Myron Gebhardt, a Provo Parking Enforcement Officer, enters vehicle information into an app on his phone before issuing a parking ticket while a vehicle he just ticketed is reflected in his vehicle window Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 during a patrol in the area surrounding BYU's campus in Provo. Gebhardt enters the information and any pictures of evidence into Citewrite, a mobile-phone app used by police to issue citations. The information and pictures can then be seen by whoever the ticket was issued to as well as the authorities.
It's been just about two months since I moved to Provo, Utah and it's been quite the ride at the Daily Herald. Here's some of my work from the second half of August when I started this job up until the end of September (an October post will soon follow).
To begin on a scary note (I promise the rest is all good stuff), in my second week at the newspaper, Lee Enterprises sold the newspaper to Ogden Newspapers Inc. (based in West Virginia, not Ogden, Utah) and everyone had to reapply to their jobs. As most know, in the journalism industry when a paper is sold, it's generally bad news. In fact, layoffs practically always come with a sale, especially for the photo department. After a very, very scary few days (holy crap, I just moved 2,000 miles away from home and now I'm going to lose my first job in less than two weeks) and a lot of thoughtful vouching by paper's leadership team, all three of us on the photo staff are still here. The Daily Herald has a reputation for being a solid photo paper, and thankfully the new company appreciated that. The newspaper sadly lost two from the editorial department and two from the advertising department, but most of the newspaper has been relatively unchanged. Frankly, we dodged a bullet, and I'm so unbelievably grateful to have this job.
Speaking of the job, it's great! I work with two young and extremely talented folks, Dominic Valente and Sammy Jo Hester, who have become close friends. We often bounce work off each other and it's been a wonderful place to continue to grow as a photographer. I get to photograph a healthy variety of everything, including some longer-term projects, called Monday Close Ups.
Each month we have to find a story to photograph and write about, and it ends up on the front page each Monday (one story for each photographer, and one story by a reporter and we cover the pictures). I did my first Monday Close Up on Cougar Tails, which is a donut treat served at Brigham Young University athletic events. You can see more of it here: http://provodh.com/j8uea.
It's actually quite enjoyable to write a story to accompany my pictures. I think it leaves me with a deeper understand of something than if I only took pictures of it. I also have to write and photograph 2-3 stand-alone stories a week. For those, I shoot a general assignment and then write around 200 words for a mini-story to run with the pictures, typically for the lead story on the front page.
Work jargon aside, the bottom line is I couldn't be happier with my job. It's a bit difficult adjusting to a new community so far away from home, but I don't think I would be any happier elsewhere. I can finally say I got a full-time job doing what I love, and I think that's pretty amazing. I look forward to using this as a new beginning to reevaluate my shootings skills and push myself into new ways of shooting and becoming a better photojournalist.
Springville centenarian Ora Hardy sits for a portrait in her home on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Hardy was born on May 10, 1916, and lives in her home by herself.
Jaden Giles, 9, climbs while his sister Jordan Giles, 13, stretches and others participate in the one-mile run during the Courageous Kid’s Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at the track on the campus of Brigham Young University. The event was started five years ago by Lionheart founder Tammy Bowers, who's son, Landen Lion Bowers, had a heart transplant. Bowers was involved with track and field in college and always wanted her son to participate, so she started the event to allow children with special needs to enjoy the sport.
Chris Martin of Coldplay dances as he sings amidst confetti Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Timpview wide receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen (19) reaches, but can't reel in the catch while hit by Alta cornerback Zach Alsop (24) during their football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Timpview players listen to their coaches talk in their locker room before their football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Lone Peak wide receiver senior Payton Freeman (6) tires to reel in the catch in the end zone, but it is called incomplete, during their football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Fans watch the game between the Knights and the Miners from the baseball field's outfield fence during the football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Timpview tackle Jacob Jefferies (74) waits for teammates to gather in the showers of the locker room for pre-game meetings with coaches before the football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Timpview midfielder Tiana Tolman (16) jumps to hit the ball with her chest while guarded by Alta midfielder Kaity Morton (18) during their soccer match Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Timpview High School in Provo.
Bringham University fans cheer while a cardboard-cut-out of Ken Jeong (who starred in "The Hangover") sits idly by during the volleyball match Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Salem Hills' Megan Treanor (2) celebrates after the Skyhawks scored during a volleyball match between the Salem Hills Skyhawks and the Springville Red Devils on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at Salem Hills High School. Salem Hills swept Springville 3-0.
Bingham defensive back junior Tanner Merrill (9) intercepts the pass intended for Lone Peak wide receiver senior Tyler MacPherson (2) during their football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Bingham wide receiver senior Dylan DeVoogd (15) concentrates as coaches talk through the first half in their lockeroom at halftime of the football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Grizzbee of the Utah Grizzlies picks his nose on the sidelines Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 during the Mascot Bowl held at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Rocky of Rocky Mountain Raceways pushes off Skyridge Parker's David Donaldson (17) as he runs the ball up the field Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 during the Mascot Bowl held at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
American Fork outside linebacker Hunter Fry (89) gathers himself while he relaxes with his teammates before heading out to begin the second half during halftime at a football game between the American Fork Cavemen and the Lehi Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 at American Fork High School.
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball into the end zone for his fifth touchdown of the night during a game between the BYU and the Toledo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The BYU band takes the stands before the game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Sam Baldwin (45) is consoled by a teammate after Toledo pulled away from BYU with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter during a game between the BYU and the Toledo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Jerry Larriva, 13, has his sombrero picked off his head jokingly by Benjamin Lopez as they wait to perform Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 during Festival Latinoamericano in downtown Provo.
Adam Dove, a senior Fine Art Illustration major at Utah Valley University, paints a piece of glass alongside other artists Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at the Art Institute at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. Each artist will paint individual parts of each panel, then they will be eventually be put together to create the final piece.
Jeff Hill, left, and Jim Brau pose for a portrait with their financial calculators Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 outside the N. Eldon Tanner Building on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo. The duo are the hottest professors in America, according to ratemyprofessors.com. Hill is a professor in the School of Family Life, and Brau, also a former Army Ranger, is a Joel C. Peterson Professor of Finance.
Calvin Cook, 16, of Provo, sleeps in his hammock as other students mill about their campsite Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 at Timpooneke campground in American Fork Canyon. The group was a collection of students from Walden High School who were climbing Mount Timpanogos as part of Walkabout, a backpacking trip put on by the school spanning three days.
Sharon Offley, assistant donut crew supervisor, takes fried Cougar Tails off the conveyor belt once they're out of the proof box and through the automatic fryer Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 at the Culinary Support Center on the campus of BYU in Provo. Offley has been creating Cougar Tails since their creation in 2006. See the full story here: http://provodh.com/j8uea.
Mark Allen, founding member of Protect American Fork Canyon and American Fork Canyon Alliance, holds up a sign as he speaks to the tour crowd Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 near Yankee Mine in American Fork Canyon.
American Fork police officer Diego Garcia consoles Marisela Gonzalez, the wife of the deceased worker according to a family friend at the scene, as she sits nearby the scene of a trench collapse Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 located at 530 S. 860 E. in American Fork. Responders stated that one construction worker is dead and two others were involved in the accident.
Cyrus Chapman, a sophomore at Independence High School, reaches for the last bit of rope as he completes the single-rope bridge Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at the Provo River in Paul Reams Park. Students combined several skills they learned in the JROTC program to cross the roughly 60-foot expanse above the river.
Protestors gathered in front of the police line on I-94 near the Dale St. exit in St. Paul, MN, on Saturday, July 9, 2016. Protestors originally gathered at the Minnesota Governor's Mansion earlier in the evening and eventually marched onto the interstate, closing it for several hours. Police cleared the highway after using tear gas, flash bangs, and making several arrests. Protests around the Twin Cities were sparked after Philando Castile was fatally shot during a traffic stop by a Falcon Heights police officer on July 6.
To say a lot happened in the last half of my internship at the Star Tribune would be an understatement. Early July to early August brought loads of variety. Most notably, Philando Castile was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop and it instantly became national news, sparking an immense response from those in the Twin Cities. I'll elaborate more on that below. In addition to that spot news coverage, I had more than two dozen shoots throughout July to complete the Taste 50 (the food section's biggest project of the year), and also had my hands full with daily newspaper coverage. I've broken down this blog post into those three segments of the latter portion of my internship, and I'll elaborate on each as it progresses.
The most impactful experience of my internship (both professionally and personally) was the coverage of the police-involved shooting of Philando Castile and the following backlash from the community. That story begins with the image above, and continues throughout the six following pictures.
Philando Castile was pulled over by a Falcon Heights police officer on July 6th. His girlfriend and four-year-old daughter were also in the car. After being asked for his license and registration, Castile told the officer he was carrying a weapon and began reaching for his identification in his back pocket. The officer told Castile not to move, and as he put his hands up, he was shot several times and later died.
The events following the incident on the evening of July 6th called for an all-hands-on-deck approach from the Star Tribune. The day after the shooting, I was called in to cover daily assignments for staffers who were following the spot news from the night before. Throughout the experience I learned how to be a team player. I couldn't cover solely the Castile news and shoot still images. The rest of the staff and I had to ensure all the paper's bases were covered (covering daily assignments aside from the spot news) and ensure the coverage of this big news was balanced. So, I ended up shooting more video than still pictures for a few days to supplement the stills from our other photographers.
Some video I gathered from the I-94 shutdown pictured above and below can be seen here: http://www.startribune.com/marchers-block-i-94-to-westbound-traffic/386158771/.
Personally, the things I saw the days following the shooting where powerful to witness. From hearing civil rights leader Jesse Jackson speak, the tense standoff on I-94 which became my first encounter having tear gas, flash bang grenades, and rubber bullets shot at the crowd I was standing with, to the intimate moments between people at rallies, it genuinely made me stop and think about what was happening before me. Coming from a small, predominately white, middle-class community in Ohio, my only experience with police-involved shootings of people of color was seeing it on Facebook. Being in this community as this painful event unfolded opened my eyes to so much. Though I only have bits and pieces from this event in the Twin Cities that is a part of a larger phenomena, I learned so much by being there. I was moved nearly to tears a few times while seeing all of this happen, and it's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Protestors stood facing the police after authorities forced protestors onto the hill next to the interstate near the Dale St. exit just before 1 a.m. on Sunday. Soon after, police forced protestors onto the street above and were able to reopen the interstate a few hours later.
Rue Norman, 19, right, cried as she prayed with Olivia Gruver,19, early on Saturday, July 9, 2016, at a roadside memorial across the road from where Philando Castile was shot and killed. "Sometimes something doesn't impact you until it's close to home," said Norman. "It makes it so much more real."
Protesters round the corner past First Avenue in Minneapolis after marching from Loring Park on Saturday, July 9, 2016. The gathering was organized by Black Lives Matter St. Paul and began with speakers in the park, then became a march around downtown for about an hour, which then ended back at Loring Park.
Lisa Gross laid down with other protestors in the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and S. 9th St. on Saturday, July 9, 2016, to commemorate the lives lost to police-involved shootings.
Amaan Metoyer, a close friend of Philando Castile, stood with his screen print of Castile at the Governor's Mansion on Sunday, July 24, 2016. "It hurt us so much," he explained, while gathered with other friends of Castile. The Living Proof Print Collective donated supplies for people gathered at the Governor's Mansion to make prints honoring Philando Castile.
Rosie Wilson-Herron, 7, danced with protestors outside the Governor's Mansion in St. Paul in the early evening on Friday, July 8, 2016. After having people speak to the crowd, those gathered at the Governor's Mansion began playing music and dancing in the street to create a pseudo block-party like atmosphere.
The following five images are from the
Taste 50, the food section's largest feature of the year.
This year focused on Nicollet Avenue,
also know as "Eat Street" and the epicenter of culinary excellence in
Minnesota. The 17 block stretch is home to restaurants of a wide variety
of approaches, experience, and price points. I was tasked with setting up
shoots at over 25 restaurants on the street. I cold called loads of restaurants
and asked about specific things the food writers at the Star Tribune wanted to
highlight. Just the process of scheduling shoots among my daily assignments was
an undertaking in and of itself, and powering through up to eight or nine shoots in a
day really tested my abilities and time management skills.
The
project mainly featured portraits, several dishes, and a few documentary-style
images. Though a bit out of my realm of daily work, the project taught me a lot
of lighting skills and how to get enticing reproductions of a wide variety
of dishes. The project ran across seven pages in the newspaper, which was a
great payoff to see my work get so much ink in print. More from the Taste 50 can
be seen here on the web edition of the project: http://www.startribune.com/50-ways-to-explore-the-new-eat-street-on-nicollet/387937382/.
See also the awesome map a Star Tribune illustrator made for the
story: http://www.startribune.com/map-your-eat-street-favorites-old-and-new/388457582.
Alex Fitzgerald stood with plates, from left, of avocado bacon sandwiches, a roasted sweet corn pancake and cilantro lime pork sliders in front of The Bad Waitress, located at 2 E. 26th St. right along Nicollet Avenue.
Sal Azem, owner of Jerusalem's Restaurant at 1518 Nicolette Avenue, stood for a portrait outside of his restaurant.
The #503, Pho Trap Cam (or the "Combo Pho") from Quang Restaurant, located at 2719 Nicollet Ave. It contains fresh sliced beef, meat balls, tripe, rice noodles, and tendon.
Solveig Tofte, left, and Martin Ouimet, co-owners of Sun Street Breads, stood for a portrait at their restaurant located at 4600 Nicollet Ave.
The mushroom-garlic pizza at Black Sheep Pizza, located at 2550 Nicollet Ave.
From here on down are a collection of pictures
I made while shooting daily assignments during the last half of my internship.
Working at the Star Tribune was an
amazing experience. I was pushed to my limits several times in terms of
producing a large quantity of quality work (what are internships for?), and the
staff helped me grow immensely. I think my shooting improved, and I feel worlds
more confident balancing assignments and understanding the methodology of what
goes into a newspaper. It was truly a whirlwind experience, and I'll carry the
lessons I learned onto my new staff photographer job at the Daily Herald in
Provo, Utah.
Jordan Johnson, left, and Ingrid Koester, both 17, took a moment to themselves before the Summer Music & Movies series kicked off at Loring Park on Monday, August 1, 2016. The couple from Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington has been dating for 14 months. They decided to go to the Walker Art Center's event after hearing about it on the radio, and Koester's mom also suggested they go.
People took turns jumping from the cliffs at Quarry Number 2 at Quarry Park and Nature Reserve on Saturday, July 30, 2016. The cliffs are a popular spot for teenagers and college students during the summer months.
Jody Paulsen waited in line for ice cream inside of Milkjam Creamery on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
Lawrence McKenzie, a rapper known as Mac Irv, posed for a portrait at a community basketball court close to his home in Robbinsdale on Monday, July 26, 2016. McKenzie was previously a point guard for the University of Minnesota's basketball team, and has been transitioning his life towards rap. "It was difficult as far as socially, but it was the same in terms of work ethic," said McKenzie, of the transition from hoops to hip-hop.
Tarcheon Roberts stretched as he kept an eye on Tarcheon Roberts Jr., six months. "His mom will be watching," he explained as he spent some time with his son before team Liberia's match at Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, MN, on Friday, July 15, 2016.
St. Paul police officers Chenoa Fields, left, and Chris Hamblin stood for a portrait before leaving the Eastern District Station to go on patrol on Thursday, July 14, 2016. Fields said her partner has it tougher today as a black cop, especially in light of the recent unrest in the Twin Cities following the shooting of Philando Castile.
Fans cheered while holding their cellphones in the air as Twenty One Pilots performed at the Xcel Energy Center on Friday, July 29, 2016.
Jet-skiers watched as the Nina, a replica of the Christopher Columbus ship, sailed up the St. Croix River and under the I-94 bridge towards the city of Hudson's docks on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
John Bueche prepared to paint an art installation in front of a portion of a mural, created by Charles Caldwell and titled "Metamorphosis of Life," at the Freedom Square dedication along West Broadway Avenue on Friday, July 29, 2016. When completed, the installation will resemble a portal and stand where buildings burnt down on the 900 block of Broadway Avenue. The wood used for the interactive installation features pictures and words drawn by community members.
Skylar Sloan, 10, stood with her horse, Pal, as she listened to instructions after a trail pattern exercise during a horseback-riding class at Bunker Park Stables on Monday, July 25, 2016.
Buffalo freshman left fielder Jordan Zrust steals a home run in the third inning. “I was going to get the ball, no matter what,” Zrust said. Buffalo defeated Woodbury 3-1 in the Minnesota State High School softball tournament semifinals on Thursday, June 9, 2016, in North Mankato, MN.
A month ago this Monday, I began work at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So much has been packed into these past four weeks - in a good way. I've genuinely learned a lot since beginning this internship, and I'm excited to see how much more I can fit into the last six weeks.
Moving to Minneapolis has been the biggest transition I've had in my life so far. Not because I went to live in an unfamiliar city, or work a new job, but because this internship marks the jumping off point for the rest of my life. After this, I'm not going back to school. It's time to truly transition into the "real world". I feel confident, though. I'm so happy for the times I had at Ohio University (so much could be said for that in of it self - I could go on forever) and the teachings I received there from the faculty. Though post-college life is a crap shoot (for photojournalism, especially), I've learned to embrace that unknown, and continue to push forward in what makes me happiest.
With that heavily-abridged moment of reflection about college out there, I'm very much enjoying myself at the Star Tribune. As I prefer, I (and my fellow photo/video intern, Tim Nwachukwu) were thrown right into the mix of assignments at the newspaper from day one. I'm given a hefty, yet healthy load of assignments to keep me out and photographing a variety of topics. At first, prep sports were the flavor of the week, considering high school baseball, softball, track & field, and lacrosse were all coming to season's end almost simultaneously. Following the first two weeks, sports became more spare and I had more news/features assignments during my shifts. I've generally worked in still photographs, but I've done a bit of video here and there when somebody needs an extra hand. Now, between general assignments, I'm working on a large-scale feature for the food section (dubbed the "Taste 50") which has me working heavily in portraiture, street-scene features and food photo shoots (more on that once it runs later this month).
The staff has been wonderful to be around. Aside from always being open to look over work, sharing tips and tricks of the trade, and creating powerful work to aspire to, they have included me in several social outings. Whether it be taking me to the best watering holes in town, or rock climbing for the first time (and second, and third), I've felt right at home both at work and in Minneapolis - which is truly a treat.
I'd say it's been a solid first month. I look forward to squeezing as much as I can out of the remainder of my time in Minneapolis.
Joe T. Therres, left, shows off his dance moves during a dance party put on by Our Dance Place at Banquets of Minnesota in Fridley, MN, on Monday, June 20, 2016. Our Dance Place is a club for developmentally disabled persons and people with disabilities that offers a safe environment to socialize.
Brady Anderson, left, and Stephanie Hart slow dance together to a song. "I just asked her out today," said Anderson. "She flirts with me," he also teased.
Queen Obasi holds up a sign and offers snacks to picketers as they pass by in front of United Hospital in St. Paul on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Allina Health nurses began a week-long strike at several hospitals in the Twin Cities area starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday in light of a contract dispute with Allina Health.
Picketers greet a group of nurses with open arms as they exit United Hospital at 7 a.m. (See also the video I contributed to for this story: http://www.startribune.com/allina-nurses-strike-starts-at-twin-cities-hospitals/383547251/)
Zaeva Werle, 7, a 2nd grader at Hiawatha Community School, and other Hiawatha students climbed on Joe Caldwell, a 5th and 6th grade staff member at Hiawatha, as he entertained them after swim lessons on Friday.
Kids walk quickly towards the pools just after North Commons Waterpark opened at 1 p.m. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board along with Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation held swimming lessons for school children and the public at North Commons Water Park in Minneapolis, MN, on Friday, June 24, 2016.
Edgerton/SW MN Christian pitcher Elizabeth Buckridge, left, helps shortstop Chynna Berning apply sunscreen before the 1A State Championship game on Friday at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Temperatures reached up to 94 degrees on Friday, June 10, 2016.
Wayzata infielder Cody Goedderz (23) misses catching a ground ball and commits an error in the third inning of the Minnesota High School State Division 4A Quarterfinals at CHS Field in St. Paul, MN, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Wayzata infielder Will Oberg (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run in third inning, putting Wayzata ahead 4-0. Wayzata went on to defeat Eden Prairie 10-5 in the Minnesota State Quarterfinals.
A player's award sits along the line of Winona players after they were defeated by Mankato 4-3 at Caswell Park in North Mankato on Friday, June 10, 2016, in the Minnesota State High School Girls' Softball Tournament Finals.
Chanhassen players cheer and await catcher Jessica Bren (21) at home plate after she hit a three-run homer in the first inning to pull ahead of Buffalo 3-0. Chanhassen defeated Buffalo 5-3 to claim Chanhassen’s first Class 4A state championship.
Eden Prairie midfielder Kelly Wolfe (11) drives by Blake defender Lucy Burton (3). The Eden Prairie Eagles defeated the Blake Bears 11-9 in the 2016 Minnesota State High School Girls Lacrosse Tournament at Chanhassen High School on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
Minnesota United FC midfielder Aaron Pitchkolan (4) and Club Leon midfielder Miguel Ibarra (14) both go for an aerial kick in the first half. Club Leon defeated Minnesota United FC 4-2 at Target Field in Minnesota, MN, on Sunday June 25, 2016.
Lakeville North midfielder Luke Anderson (22) drives upfield while guarded by Prior Lake attacker Carter Collins (22). Prior Lake defeating Lakeville North 12-5 to earn their first state title at Chanhassen High School on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson prepares to deliver a meal to a resident of the apartment complex at 1707 3rd Ave. S. as one of the resident's neighbors looks on from his room. Players from the Minnesota Twins volunteered to help pass out meals for Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to individuals who are unable to prepare or get access to nutritious meals, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Meals on Wheels delivers approximately 1,600 meals a week to people around Minneapolis.
Vily Southaya works on his fishing pole while Tong Vang, left, and others fish at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Brooklyn, MN, on Monday, June 13, 2016. Southaya said fishing relieves stress for him, but explained, "They're not biting today," after fishing for a short while.
Jennifer Hanson, of Manhattan, KS, left, and Chris Harrison watch VR films with Samsung Gear VR while Alison Kozberg, center, Moving Image Program Manager at the Walker, watches visitors. Walker Art Center visitors experienced "Virtual Reality: The New Frontier" by viewing different VR films on smartphones and Samsung Gear VR in Minneapolis, MN, on Wednesday, June 16, 2016.
Park Brook Elementary 3rd grader Kyla Resech, 9, looks up in the rope jungle gym while her classmates climb around her during a recess trip to French Regional Park in Plymouth, MN, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
Teresa Baker, of the Municipal Building Commission, gives a tour of the interesting facts of the Minneapolis City Council building on Monday, June 27, 2016. Until the Foshay Tower was built in the 1920s, the clock tower made the City Hall and Courthouse the tallest building in Minneapolis.
Reagan Weber, 2, lays in her father's arms as she listened to a children's band perform before the fireworks display held by the city of Bloomington, MN, at Normandale Lake Bandshell on Sunday, July 3, 2016.
Spectators watched the fireworks display from a bridge across W 84th St. at Normandale Lake Bandshell in Bloomington, MN, on Sunday, July 3, 2016.
