From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Two men from the Cedar Rapids area made their first court appearances tied to the kidnapping and murder of a Marion woman. 23-year-old McKinley Louisma and 18-year-old Dakota Van Patten are accused of kidnapping and killing 20-year-old Melody Hoffman. They are each being held on $2.5 million bond. Melody Hoffman’s body was found Sunday morning at Lily Lake in Amana. A third person is also facing charges in this case. 18-year-old Logan Kimpton of Hiawatha is charged with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.
The younger sister of a Dubuque murder suspect says her brother should not be held responsible for their mother’s death. Kylie Dazey tells KCRG TV9’s Beth Malicki that Tyler Dazey wasn’t in his right mind last month when police say he killed their mother Jennifer in her home. On Wednesday, Tyler Dazey had a court hearing regarding his mental fitness to stand trial, and his attorneys said he likely would be found competent.
A plea hearing is set for next month for the man charged in a crash which killed a pedestrian in Cedar Rapids. Prosecutors charged Kyle Kubite with vehicular homicide and operating while impaired. Court records show the plea is expected to be a forcible felony. His hearing is set for March 18. The crash happened in the 1400 block of Memorial Drive Southeast in November last year. Police say Kubite was driving when his vehicle hit a man and a woman. The woman, Bonnie Stover, died at the hospital. The man was hurt but survived.
Iowa House members have passed a three percent increase in public school funding for the coming school year. That’s more than the two and a half percent increase proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds, but less than the six percent proposed by Democrats. House Republicans still plan to consider a bill to begin teacher salaries at $50,000 within two years.
Officials are investigating after the state’s largest sycamore tree was severely damaged in a suspicious fire over the weekend. A visitor found the 350-year-old tree at Geode State Park burning this past Sunday. Officials say it is uncertain if the tree will survive. Anyone with information is asked to call the Department of Natural Resources.
