Richard Pratt's stories

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LOCO CR food delivery service launches in Cedar Rapids

LOCO CR, the Cedar Rapids-based food delivery service in the works for nearly four years, is now up and running, and its leaders say it will provide a superior experience for participating restaurants, drivers and customers as compared to nationally-based…

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

Cedar Rapids gets casino license on third try

The third time is the charm for supporters and developers’ efforts to bring a casino…

Tiffany O'Donnell Jonathan Swain casino vote

It’s decision day for proposed Cedar Rapids casino

For both supporters and opponents of the effort to bring a state-licensed casino to Cedar…

Cedar Crossing casino new rendering

Catherine McAuley Center lays off nearly half its workforce in wake of federal refugee program cuts

The Trump administration’s decision to halt funding for refugee resettlement programs nationwide has led the…

Catherine McAuley Center

New developer takes the helm of Broad and Main project in Uptown Marion

The second phase of the Broad and Main project in Uptown Marion is moving ahead,…

Broad and Main on Sixth site

GALLERY: Bowling is just the beginning at BowlDogs in North Liberty

Bowldogs, the newest bowling alley in North Liberty, offers much more than an hourlong adventure…

BowlDogs 3

Cedar Rapids council approves development agreement for QTS data center project

The two large-scale data center projects slated for southwest Cedar Rapids are moving ahead, after…

QTS data center

Alliant CEO: Cedar Rapids data centers will help enable five-year rate freeze

The advent of several large-scale industrial projects in Cedar Rapids, including two data center developments,…

Lisa Barton Alliant Energy

Panel Q&A: Local leaders offer perspectives at economic forecast event

A panel of local economic leaders offered their perspectives on a variety of issues at…

Panelists Brent Cobb, CEO of World Class Industries; May Farlinger, president of Interstate Power & Light Company and vice president of operations for Alliant Energy Corporation; Mike Gerdin, president and CEO of Heartland Express; Beth Goetz, director of athletics at the University of Iowa; and Jason Smith, CEO of TrueNorth Companies pictured at the CBJ's 2025 Economic Forecast Luncheon. CREDIT RICHARD PRATT

O’Donnell, Bergen offer new perspectives on Cedar Rapids casino campaign

Two of the leading figures in the years-long campaign to bring a casino to Cedar…

Cedar Crossing Cedar Rapids rendering

IRGC declines to consider petition seeking to block Cedar Rapids casino

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) decided Thursday not to answer a petition seeking…

Cedar Rapids casino supporters petition