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Photos: Arizona Daily Star photographer Mamta Popat's favorite photos from 2025
- Mamta Popat
- Updated
Look through some of Mamta Popat's favorite photos from 2025.
Sandhill cranes
Sandhill cranes take flight as the moon begins to set at the Lake Cochise Wildlife Viewing Area, 1296 S. Rex Allen Jr Dr. in Willcox, Ariz. on February 13, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarChildren's Museum Tucson
Valor Davidson sticks his arm up a nose sculpture at the Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S 6th Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on May 27, 2025. The museum will officially open its Angel Charity for Children Education Center this week according to Teresa Truelsen, director of marketing.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarHot Weather in Tucson, 2025
A pair of cyclists ride along the Third Street bicycle boulevard near Campbell Avenue as heat radiates off the asphalt in Tucson, Ariz. on June 17, 2025. Temperatures are expected to hit 107 degrees in Tucson on Tuesday.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarTucson weather, 2025
Kids take a ride on playground equipment at Joaquin Murrieta Park in Tucson, Ariz. under clouds that moved in early in the evening on June 30, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarFirst day of School, Vail School Distict
Tommy King, left, gives some words of encouragement to is daughter, Olivia, before she walks into her kindergarten classroom on the first day of school at Saguaro Creek K-8 school, 8150 S Rocking K Rnch Loop in Vail, Ariz. on July 14, 2025. Saguaro Creek is the newest school to open and will serve approximately 420 students.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarProject Blue public meeting
Citizens shout their opinions during a public meeting about Project Blue at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Ariz. on August 4, 2025. Representatives from the city of Tucson, Tucson Electric Power, and Project Blue developer Beale Infrastructure shared information and answered community questions regarding the project.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarServe Society
Cynthia Cottrill watches as Aidan Stover, a volunteer stylist, performs touch ups on her hair at Old Pueblo Community Services - Re-entry Recovery Community at 4434 E Bellevue Street in Tucson, Ariz. on September 8, 2025. Serve Society, founded by Punit Dhesi, is a collective of barbers and stylists who provide free haircuts to those in recovery programs. Dhesi, after overcoming his own substance abuse issues, became a barber and an addiction counselor. He saw how a simple haircut could help uplift people and provide a space for support. Dhesi partners with organizations that are offering services to those in need.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarRain storm
A pedestrian uses a plastic bag to shield his head from a downpour as he walks along N. Sixth Ave and E. Congress Street in downtown Tucson, Ariz. on October 13, 2025. Elevated showers and thunderstorms continued on Monday. Drier weather is expected with below normal temps through the week.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarHit-and-run reaction
Celeste Calvillo, far right, places flowers at a memorial site as Samantha Peal, far left, and Jasmine Alvarez watch at the intersection of North Euclid Avenue at East Second Street, near East University Boulevard in Tucson, Ariz. on November 3, 2025. Josiah Santos, 22, Sophia Troetel, 21, and Katya Castillo-Mendoza, 21, were killed after they were struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run crash on October 30, 2025 night. An online petition to build a HAWK light at the intersection has already gained nearly 8,000 signatures.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarAll Souls Procession, 2025
Dwight and Christy Schannep sit on a bench as the sun begins to set before the start of the 36th Annual All Souls Procession in Tucson, Ariz. on November 9, 2025. The couple said this was the first time they wore masks but have participated in the procession many times before.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarAll Souls Procession, 2025
A woman takes a photo as participants walk by during the 36th Annual All Souls Procession in Tucson, Ariz. on November 9, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarAll Souls Procession, 2025
People sit along the sidewalk and watch participants walk in the 36th Annual All Souls Procession in Tucson, Ariz. on November 9, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarTucson Veterans Day Parade, 2025
Rowdy Polivchak, 4, covers his ears after hearing sirens from a police vehicle before the start of the annual Tucson Veterans Day Parade in downtown Tucson, Ariz. on November 11, 2025. This year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarClosure of the 100 Acre Wood encampment
Bridgett Marie moves her belongings out of the 100-Acre Wood, often called “The Acres” located near the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. on November 18, 2025. Tucson's largest homeless encampment was cleared out Tuesday ahead of the city constructing a bike park on-site. Marie said she’s lived at The Acres for four years and said she didn’t have a tent because she had built a structure within the encampment.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarTucson officials prep for potential ICE deployments
Dozens of Tucsonans clashed with agents from Homeland Security Investigations Special Response Team last month during an operation last month on the city's west side. City and county officials are preparing for a potential escalation in enforcement.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star, File 2025ICE raid
U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, standing, tries to talk to Homeland Security Investigation agents as they arrest a protester during a targeted operation outside of Taco Giro, 610 N Grande Ave. in Tucson, Ariz., on December 5, 2025. HSI was working with the IRS Criminal Investigation and other federal partners, executed 16 warrants throughout Southern Arizona.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. Eastern Kentucky
Students from Tucson area schools react to seeing their faces on the big screen before the start of the Arizona women’s basketball game against Eastern Kentucky at McKale Center on December 10, 2025. Students were bussed in as part of Field Day trip game.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarPusch Ridge Christian Academy football at Sabino
Sabino football players put on their pads before taking on Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in a game at Sabino High School, 5000 N. Bowes Road in Tucson, Ariz. on October 3, 2025. Pusch Ridge won 27-8.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona Men's Basketball vs. Iowa State
Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) is surrounded by Iowa State defenders in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 27, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona Men's Basketball vs. Iowa State
Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) screams out after dunking the ball in the first half during a game against Iowa State at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 27, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona Women's Basketball vs. TCU (11)
Arizona Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) looks to make the pass in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 16, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona Women's Basketball vs. TCU (11)
Arizona Wildcats guard Skylar Jones (4) makes a shot as she falls while TCU Horned Frogs guard Madison Conner (2) and TCU Horned Frogs center Sedona Prince (13) defend in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 16, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarEmpire (No. 1) vs Tanque Verde (No. 6)
Marian Fisher, left, of Empire High School, chases after Mikaela Jackson, of Tanque Verde, to tag her out as the runner got stuck between second and third base in the first inning during a game at Tanque Verde High School, 4201 N Melpomene Way in Tucson, Ariz. on April 21, 2025. No. 6 Tanque Verde upset No. 1 Empire, 5-1.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona softball vs. Santa Clara, NCAA regionals
Arizona outfielder Dakota Kennedy (4) dived for a fly ball as Arizona infielder Tayler Biehl (2) celebrates her catch in the first inning during a NCAA regional game at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on May 16, 2025. Arizona run-ruled Santa Clara 13-5 in the fifth inning.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona (13) men's basketball vs. Embry-Riddle exhibition game
Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) and Embry-Riddle Eagles forward Peter Dress (13) scramble on the floor in the first half during an exhibition game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on October 27, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. Grambling State
Arizona Wildcats guard Noelani Cornfield (4) looks to make a pass as Grambling State Lady Tigers guard D'Mya Griffin (22) defends in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2025. Arizona won 85-64.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. Grambling State
Arizona Wildcats guard Noelani Cornfield (4) is defended by Grambling State Lady Tigers in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. Grambling State
Arizona Wildcats guard Tanyuel Welch (11) and Arizona Wildcats forward Daniah Trammell (33) congratulate each other after beating Grambling State at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2025. Arizona won 85-64.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Tanyuel Welch (11) and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Naomi White (25) grab at the ball as Arizona Wildcats head coach Becky Burke makes a jump ball gesture towards the referees in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. NAU
Arizona guard Tanyuel Welch (11), Northern Arizona guard Madison Watts (3), Northern Arizona forward Emma Dasovich (0) and Arizona forward Daniah Trammell (33) reach for a rebound in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson on Nov. 19, 2025.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily StarArizona women's basketball vs. Utah Utes
Arizona head coach Becky Burke, right, talks to forward Nora Francois (13) in the second half of a game against Utah at McKale Center on Dec. 22, 2025. The Utes won 63-62.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily StarArizona (2) men's basketball vs. University of Denver
Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) loses his grip on the ball as he was defended by Denver Pioneers forward Shaun Wysocki (1), Denver Pioneers forward Gabe Oldham (32) and Denver Pioneers forward Logan Kinsey (5) in the first half during game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 24, 2025.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily StarNo. 1 Arizona men's basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman
Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) dives on the floor to save the ball from going out of bounds in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on December 22, 2025. Arizona won 107-71.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
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