Photo Gallery: Best Gazette Photography for Second Half of June 2025

Lead teacher Artiara Sanders watches as second grader Mason Crandall, 7, fills out the answer to a math problem at Trinity Lutheran School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, June 16, 2025. With increases to private school tuitions, schools will be able to increase teacher salaries. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Eight-year-old Calliope De Souza reacts after getting splashed with foam during a Foam Zone party at the Ely Public Library in Ely, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The foam cannon went through five gallons of concentrated, biodegradable and non-toxic soap mixed with 10 gallons of water to produce the suds during the party. The Hills Bank-sponsored event is part of the library’s Fresh Air Fun programming for Tuesdays during the summer. The library offers events for school-aged children at 2pm every weekday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar's Emma Barnes (11) runs down a ball in the infield during their Mississippi Valley Conference softball game against the Liberty Lightning at Liberty High School in North Liberty, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Radio host Bob Naujoks wears a shirt with his show “Gentle Jazz with Bob Naujoks” on it while recording at KCCK Radio at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Radio host Bob Naujoks smiles as he lets a jazz track play while recording “Gentle Jazz with Bob Naujoks” at KCCK Radio at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Bob pre-records his shows on Wednesdays and they premiere Sundays. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Lakayla Taylor and Kay Williams perform a praise dance for the Purpose Place Church during the Juneteenth celebration at the South District Market in Iowa City on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Taylor said she's been dancing since she was four. She added sometimes she gets nervous, but she reminds herself who she's performing for. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Prairie Hawks’ Lyla Canny (center, right) and Lola Hawkins (center, left) hug after Canny caught an outfield fly ball in the outfield, to end the side of an inning, during their prep softball game against Xavier High School at Xavier High School in northeast Cedar Rapids on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Kye Franks (CQ) picks up candy on the Hawkeye Downs Speedway track during the Hy-Vee candy dash in southwest Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 20, 2025. Frank’s dad, Matt Franks, raced in the Sports Mod class. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Evelyn Zillman, 9, of Shueyville, Iowa, bounds down steps as she carries boxes of kolaches to a customer during drive-up kolach sales for St. Ludmila’s Kolach Festival in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The annual fundraising festival for the Catholic Parish continues Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 10am - 2pm. The Parish sold 1,450 dozen of the Czech pastry Friday, with 700 dozen being sold during Friday morning’s drive-up event. The Parish expects to sell 3,500 dozen kolaches. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sue Kuba-Tresnak of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pets Buoy while his owner Zac Gray waits for his kolaches during drive-up kolach sales for St. Ludmila’s Kolach Festival in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The annual fundraising festival for the Catholic Parish continues Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 10am - 2pm. The Parish sold 1,450 dozen of the Czech pastry Friday, with 700 dozen being sold during Friday morning’s drive-up event. The Parish expects to sell 3,500 dozen kolaches. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Barbara Thompson and Regina Bell look at items during Save CR Heritage’s Brick-by-Brick fundraiser in southeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Thompson said she likes to repurpose items from sales for decoration. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Lulu Newhart-Roarick laughs as she walks through the splash pad on the Pedestrian Mall during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Behind her, a line formed of kids and adults waiting for the chance to walk through the cold water. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Madilynn Warren (far right), 11, Abigail Warren, 6, and Sydney Mehlert (left), 10, ducks under a water sprinkler on the splash pad at Kiwanis Park in Vinton, Iowa, on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Samantha Warren (not pictured) said they had gone fishing earlier and decided to come to the splash pad to cool off. Heat advisories were in effect for most of the weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees due to the high humidity levels. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Maddie Kupper sings the national anthem before races begin at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, on Sunday, June 22, 2025. It was Iowa Donor Network night in honor of the Urbana Five: Quentin Ray Ary, Triston James-Ray Randall, Hunter William Tuttle, Zoey Lynnae Tuttle and Nicole Renee Jacobson. Tonight was the eleventh anniversary of Iowa Donor Network night and the tenth year since the Urbana Five had passed away. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Brady Hilmer works on his car before the races begin at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Hilmer said he started racing about seven years ago because his grandpa and dad competed in the Sports Mod class.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Camper Julian Bass, 7, walks with his llama around a barricade while practicing leading during the No-Drama Llama Camp at Prairie Patch Farm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, June 23, 2025. Campers took turns walking with llamas to get more acquainted with them before taking on bigger tasks later in the week. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members mimic MOVE with MC founder Maren Clemson as she leads a free fitness class sponsored by 5SeasonsFit at Big Grove Brewery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, June 23, 2025. The class was moved inside due to hot weather. The week of free fitness classes features various fitness coaches specializing in yoga, HIIT, pilates and more. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Elaina Wall of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and her six-year-old Labrador mix Gretta (cq) (left) and 10-year-old Cavachon Zeek are reflected in the waters of Robbins Lake as they go for a walk at Manhattan Robbins Lake Park in northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The city closed the lake near Ellis Harbor Sunday night, June 22, as a precaution due to rising Cedar River levels. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Livian Clime hugs her dog while they wait to be called by the judge during the 4-H/FFA dog show at the Linn County Fair in Central City, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Wednesday, June 25, will be the first day of the Linn County Fair, kicking off with FFA and 4-H day. For more information on the fair, go to the Linn County Fair website. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Rosemary holds a ball in her mouth as Connie Adams tries to redirect Rosemary back onto the ramp during the “Let’s Try DockDogs” event at Czech Village in southeast Cedar Rapids on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Dani Verhille said before they arrived, she and her husband, Andrew Verhille, were joking that Rosemary wouldn’t want to get out of the water.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Kristin Klein of Fairfax smiles as she takes a picture of her son, Kason Klein, 1, on a tractor at the Linn County Fair in Central City, Iowa on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Thai Curry Party Wings for Michelle Madden’s Mad About Food column. Photographed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

stand for a portrait at the Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

The shadows of Death of an Iowa Brewer producers Makotsi Rukundo, Doug Alberhasky, and Steve Sherman as well as Gazette photojournalist Nick Rohlman are seen in the tunnels under the Brewery Square Building in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, June 27, 2025. The tunnels, or “beer caves” were originally used for the storage and aging of beer. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Brad Colton of Marion, Iowa, paddles along Indian Creek at Thomas Park searching for trash in Marion, Iowa, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Fifty volunteers registered (30 initially, then 20 additional spots) for the annual clean-up activity to remove trash from the trails and waterway along the creek and its tributaries. This is the second annual clean-up event. This is the first one that was organized by Creekside Pride. The next annual cleanup will take place in early May 2026. The master plan for the creek and its tributaries identified nine locations where amenities will be constructed that creates access to the creek for canoes and kayaks as well as enjoyment areas like native prairies, seating and shade structures, playscapes, a fishing pond and paved access. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Taylor Steckler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, gets cooled off by the Hope Community Development crew in its water-filled trailer as he and his family enjoy the 2025 Freedom Festival Parade in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The parade featured over 50 units. It started in NewBo and concluded across the 16th Avenue Bridge in Czech Village. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The ball gets away from Cedar Rapids Kernels' Danny De Andrade as he returns to Earth after leaping for a throw as South Bend Cubs' Cameron Sisneros arrives at second base during their Midwest League MLiB baseball game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Sisneros was called back to first base. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Max Akin, 12, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pretends to drive a Hiawatha Fire Department firetruck on display at the Hiawatha Public Library in Hiawatha, Iowa, on Monday, June 30, 2025. Chief Matt Powers and firefighters with the department were at the library to read a story and talk about fire safety. Children young and old could then explore the firetruck and EMT vehicle. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Capri Fuhr, 10, of Illinois holds out an Iowa towel for former Iowa football player Adrian Clayborn to sign during the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, June 30, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)