Photo Gallery: Gazette’s Best Photos for the First Half of October 2025

Escucha Mi Voz member Evelyn Dayana Taco enters the Homeland Security Investigations building for her ICE check-in appointment in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Evelyn spoke during the Escucha Mi Voz vigil before her appointment. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A police officer pushes back a community member from a police tape line during an Escucha Mi Voz accompaniment vigil outside the Homeland Security Investigations building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Police tape was put up around the property. Community members were told if they crossed the line they would be committing a federal offense. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Firefighter Weston Platz looks up at his co-workers after completing a rescue of a dummy patient during a trench training with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department at Jones Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The drill allows firefighters to take a hands-on approach to problem solving on their own for a trench rescue. Trench rescues are fairly uncommon in Cedar Rapids, but drills are run through every couple of years. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Xavier’s Gemma Younadam reacts after winning the 1A doubles championship match against Decorah during the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s 2025 State Tennis Championships at the University of Iowa’s Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, October 2, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

North Linn Elementary School kindergarten teacher Megan Price works with Brynn Hatch to identify the letter “d” on a message on a smart board in Price’s class at North Linn Elementary School in Coggon, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Smartboards were purchased with ESSER funds during the pandemic. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Colleen Nissen (right) of Wall Lake, Iowa smiles as she dances with her twin Bernadine Steinkamp of Wall Lake, Iowa during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana, Iowa on Friday, October 3, 2025. This marks the 60th anniversary of the festival. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members hold up their mugs of beer for a toast while watching the keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana, Iowa on Friday, October 3, 2025. This is the 60th year for the festival and festivities happen throughout the weekend. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cattle graze on a mix of plants that make up a cover crop on a field at the Rohdale Institute in Marion, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The mix of plants are clover, radishes, Japanese millet and oats. According to a new study by ISU, some farmers across the state have been opting out of cover crop planting, despite the overall number of cover crop acres are increasing in Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cattle graze on a mix of plants that make up a cover crop on a field at the Rohdale Institute in Marion, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The mix of plants are clover, radishes, Japanese millet and oats. According to a new study by ISU, some farmers across the state have been opting out of cover crop planting, despite the overall number of cover crop acres are increasing in Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Xavier’s Conor Ryan (27) brings down Waverly-Shell Rock’s Nolan Johnson (3) during a game between Cedar Rapids Xavier and Waverly-Shell Rock in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, October 3, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Kevin McKeever listens as District Associate Judge Russell Keast speaks about the history of the courthouse during the 100th anniversary of the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, October 3, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Nicole Baker, of Cedar Rapids, cheers on community members running in the 5K during the Anamosa Pumpkinfest in Anamosa on Saturday, October 4, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Ann Hegstrom waves at a camera for a group photo of breast cancer survivors before the 35th annual Especially for You (EFY) Race Against Breast Cancer began at Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in southeast Cedar Rapids on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Hegstrom said she has been cancer-free for six years, and this is the fifth year she has participated in the 5K. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Vinton-Shellsburg High School girls sim coach Whitney Bowen tells the team what they will be doing for sprinting drills during their swim practice at Coe College’s Coe Natatorium in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Bowen said the most challenging part about traveling to Coe Natatorium for practice isn’t the travel but the late nights. “It's getting home at 9 o'clock on practice nights that's hard, especially when we have meets. Like we went to Grinnell last Tuesday, we didn’t start the meet until seven, so we didn't get home until 11. It's a lot of late nights, and you can sustain it for a while, but after a while it just wears on the girls and it wears on me," Bowen said.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Rusty Broten of Cedar Rapids smiles as he participates in a game of BINGO with fellow patients at PACE Senior Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, October 6, 2025. PACE, which stands for Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly works to help patients remain in their homes while offering services like medical services, meals and social work services. The services provided by PACE are completely covered, which helps elderly patients who struggle financially. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Rosie Hawkins of Cedar Rapids (right) smiles as she talks with physical therapist Kendra Weber while working on toe tap exercises for balance on the parallel bars at PACE Senior Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, October 6, 2025. Rosie was one of the first people to enroll in the PACE program. She requires care from lung, heart and kidney doctors. She also broke her kneecap after falling and participates in physical therapy to improve her balance and strengthen her calves. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A student carries an instrument to one of the practice room on an upper floor of the University of Iowa’s Voxman Music Building in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Cooler temperatures and rain brought people inside for the day. According to the National Weather Service, the cooler temperatures and rain will give way to sunny and seasonal temperatures with a projected high of 78 degrees Saturday. The new building, built in 2016, replaces the flood-damaged building that has been closed since the flood of 2008. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lucas Klokonos a second-year Russian and Organ Performance double major from Alexandria, Minn. relaxes on a couch at the University of Iowa’s Voxman Music Building in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Cooler temperatures and rain brought people inside for the day. According to the National Weather Service, the cooler temperatures and rain will give way to sunny and seasonal temperatures with a projected high of 78 degrees Saturday. The new building, built in 2016, replaces the flood-damaged building that has been closed since the flood of 2008. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A reflection of community members rallying together during an immigration accompaniment and protest is reflected in a community member’s sunglasses outside of the Homeland Security Investigations building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The federal building has asked the city of Cedar Rapids to grant them a permit to put up a fence around their building to keep out community members. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Pedestrians make their way along the Cedar River on the Prairie Park Fishery Trail at the Prairie Park Fishery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The National Weather Service forecasts sunny weather with highs in the 70s through the end of the week. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Myles Fidler, 6, of Oxford shows off his Spiderman costume by jumping off a small ledge as he visits the Oxford Costume Closet at the Oxford Public Library in Oxford, Iowa on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. This is the first year the city is hosting a costume closet which is a collection of gently used and new Halloween costumes that are available for children for free. The costume closet is located at City Hall on Monday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the costumes are displayed at the library, with the exception of library events. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mari Hunt Wassink talks with the Gazette as she harvests okra on her farm plot at Feed Iowa First’s equitable land access program, in Marion, Iowa on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Hunt Wassink uses organic and regenerative practices to grow produce culturally relevant to Black communities. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa City High’s Grace Hamann runs in the varsity race during the Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) cross country Super Meet at Iowa City Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Hamann took fifth place with a time of 18:41.7. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Iowa City High’s Lucy Sherburne high-fives Iowa City High’s Calissa Fruin after finishing the Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) cross country Super Meet at Iowa City Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City on Thursday, October 9, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Lawson Neighbor (left) breaks up a pass intended for Waterloo West’s Deztin McMurrin (4) during a game between the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars and the Waterloo West Wahawks at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday, October 9, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Liz Ulin of Iowa City, Iowa, adjusts the Tigger costume on her four-year-old mini Bernedoodle Frank during the Bark or Biscuit Pup Parade at Red Fern Dog Park in North Liberty, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The event features a pet-centric Halloween Trail. This weekend is a Free Dog Park Weekend; gates will be unlocked. Learn more about how to purchase Red Fern Dog Park Passes at northlibertyiowa.org/dogpark. Organizations including the North Liberty Pet Clinic, Animal Kingdom, the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Leash on Life, and Kaitlyn’s Pupcakes were also at the event. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dana Lotempio (center) , of Iowa City, laughs at a joke by Jill Fisher (left), of Iowa City, and Serenity Gayden, 11, told as they make intestines out of liquid latex, cotton and fabric at Zombabes & Co. Fear Factory in Iowa City on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Lotempio said that she and the other co-founders of Zombabes’ experience in nursing makes them a good team. “Being nurses on the neurosurgical floor, that bonds people together, and that’s really where that started. It’s almost like you can’t piece them apart. We’ve always been there for each other; you have to be because you can’t take care of sick patients without help, and I think that’s why we work so well together here,” Lotempio said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Abbie Sheeley, 7, of Iowa City, high-fives spectators during the kids’ half-mile run at Run For the Schools in Iowa City on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Abbie’s mom, Sarah Sheeley, said that her daughter enjoys participating in the Run For the Schools because it’s an excellent way for kids to get involved in the community. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Erskine Elementary School principal Alexis Pieper (left) dances with PTA treasurer Emily Phelan of Cedar Rapids who dressed up as the Erskine Eagles mascot on the rooftop of Erskine Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, October 13, 2025. The Erskine PTA met their goal of raising $15,000 for the Walk N’ Rock in October. Pieper brought a small desk up to the roof so she could work up there for the entire school day. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Students watch as Erskine Elementary School principal Alexis Pieper blows bubbles and cheers arriving students from the rooftop of the school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, October 13, 2025. The Erskine PTA met their goal of raising $15,000 for the Walk N’ Rock in October. Pieper brought a small desk up to the roof so she could work up there for the entire school day. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Michael McCune’s brother, Keonte McCune becomes emotional while reading his victim impact statement during Banyon Berry’s sentencing hearing at the Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, October 13, 2025. Berry was sentenced to 50 years in prison with no minimum sentence. Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Lars Anderson stated that due to his age when the crime was committed and other factors he did not believe a 35-year minimum was the correct choice. He went on to state that the sentence will allow Berry to prove his rehabilitation to the parole board and be released when they deem him ready. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Nick Green, lead instructor with SMART Local 263 wheels a Statue of Liberty sculpture into the daylight from the shop at the organization’s training center in southwest Cedar Rapids, on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. The replica of the one on Liberty Island in New York Harbor is made of 1/16th inch copper plate. Trades people repaired a hole in the back of Lady Liberty’s head, fabricated and attached new spikes on her crown and reattached her torch-holding outstretched arm as well as other restoration. The sculpture was first installed in 1950. The restored sculpture will be installed in Cedar Rapids City Hall. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Prairie's Grace Knock (1) celebrates a Hawks point with teammates during their match against the Cedar Falls Tigers at the Mississippi Valley Conference High School volleyball tournament at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)