Richard Pratt's stories

Kirkwood Community College Student Center

Kirkwood receives nearly $625,000 in annual TRIO grants

Kirkwood Community College has secured two federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants totaling $624,895 annually for the next five years. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, aims to improve retention and graduation rates for students who…

Marion City Council begins process to close Marion airport runway

While allowing for the possibility of a viable alternate plan emerging, the Marion City Council…

Marion airport

The Golden Apple buffet officially opens in southwest Cedar Rapids

Buffet lovers, rejoice – The Golden Apple, the newest buffet restaurant in Cedar Rapids, finally…

The Golden Apple buffet Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids officials ‘optimistic’ about attracting new grocer to former First Avenue Hy-Vee

Cedar Rapids officials said this week they’re increasingly “optimistic” about the prospects for attracting a…

First Avenue Hy-Vee empty

Ingredion planning $48.5 million plant expansion in Cedar Rapids

Ingredion is planning a $48.5 million expansion of their plant in southwest Cedar Rapids, a…

Ingredion Cedar Rapids plant

This ‘dynamic duo’ is setting bold new course for downtown Cedar Rapids

This is the first article of a two-part series examining the landscape of downtown Cedar…

Downtown District executive director Caleb Knutson and program manager Jennifar Bassett are shown at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in downtown Cedar Rapids. CREDIT RICHARD PRATT

New Dick’s House of Sport at former Sears could lead to closing of existing Dick’s Sporting Goods store

The opening of a new Dick’s House of Sport in the former Sears store in…

Dick's House of Sport Davenport climbing wall

City of Marion seeks to sell runway at Marion Municipal Airport

The City of Marion is pursuing an initiative to end its ownership of the runway…

LuxAir office Marion Airport

Uptown Marion could support upscale hotel, study indicates

Uptown Marion has the capacity to support an upscale, 80- to 90-room hotel, according to…

Marion Uptown Plaza

Meisheid named chair of Linn County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Brandy Z. Meisheid has been named chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors…

Brandy Meisheid Linn County board of supervisors

Former AMC theater in Cedar Rapids set to become trampoline park

It seems the former AMC Classic Westdale 12 movie theater in southwest Cedar Rapids will…

AMC Theater Cedar Rapids

Neumann to step down as Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance executive director

Doug Neumann has announced plans to step down as executive director of the Cedar Rapids…

Doug Neumann Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

Redevelopment projects set to transform former Transamerica site

UPDATED with new comments: After years of starts and stops, a pair of redevelopment projects…

Transamerica site redevelopment plan

A new chapter for former Newport’s Flowers building

While the days of Newport’s Flowers in Cedar Rapids have ended, the florists’ onetime home…

This towering smokestack is the iconic feature of the former Newport’s Flowers building at 2125 Wilson Ave. SW. CREDIT RICHARD PRATT

Commission won’t pause its casino decisions, as lawsuit seeks to block Cedar Rapids casino

UPDATE: In a brief special virtual meeting Monday morning, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission…

Mark Weinhardt casino lawsuit

New Cedar Rapids casino to open on New Year’s Eve 2026

The new Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center in northwest Cedar Rapids is slated to…

Brent Stevens Cedar Crossing groundbreaking