Phenomenal news photos from around the country last week

A candle lighting ceremony was held during a graduation ceremony for Clark Montessori High School, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.

Protesters disrupt Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of State in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC on May 20, 2025.

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters speaks at a rally in the second floor rotunda of the Oklahoma Capitol, Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

A person leaves an immigration hearing in handcuffs, walking past a crowd of protesters, and is put into a van to be taken from the U.S. Immigration Court on May 21, 2025, in Phoenix.

The 82nd Airborne Division’s Memorial ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on Fort Bragg.

Linda McMahon, Secretary of The Department of Education, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC on May 21, 2025.

Christopher Gomes, veteran agent for the city of New Bedford, sets American flags at the graves of veterans interred at Pine Grove Cemetery in anticipation of Memorial Day. Mr. Gomes, a veteran of the Army, lost his right leg due to an IED explosion while he was serving in Iraq in 2008.

Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, hands out Sharpie markers after signing both the Boater Freedom Act (SB 1388) and House Bill 735 at Watson Landings Marina in Panama City, Fla., May 19, 2025. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald)

Karen Read leaves Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham after her trial ended for the day on Wednesday May 21, 2025.

Volunteers work to place nearly 2500 flags at veteran's graves on May 21, 2025, in Des Moines.

People react during a rally held by the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Dayton to protest the NATO conference on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Recording artist Martina McBride testifies on AI-generated deepfakes in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC on May 21, 2025.

Officials clear a path through a crowd of protesters to drive a van carrying detainees leaving the U.S. Immigration Court on May 21, 2025, in Phoenix.

Seton Hall students cheer during the conferral of their degrees at the 2025 Seton Hall Commencement at the Prudential Center, May 19, 2025, Newark, NJ, USA. Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com

The May 20 SpaceX Starlink 12-15 mission. The Falcon 9 lifted of from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:19 p.m.

The 82nd Airborne Division’s Memorial ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on Fort Bragg.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of State in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC on May 20, 2025.

Paratroopers march in the pass in review during the 82nd Airborne Division review on Thursday, May 22, 2025, on Fort Bragg.

Nick Mollberg, of Austin, protests against SB 2101 and HB 3225 at the Capitol Monday May 19, 2025. Librarians and public library advocates protested the bills, which would restrict access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public libraries and require libraries to implement age verification measures.

Hardin Valley Academy Class of 2025's graduation ceremony held at the school's football field on May 21, 2025.

F/A-18 Super Hornets from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team soar over the Harrisburg International Airport during the Air Dot Show, Saturday, May 24, 2025, as seen from Middletown.

Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, votes for SB 31, relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on physicians’s medical judgement, at the Capitol on Wednesday May 21, 2025.

Law enforcement and Family members of Judith Robirds Smith walk out to a press conference after witnessing the execution of Oscar Franklin Smith, at the the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 22, 2025. Smith was executed by lethal injection for the murders of Judith Smith and her teenage sons, Jason and Chad Burnett.

Wreath presentations are made during the Memorial Day Observance at Veterans Memorial Park Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Carter Schumpp, 4, of Loveland, helps his family with flag installation for the 10th anniversary of Field of Memories at The Arlington Memorial Gardens, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Each flag recognizes a veteran, first responder or a person buried at the cemetery. Proceeds benefit Operation Ramp It Up, a non-profit that builds ramps for veterans with mobility issues. There are events at the cemetery throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Robert F Kennedy, Jr, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC on May 20, 2025.

An uprooted tree on Fairview Avenue in the Groesbeck neighborhood on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Lansing.