The Baltimore Banner is officially a year old, and in that time we’ve published hundreds of stories and thousands of photos that documented life in Baltimore and beyond. Take a look back with us on some of our staff favorites from the past 12 months.

The class of 2026 climbs the Herndon Monument at the Naval Academy on May 17, 2023.

Calvin Heiser poses with his signed baseball from Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller outside Camden Station before the Orioles home opener against the New York Yankees.

The South Baltimore community showed up for a candlelight vigil for Jaylen Richard, a 12-year-old fatally shot on April 20, 2023.

Matt Barnes, Stephen Vannoy and Joey Morgan attempt to start the “wave” at the Orioles’ home opener on April 7, 2023.

Samantha Cleary, girlfriend of the late Marine Capt. Kenneth C. Motsay, mourns at his gravesite at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens during a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 29, 2023. Motsay died on February 13, 2023 — two days shy of his 31st birthday.

Gov. Wes Moore listens to speakers during his inauguration as the first African American governor for the state of Maryland at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, on Jan. 18, 2023.

House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones collects her personal belongings before leaving the podium as confetti and balloons fall to signify the end of the 2023 General Assembly session on April 10.

Cassidy Reigel poses for a portrait at Baltimore School for the Arts on December 13, 2022.

Maryland’s biggest horse race, the 148th Preakness at Pimlico, brings out the fashionable hats and clothes, as worn by Brittany Bonner and Amy Castillo.

Sharnae Hunt plays with niece Kymir Fisher on the bed Hunt and her son share in Hunt’s mother’s living room in Glen Burnie, on Dec. 18, 2022,

Tracy Collien of Dundalk is brought to tears at the Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day Rally on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis on Jan. 31, 2023.

DL Hall (24), Gunnar Henderson (2) and Grayson Rodriguez (85) walk off the field after getting their pictures taken on photo day at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

The Women’s World Lacrosse Championships gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada took place July 9, 2022 at Towson University, with the U.S. taking the trophy, 11-8.

A vigil was held in West Baltimore for Dylan King, 8, who was shot and killed on Dec. 30, 2022. King’s mother, Marlena Cook, pictured here, said he was an amazing child.

Scenes from the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 19, 2023.

A meal to linger over was the theme for Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Members of Baltimore’s dirt bike community came together to celebrate B-360 Day at the B&O Railroad Museum on March 26, 2023. Participants got to ride bikes in the sectioned-off lot and learn about safety.

Scenes from the Kinetic Sculpture Race on May 6, 2023.

Tae Soon Lee bags the goods bought by Crystal William, 35 and Nelvina Owens, 48, at Lee’s Mini Market in Baltimore on December 1, 2022.

The Morton Street Dance Center’s performance of “The Nutcracker.”

Program director at Hilton Field House, Aaron Maybin, poses for a portrait at the field house in Baltimore on Jan. 5, 2023.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (6) slides home safely for a walk-off win against the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards on April 21. The Orioles beat the Tigers, 2-1, on their way to sweeping the series.

Paddlers make the five-mile round-trip journey from Canton Waterfront Park to the Inner Harbor during the annual Floatilla on June 10, 2023.

Scenes from Brooke Lierman’s inauguration as Maryland comptroller on Jan. 16, 2023.

Dana Schulze of Millersville waves a Dan Cox flag during the Freedom Rally in Owings Mills, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates answers questions from reporters about his decision to drop the murder case against Keith Davis Jr. at his office in Baltimore on Jan. 13, 2023.

Kinsley Aaron, 10, holds a muskrat for a skinning demonstration.

Leslie Vass poses for his portrait outside of his home in Timonium on Oct. 19, 2022.

Husbands Blair and Brandon Dottin-Haley pose for a portrait in Mount Vernon on May 30, 2023.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) signs autographs for fans before heading to the locker room after a home game against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 27, 2022. The Ravens beat the Commanders, 17-15, in the preseason matchup at M&T Bank Stadium.

Bobbie Dickens of Harford County watches the horse races with friends at the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 19, 2023.

Ash Tough, 13, holds a pride flag outside of Northwest Middle School in Taneytown on June 10.

Nadine Seiler, 57, of Waldorf, attends a protest after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court.

They’re baaaaack! Black-and-white spotted lanternfly nymphs are scuttling around the Baltimore region, the harbingers of a population boom of the invasive pests. Although the bugs have been slowly moving into the area over the past few years, entomologists believe this will be the first year we see them in massive numbers in the Baltimore area. These spotted lanternfly nymphs were photographed in Stony Run Park in Baltimore.

Portrait of designer Akio Evans in his home studio.

Outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan poses for a portrait at the State House in Annapolis on Dec. 19, 2022.

Graduating midshipmen toss their covers into the sky at the conclusion of the U.S. Naval Academy’s graduation ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on May 26, 2023. The graduating midshipmen are commissioned as either an ensign in the U.S. Navy or a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Fireworks light up the sky at the 51st Monument Lighting in Mount Vernon, kicking off the start of December’s holiday season.

Rick Goebel, owner of A.T. Jones Costume Company, poses for a portrait outside of the store in Baltimore on March 2, 2023.

We wouldn’t be able to cover as much as we have without our wonderful freelancers who have photographed things for us, sometimes on a moment’s notice. Here are some of our favorite freelancer picks from the past year.

Baltimore state’s attorney candidate Ivan Bates picks up his daughter, London, at his primary election night event on July 19.

Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson slides into third base as New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu watches after stealing second base on an errant throw during the fourth inning on April 7, 2023, in Baltimore.

Two youths from the Green Ridge Youth Center pause to admire the scenery during a two-hour canoe trip on Lake Habeeb on May 20, 2023.

Shakera Rahimi sits in an empty classroom in the St. Francis Neighborhood Center. Rahimi works as the Afghan Alliance Coordinator for Luminus Network.

Friends and family of boxer Ernie “Lightning Bug” Hall attend a candlelight vigil at his gym, Lightning Quick Fit, in Mount Vernon.

Athena Portis, left, and Carmen Turner, both of Bowie, browse the Hats and Spats table.

St. Frances Academy’s Kameryn Dorsey (3) is consoled by her father, Damon Dorsey, following the IAAM A girls championship game in Bel Air on Feb. 20, 2023. McDonogh defeated St. Frances, 50-47, to win the championship.

Genesis Paula Mariel, 7, dances in the Creative Alliance’s Día de los Muertos parade as part of of the Jóvenes en Acción group on Nov. 5, 2022.

Dee Dee Dereon works on her eyes before Power Plant Live’s final drag brunch of the season

St. Mary’s players embrace following their victory during the IAAM B girls championship game in Bel Air on Feb. 20, 2023. St. Mary’s defeated St. Timothy’s, 68-58.

Sunrise training at Fair Hill.

Correction: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Kinsley Aaron’s surname.