Photos: Gazette’s Best Photos of the first half of May 2025

Gazette photojournalists present their best photos they’ve produced in the first half of May 2025

Volunteers dig out weeds at the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm during the United Way of East Central Iowa’s , Iowa on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Volunteers from BGHN associates weeded, spread compost, and planted at the urban farm while volunteers from other employers worked at sites throughout the area. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Former Biden administration Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during a town hall event at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Sullivan Stoner hangs off of the jungle gym during Marion’s Central Plaza opening ceremony in uptown Marion on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The jungle gym is one of the features of the $8.35 million project which also holds space for a refrigerated ice-skating loop, a live performance space, water features, and public art. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Jill Grime stands for a portrait at the Burr Oak Land Trust’s Turkey Creek Preserve in Johnson County, Iowa on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Korey Schepers (far left), Mandy Leyken (left), Ashley Whittlesey (right) and Eric Whittlesey laugh as they mime milking a cow as Wright Tree Service instructor Kristian Michael Schultz talks about cow hitch knots during an intro to tree climbing class at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 2, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Marion Alliance for Racial Equity’s co-leader Erica Bernard welcomes community members to the “Love Conquers Hate” demonstration in uptown Marion on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Bernard said the goal of the demonstration was to embrace individuality and diversity. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Nora Steggall, 4, draws a picture during Chalk the Walk at Hoover Elementary School in northwest Cedar Rapids on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Iowa BIG student and Prairie High School senior Zack Winborn (left) talks about UTV safety with follow BIG student and Prairie senior Spencer Wood during a presentation on all-terrain vehicle safety to fifth and sixth graders from Prairie Creek during Ag Education Day at the Ag Center at the high school in southwest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, May 2, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Liz McDermott of LeClaire, Iowa looks on as Former Biden administration Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during a town hall event at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell presented the 2025 State of the City address in northeast Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. During the speech O'Donnell discussed an economic development project on the river front.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Construction worker Ninoska Campos speaks about her experiences with Iowa’s state patrol while Emily Sinnwell translates for her during the Aquí Estamos March for Immigrant Dignity and Justice in Iowa City on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Jefferson High School seniors Angeo Zepot, Auston Buchler and Khai Gatewood smile as kids congratulate graduates during the senior walk in Hoover Elementary School at northwest Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The walks are hosted and arranged by the Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Volunteers with Catholic Worker and Escucha Mi Voz Iowa wait outside Iowa’s State Patrol Office in southwest Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The group went to Iowa’s State Patrol Office to follow up on a formal civil rights complaint filed by immigrant workers and Escucha Mi Voz Iowa. The group also delivered a petition for the state to cancel its 287(g) ICE Task Force agreement. The petition has 800 signatures.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

North Liberty Firefighter Emma Hall uses the jaws of life to pry open a demo car door during the Remarkable Rigs event in North Liberty on Saturday, May 10. North Liberty Community Relations Director Nick Bergus said his favorite part about the event is seeing how much pride everyone takes in their job. “I love that our team take pride in the work that they’re doing, right? And they don’t have the opportunity to show off very often,” Bergus said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Chad Schumacher (left) director of operations for the Cedar Rapids Community School District talks to Caitlin Hartman with the Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission as he leads representatives of The History Center and the commission on a tour of some of the architectural and historical elements of Harrison Elementary School and steps the school district will take to preserve and integrate those into the new design and renovation of the school at 1310 11th St NW, in northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Russell Barbary with Galaxy Cleaning Services cleans the windows and frames of the now enclosed Depot Pavilion as finishing touches continue on the Central Plaza in Marion, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The $8.35 million project features a a refrigerated ice-skating loop, enclosure of the Depot Pavilion, year-round public restrooms, live performance space, water features, an interactive play sculpture, public art and seating. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa City High’s Emory Anzelc hits out of a sand bunker on the third hole during the 2025 Mississippi Valley Conference Girls Golf Super Meet at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday, May 5, 2025. It took two hits to get out of the bunker. Anzelc had a good lay on the green. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Coe’s Mitchell Eckardt (2) dives for the ball during an American Rivers Conference baseball tournament game between the Coe College Kohawks and the Buena Vista Beavers at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Buena Vista's Mark Eddie (21) celebrates during an American Rivers Conference baseball tournament game between the Coe College Kohawks and the Buena Vista Beavers at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Clear Creek Amana’s Tay Seals competes in the 110 meter hurdles race during the WaMaC conference meet at Mount Vernon High School on Thursday, May 8. Seals took first place and beat the conference record with a time of 14.10 seconds. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Easton Johnson (28) slides into home plate while Buena Vista University catcher Evan Taylor tries to tag him out during the final day of the College baseball American Rivers Conference tournament at Memorial Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Xavier's Reese Komenda (12) tangles with Linn-Mar's Abi Roberts (13) during their Mississippi Valley Conference girls high school soccer match at Xavier High School in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar’s Reagan Boies returns a volley to North Scott’s Olive Khoury during their quarterfinal round match at the class 2A region six individual singles and doubles girls regional tennis tournament at Linn-Mar Tennis Complex in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)