Closing arguments have begun in the case of a northwest Iowa man accused of killing his mother and kidnapping another woman.

Attorneys gave closing arguments Thursday in Webster County District court in Fort Dodge..

Kirk Levin, of Early, is charged with first-degree murder in the January death of Marilyn Schmitt.

He also faces third-degree kidnapping for allegedly abducting 21-year-old Jessica Vega, a woman he met online.

Jurors have heard testimony for several days, including from Vega and a law enforcement official who later found Schmitt's body.

Wednesday, prosecutors showed two videotaped interviews where Levin confessed to killing his mother and kidnapping Vega but also denied it. Levin declined to testify on his own behalf.

AP/Ft. Dodge Messenger

WINNAVEGAS CASINO RESORT AND RIVER CADE HAVE ANNOUNCED SOME BIG NAME PERFORMERS FOR THEIR UPCOMING FOUR DAY RIVERFEST IN JULY.

THE SHOWS BEGIN THURSDAY, JULY 18TH WITH RHYTHM AND BLUES LEGEND SMOKEY ROBINSON TAKING THE STAGE. BRANDY WILL BE THE OPENING ACT.

FRIDAY JULY 19TH RONNIE DUNN, FORMERLY OF BROOKS AND DUNN, HEADLINES ALONG WITH JOE NICHOLS AND JAIDA DREYER.

THE WINNAVEGAS OUTDOOR ARENA  ROCKS OUT SATURDAY WITH BACHMAN AND TURNER, 38 SPECIAL AND SURVIVOR.

THEN ON SUNDAY, JULY 21ST, COUNTRY LEGEND MERLE HAGGARD WINDS UP THE FESTIVAL WITH OPENING ACT JOE DIFFIE.

IT'S THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RIVER CADE, AND COMMODORE PHIL CLAEYS SAYS RIVERFEST HAS BECOME A BIG PART OF THE CELEBRATION:



TICKETS FOR THE CONCERTS ARE ON SALE ONLINE AT www.winnavegas.biz OR BY CALLING 1-800-HOT-WINN.

THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION HAS DENIED PENN NATIONAL GAMING'S REQUEST TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION TO AWARD A NEW LAND BASED CASINO TO SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THEIR HARD ROCK PROPOSAL.

MARK WEINHARDT, AN ATTORNEY FOR PENN AND THE BELLE OF SIOUX CITY ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO, PRESENTED ARGUMENTS STATING THE COMMISSION'S APRIL 18TH DECISION VIOLATED DUE PROCESS:



WEINHARDT ALSO CRITICIZED SIOUX CITY, INSINUATING THE CITY HAD  ILLEGALLY TAKEN ACTION REGARDING THE HARD ROCK PROJECT:



IRGC CHAIRMAN JEFF LAMBERTI THEN ASKED FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IF ANYONE WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION. NONE DID, SO THE REQUEST FAILED FOR LACK OF A MOTION.

LAMBERTI SAYS THE COMMISSION HAS ACTED PROPERLY IN REACHING THEIR DECISION:



BEFORE THAT, THE COMMISSION DID PASS A MOTION ON A 4-0 VOTE TO OFFICIALLY REJECT THE OTHER APPLICANTS FOR THE WOODBURY COUNTY LICENSE.

THE IRGC DID NOT OFFICIALLY DO THAT BACK ON APRIL 18TH.

THOSE APPLICANTS WERE PENN'S TWO HOLLYWOOD CASINO PROJECTS AND THE HO CHUNK-WARRIOR HOTEL PROPOSAL.

THE COMMISSION ALSO APPROVED OVER 30 CONTRACTS WITH SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT IN THEIR MEETING IN OSCEOLA.

Radio Iowa contributed to this story

THE HARD ROCK CASINO PROJECT IS ON THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION'S MEETING AGENDA THURSDAY.

THE COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS THE REQUEST BY PENN NATIONAL GAMING, OPERATORS OF THE ARGOSY RIVERBOAT CASINO IN SIOUX CITY, TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION TO ALLOW SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT TO BUILD THE LAND BASED CASINO.

PENN GAMING'S TWO HOLLYWOOD CASINO PROPOSALS WERE VOTED DOWN BY THE COMMISSION AT THEIR APRIL 18TH MEETING IN FAVOR OF THE HARD ROCK CASINO PROJECT.

THE I-R-G-C MEETING BEGINS AT 8:30AM THURSDAY IN OSCEOLA.
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