Friday Morning Read: New Hotel Downtown? Zach Wahls running for Iowa Senate, power lines replaced on SW side

Downtown Hotel? - At least two developers are expressing interest in redeveloping a former bank building at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Cedar Rapids, possibly into a hotel.

Steve Emerson, in partnership with Heart of America Group, a Moline, Ill., hotel and restaurant firm, has proposed restoring the rust-colored Guaranty Bank and Trust Co. building, on the northeast corner of Third Street and Third Avenue SE, into a boutique hotel. Read more about Emerson's plan here.

Zach Wahls running for State Senate - Iowa City native, advocate and author Zach Wahls announced Thursday he will run for the Iowa Senate seat held by Bob Dvorsky, who does not plan to seek re-election in 2018.

'I'm running for the Iowa Senate for one simple reason,' Wahls, a Democrat, told more than 100 people crammed into the Old Town Hall on Thursday afternoon for the announcement. 'This is an all-hands-on-deck moment that will determine the future of our state for generations to come, and I feel responsible.' Read more about Wahls' decision to run here. 

Power line Replacement - Motorists traveling on and near Wilson Avenue SW may have been wondering about large Xs painted on utility poles in recent months.

While some may have thought the markings were preparations for widening the east-west route, the real reason has become evident this week.

ITC Midwest, which owns the high voltage electric distribution system, is replacing the poles and upgrading a two-mile portion of the existing system to improve efficiency and reliability, according to Liz Hunt, manager of marketing and communications for ITC Holdings, corporate parent of Cedar Rapids-based ITC Midwest. Read more about this project here. 

Preview: Iowa vs. Colorado - As everyone heads home for the holidays, the Iowa men's basketball team heads to southeast South Dakota. The Hawkeyes get Colorado at the Sanford Pentagon, a nod to Iowa fans in that region who don't often get a chance to see their favorite team up close, and will get a shot at a Power 5 victory with Big Ten play resuming soon.

For select non-conference games, we'll look at key players, strengths and weaknesses for both teams and the key to winning for both sides. Here's a breakdown of the matchup between Iowa and Colorado.

Vivian's Soul Food - Jerome Smallwood named his restaurant Vivian's Soul Food after his mother, who taught him to cook.

'That's where I got a lot of my recipes — from my mom and my grandmother,' he said.

He honed his skills in Kirkwood Community College's Culinary Arts program. But the heart of his food remains rooted in his family.

'Cooking has pretty much always been a passion for me,' he said. 'My mom always had me in the kitchen, helping her out.' Read more about Vivian's Soul Food here.