A look at Gazette photojournalists’ best photos in the first half of March 2025

High water at Lake Red Rock overflows the banks of the Des Moines River north of Pleasantville, Iowa on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Pectoral Sandpipers feed in the wet grassy areas and exposed mudflats of the Lake at lower water levels. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Matt Russell moves hay bales to feed livestock on his farm near Lacona, Iowa on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Union Community players hold up a jersey belonging to teammate Gavin Rohrbach (12), who died in an automibile accident in the fall, as lineups are introduced before an IHSAA boys’ basketball state tournament quarterfinal game between the West Lyon Wildcats and the Union Community Knights at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

North Linn's Mackenzie Bridgewater (22) and Gladbrook-Reinbeck's Elly Sieh (4) battle for the ball during a state tournament quarterfinal between North Linn and Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar's Trey Wright (2) shoots the ball as Valley's Marcus McGregor (54) defends during an IHSAA boys’ basketball state tournament semifinal between Linn-Mar and West Des Moines Valley at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars guard Jaxson Bean (3) breaks away after stealing the ball during a IHSAA Boys’ Basketball state tournament quarterfinal game between the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars and the Waukee Northwest Wolves at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Madden Wilson (3) and Sioux City Bishop Heelan's Trishelle Miller (33) battle for a rebound during a state tournament quarterfinal Cedar Rapids Xavier and Sioux City Bishop Heelan at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Springville's Reese Tritle (24) and Abbi Hoyt (20) hug as they walk off the court following a state tournament quarterfinal between Springville and Newell-Fonda at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Williamsburg's Carly Rich (1) embraces head coach Stephanie Dacey following a state tournament quarterfinal between the Williamsburg and the Des Moines Christian at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon's Courtney Franck (22), Chloe Meester (20), Taylor Franck (11), and Sydney Huber (23) lead their teammates onto the court before a state tournament championship game between Mount Vernon and Dubuque Wahlert Catholic at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, March 7, 2025. Mount Vernon won 47-36 to clinch their second state title. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

North Central College’s Sydney Petzinger hugs her family members after defeating King University’s Clare Booe during their 117 lbs. championship match at the 2025 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa’s Macey Kilty reacts to the crowd after defeating North Central College’s Bella Mir during their 145 lbs. championship match at the 2025 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Kilty won over Mir by 7-2 decision. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Members of the Iowa women’s wrestling team pose for picture with their trophies after taking first place in the team awards at the 2025 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery reacts to a call against Iowa in the second half of the game against Michigan State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A foul is called on Michigan State as Michigan State Spartans guard Jase Richardson (11) reaches out to block Iowa Hawkeyes guard Josh Dix (4) as he drives towards the basket in the second half of the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Ladji Dembele (13) reacts as the Hawkeyes fall behind in points against Michigan State in the second half of the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Jada Gyamfi (23) hugs teammate and senior Iowa Hawkeyes forward AJ Ediger (34) as she comes off the court for the last time during the game against Wisconsin at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen reacts after a foul is called on the Hawkeyes in the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Loras’ Eric Kinkaid takes down University of the Ozark’s Demetri Teddlie during their 157 lbs. championship match at the NCAA III regional wrestling tournament at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Harlow Roberts, 6, of Vinton holds a cereal bracelet up to her face to represent a smile at her friend during a cereal jewelry making event at the Vinton Public Library in Vinton, Iowa on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Washington High School freshmen Mira Gibbons, 13, performs before the Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Language arts teacher and instructional coach Theresa Fettkether wheels a cart of supplies to a new classroom at Jefferson High School in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. Teachers and staff are moving classrooms to prepare for the construction of the new freshman academies and career technical education paths that will be offered at the school. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Framed through a golf push cart wheel, Roger Edkin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, winds up on his tee shot as he plays a round of golf with friends at Twin Pines Golf Course in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025. This was the opening day of the 2025 golf season for the city’s golf courses. The course played host to at least 150-200 golfers taking advantage of the warm weather. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Nam Nguyen (left) and Cody Tucker with Prescott’s Surgical Microscopes check a neurospine microscope at Steindler Orthopedic Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center in North Liberty, Iowa, on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025. The 35,880-square-foot, $29.3 million facility will have six larger and modernized operating rooms with room to expand. The surgery center features 24-30 pre-operation preparation and recovery rooms for patients and their care givers for before and after their procedures as well as three 23-hour recovery rooms. The facility also has dedicated physical and occupational therapy spaces. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly pumps his arms as heleads attendees in a cheer during the 31st annual Marion State of the City address during a luncheon at the Double Tree by Hilton Convention Center in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dead gizzard shad float on the surface of the Cedar River near the boat launch at Ellis Harbor in northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025. Chris Mack a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said it was a naturally occurring kill that resulted in thousands of dead gizzard shad. Warm temperatures allowed the fish to spawn and be more mobile. When colder temperatures moved in, the fish were “shocked” and died, Mack said. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Passengers wait for their flights in the newly opened phase four of the concourse expansion at The Eastern Iowa Airport in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025. The concourse expansion is part of the $65 million phase four of a terminal modernization project that started in 2012. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A tattoo honoring victim Myron Snyder is seen on the forearm of Snyder’s mother Alicia Rogers during the trial of Cameron Leonard at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2025. Leonard, 26, of Cedar Rapids, is accused of fatally shooting a DoorDash delivery driver, Myron Snyder, 21, of Cedar Rapids, on Oct. 5, 2023 in an apartment parking lot. Leonard is charged with first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, use of a dangerous weapon in commission of a crime and being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Alicia Rogers (right) is comforted after Cameron Leonard was found guilty of fatally shooting her son after the reading of the verdict in his trial at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Leonard, 26, of Cedar Rapids, was found guilty of fatally shooting a DoorDash delivery driver, Myron Snyder, 21, of Cedar Rapids, on Oct. 5, 2023 in an apartment parking lot. Leonard was convicted of first-degree murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, use of a dangerous weapon in commission of a crime and being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Virginia Birdnow (left) talks to Stephanie Madison as she has lunch with Thomas Reimer (not shown) at Rio Burritos, 5001 First Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The restaurant serves Mexican food, including its specialty—birria in tacos, on fries, in burritos and as a burger or a grilled cheese. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Avocado toast will be part of the coming soon breakfast menu at The Full Bowl, 999 Second St. SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The vegetarian and vegan-focused restaurant specializing in grain bowls, has moved out of NewBo City Market into its own freestanding location.(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes’s Avery Jackson (center, right) bumps chests with Jena Young (#24) during player introductions before their college softball game against the St. Thomas Tommies at Pearl Field in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)