Photo Gallery: Gazette’s Best Photos for the Second Half of November 2025

A photographic tour of The Gazette’s best photos for the second half of November 2025

Alfredo Lastra poses for a portrait at his home in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, November 17, 2025. Lastra immigrated from Ecuador to escape gang violence. He was detained for a month earlier this year despite having no criminal convictions and being in the process of requesting asylum. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jacob Newton concentrates on stringing Christmas lights on a tree in the old Mellow Mushroom restaurant in the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, Iowa on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Iowa will feature three Giving Machines as well as a reception-type space where families can take pictures, listen to music and check out the Christmas decor. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Graduate walkway entrance to the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City, Iowa on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. A new public art installation, “Twilights,” is being installed in the walkway. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Para educator Angie Offerman gets a high-five as she holds open a door while greeting students arriving by bus at Prairie Hill Elementary School in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Offerman comes dressed for the weather. On this day, she wore a rain rain coat, signifying her Iowa State Cyclones fan loyalty. The school was named a Blue Ribbon School by the Iowa Department of Education. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Owner of SCOUT of Marion, Nikki Kettlekamp, looks through the stock shelves in the upper level of the shop in Marion on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Marion Parks and Recreation employee James Offerman, of Springville, sprays water onto the ice rink at City Square Park in Marion on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Offerman said the crew painted the ice rink Tuesday, November 18, night. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Regina’s Nathan Parizek (72), Porter Shetler (79), and Noah Horner (50) react after an Iowa Class 1A high school football state championship game between Iowa City Regina and West Lyon at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Xavier’s Andrew Pladsen (74) celebrates after an Iowa Class 4A high school football state championship game between Cedar Rapids Xavier and Pella at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Paramedic Michael Mothershed speaks with his patient, Betty R. at her apartment in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Mothershed meets with clients a few times a month depending on their level of need to help with medication management, care coordination with doctors and identifying ways to make the client’s home safer. Mothershed says these frequent visits with his patients have dramatically decreased the amount of emergency calls made throughout the year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art education director Erin Thomas reacts as she reads a detective-themed story to children during the Doodlebugs program at Hiawatha Public Library in Hiawatha, Iowa on Friday, November 21, 2025. The program is an art-based story time and happens once a month. The activity for this month was about detectives and the art of fingerprinting. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Mike Farr, of Cedar Rapids, puts the star on top of the tree on the side of Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, November 22, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Ann Morrow, of Blairstown, and Virginia Willett, of Cedar Rapids, watch as family and friends decorate the tree on the side of Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, November 22, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Callie Levin takes a photo with fans after a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Paul Rustebakke, 10, of Cedar Rapids lets out a breath as he looks over a tree for his grandmother while out with his family at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely, Iowa, on Friday, November 28, 2025. The family shops for a Christmas tree every year for their grandmother. He says it is something he looks forward to every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A long camera exposure creates streaks of light from headlights and taillights of a truck as it is driven through a light tunnel during the Holiday Lights at the Lake at the West Overlook Campground in Iowa City on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Jerome Frazier, of Marion, shovels snow in his driveway in Marion on Saturday, November 29, 2025. A winter storm warning is in effect for most of Iowa until 6:00 a.m. on November 30. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end DJ Vonnahme (81) hushes the Nebraska Cornhuskers crowd after scoring a touchdown during the first half of their Big Ten Conference college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb, on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (15) hauls in a pass under pressure from Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Donovan Jones (37) at the Nebraska one-yard line during the second half of their Big Ten Conference college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb, on Friday, November 28, 2025. The play set up a touchdown by Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton. Iowa won 40-16. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia reacts after defeating Iowa’s Nasir Bailey at 141 pounds during a a dual meet between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Echemendia won by major decision 15-2. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)