3B

What connection is the death of the trainee journalist Bubba Jones? Should Kim have known about it?

Perhaps Jones had found out something about the hate crimes? Sticking his nose in where not wanted and was killed for his troubles.
I don’t know what the protocols would be surrounding keeping Kim in the loop. She is working a case elsewhere, and Bryant is provisionally in charge, so did she need to be informed, other than out of courtesy?

The fact that he was gay would put him as a hate crimes possibility. Her team should have told her, but things were moving fast and she's a primary investigator on another case. Plus, her team probably wants to prove they can solve crimes without her direct supervision.

Bubba Jones was a journalist who worked with Tracey Frost. Yes Kim should have been told by her staff what was going on.

Doublr jeopardy for poor Bubba. could it be that he was instigating hate crimes only to be the victim of one?
Yes, Kim should probably have been informed but lack of communication seems inevitable given this strange way of working imposed by higher authority.