Photo Gallery: February 2026 Best Photos of the first half of the month

A collection of The Gazette’s best photos form the first half of February 2026.

Vehicles move past supporters of Alex Pretti during a vigil for Pretti outside of the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 601 S. Highway 6, in Iowa City Iowa, on Sunday, February 1, 2026. VA workers who are members of AFGE Local 2547, along with community members held a vigil honoring Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, union member, and federal worker killed by federal border patrol agents in Minneapolis. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Clara Quinn of Iowa City, Iowa, lowers her head during a moment of silence for Alex Pretti during a vigil outside of the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 601 S. Highway 6, in Iowa City Iowa, on Sunday, February 1, 2026. VA workers who are members of AFGE Local 2547, along with community members held a vigil honoring Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, union member, and federal worker killed by federal border patrol agents in Minneapolis. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Camper Spencer Scriven, 7, jumps from log to log while exploring the outdoors during the Winter Explorers In-Service Day Camp at Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, February 2, 2026. The Winter Explorers In-Service Day Camp allows children to utilize their day off of school by exploring the outdoors, learning about nature and playing games with children their age. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A mother secures a blanket around her child as they smile up at her while waiting for their immigration check-in at the Homeland Security Investigations office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Hundreds of people showed up to support immigrants during an accompaniment rally hosted by Escucha Mi Voz. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A man waves to the crowd after coming out of the Homeland Security Investigations office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 after his immigration check-in. Hundreds of people showed up to support immigrants during an accompaniment rally hosted by Escucha Mi Voz. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Engagement specialist Jordan Moore (left) checks-in with eighth grader Tay Boots, 13, after having some issues in class at Wilson Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Engagement specialists and behavior techs will visit classrooms throughout the school day to monitor students and their behavior and interactions with other students and teachers. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Senior Rylee Thompson (right) smiles as she watches her brother Bryden, 11, a sixth-grade trumpet player try to play her flute following the ribbon cutting ceremony and festivities for the opening of the new performance venue at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The new 1,200-seat venue replaces the 800-seat auditorium. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Students speak during a student walk-out protesting ICE immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other cities in the country on the Pentacrest in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Hight school students from Iowa City West, City High and Liberty were joined by some middle school students and University of Iowa students in the demonstration. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Wapello assistant coach Craig Carlson (right) and head coach Kody Aplara (left) react as Wapello’s Clara Ball leaps into their arms after defeating Vinton-Shellsburg’s Kaelynn Roster during their 115 pounds Class 1A finals match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Denver’s Violet Diaz reacts as she is declared winner after defeating Audubon’s Macy Rasmussen during their 110 pounds Class 1A finals match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Brenna Ruff tries to take Waver-Shell Rock’s Camille Schult to the mat in the 125-pound first round match during the IGHSAU wrestling championship at Xtream Arena Thursday, February 5, 2026. (Amir Prellberg/The Gazette)

Osage’s Ainsley Hemann celebrates her victory in the 105-pound finals match during the IGHSAU state wrestling tournament at Xtream Arena Friday, February 6, 2026. (Amir Prellberg/The Gazette)

Raccoon River-Northwest’s Addison McGinness reacts after defeating Linn-Mar’s Kate Seery during their 115 pounds Class 2A finals match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

South Tama’s Autumn Elsbury reacts after defeating Waverly-Shell Rock’s Amalia Djoumessi during their 170 pounds Class 2A finals match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Prairie’s Emelia Reyes takes the mat before her 235 pounds Class 2A finals match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Vinton-Shellsburg’s Chloe Sanders takes down Denver’s Kate Knutson during their 135 pound first round match at the IGHSAU 2026 State Wrestling Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Thursday, February 5, 2026. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Johnson STEAM Academy fifth grader Maria Kabeya holds a swan parasol as she watches other JSA students perform during a Black History Month celebration at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, February 6, 2026. The celebration is a culmination of Black History Spirit Week at the school. This is the fourth year for the celebration. The 2026 theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations". (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Johnson STEAM Academy fourth grader Elia de Souza waves as she performs during a Black History Month celebration at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, February 6, 2026. The celebration is a culmination of Black History Spirit Week at the school. This is the fourth year for the celebration. The 2026 theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations". (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen reacts after a call against the Hawkeyes during their second half of their Big Ten Conference women’s basketball game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The \Minnesota Golden Gophers won 91-85. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Addison Deal (right) battles for a rebound with Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Mara Braun (10) during their second half of their Big Ten Conference women’s basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The \Minnesota Golden Gophers won 91-85. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

From left: Washington's Hailey Becker, Gabriela Pedroso and Sira Doumbia along with other Warriors celebrate their Mississippi Valley Conference girl’s basketball win over the Kennedy Cougars at Kennedy High School in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, February 6, 2026. Washington won. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Owner Amanda Steines talks to Brian Reynolds at Roasters, 1120 Second St. SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Steines moved out of NewBo City Market to open a standalone coffee shop nearby. Steines also has a Hiawatha location where there is a bean roaster. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Don Bosco heavy weight Kyler Sallis celebrates after securing the 1A championship for the Dons during the 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association’s State Dual Team Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Don Bosco defeated Jesup 36-30 for the title. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa’s Katja Osteen tries for the pin of William Jewell’s Desiree Hall during their 207-lbs. match at the For Her Duals at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Osteen won by technical fall. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Alvaro Folgueiras (right) is fouled by Northwestern Wildcats forward Arrinten Page (22) during the second half of their Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes won 76-70. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A Kirkwood staff member walks around the third level of Iowa Hall on the Kirkwood Community College campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, February 9, 2026. Jointly-enrolled high school students have boosted enrollment numbers at Kirkwood in the last couple of years making up about 46 percent of Iowa’s community college students. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Prairie’s Kylie Cook reacts as she bowls in the quarterfinal round of 3A individual tournament during the 2026 Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union State Bowling Championships at Cadillac XBC, 650 La Porte Rd., in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)