-room hotel near the…

New data center would surpass Google development project as largest in Cedar Rapids history
A proposed $750 million data center development in southwest Cedar Rapids is set to supplant…

Documentaries chronicle Arthur Collins’ impact on industry
Arthur A. Collins’ place in aerospace history was cemented early in life – but it…

Cedar Crossing will offer more than a casino, supporters say
From three live entertainment venues and three restaurants to an arts and cultural center that…

Guaranty Bank, Strand Theater redevelopment plans moving forward
The redevelopment of the historic former Guaranty Bank and Strand Theatre buildings in a prominent…

EIHC initiative will provide high-tech solution to ‘pharmacy desert’
The Eastern Iowa Health Center’s (EIHC) plans for a new, largely automated pharmacy in the…

New housing subdivision planned near Lowe Park in Marion
A new single-family subdivision is in the works for a plot of land near Lowe…






