(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has passed a bill to legalize the use of psilocybin — sometimes called magic mushrooms — as medical treatment for certain conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder. Treatments would have to be monitored in a clinical setting by a provider who holds a state license to administer the drug. Like the state’s medical marijuana program, the state would license facilities to grow psychedelic mushrooms and package psilocybin.

Republican Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says studies have shown it’s an effective treatment for P-T-S-D, but it will take the Veterans Administration years to set up a program. “We can, as a state, move much more nimbly, much more quickly and get something established and have immediate relief for our veterans,” Wills says, “immediate relief for those who have suffered trauma.” Fifteen years ago, Wills served a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. He says some of the veterans he served with still struggle with P-T-S-D — and have to spend thousands of dollars traveling out of state to get a psilocybin treatment.

“Let’s give these veterans, who are screaming for something, they want something,” Wills said, “they don’t have any other option except to be on mind-altering, mood-altering drugs for the rest of their life. Let’s give them the opportunity.” The bill passed on an 84-to-six vote. Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Fairfield, started sponsoring bills to legalize magic mushrooms seven years ago during his first term in the Iowa House.

“It looks like mushroom season has officially arrived in Iowa,” Shipley says. “Our love and prayers are with everyone pursuing the elusive morel mushrooms, but perhaps more urgently our love and prayers are with those suffering from intractable psychiatric conditions. In addition to being a culinary delicacy, mushrooms have long been renowned for their medicinal benefits and it’s estimated as many as 200 species contain psilocybin.”

The bill sets up a seven-member state board that would come up with the list of medical conditions for which psilocybin could be used as treatment, things like addiction, depression and anxiety. Shipley says psilocybin has shown tremendous promise as a breakthrough therapy that requires just one treatment. “The State of Iowa has a lot of responsibility in ensuring Iowans not only have access to mental health treatments, but they have access to treatments that are actually effective,” Shipley says.

Representative Larry McBurney of Urbandale, a veteran of the Iowa National Guard, was diagnosed with P-T-S-D after three deployments. “I didn’t know where to turn. I didn’t know what options were available to me,” McBurney said. “It took me long enough to find what those options were and what worked for me. I want to ensure that other veterans across the state have this option.”

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it must first clear a committee before it can be debated by the full Senate.

The Atlantic High School Band is proud to present its Spring Concert on Sunday, April 27th at 2:30 PM in the AHS Auditorium. This year’s performance will feature a powerful and emotional highlight: the world premiere of a brand-new musical composition written in memory of Avery Andersen, a cherished Atlantic High School alumnus.

Avery, remembered for his passion, kindness, and dedication to the community and school, left a lasting impact on all who knew them. Avery was also an avid Iowa State fan. The original piece, commissioned specifically for the Atlantic High School Band, and composed by Dr. Michael Golemo, Director of Bands at Iowa State University, celebrates Avery’s spirit and serves as a heartfelt tribute from the band, school, and broader community. This composition would not have been possible without the support of the Atlantic Booster Club. The Booster Club provided funds to get this project off the ground, and without their help, this would not have been possible.

“We are incredibly honored to perform this piece,” said Jarrod O’Donnell, Director of Bands at Atlantic High School. “Avery’s infectious spirit and attitude went with him everywhere, and everyone that met him knew that he was truly one of a kind.” This piece looks to honor Avery’s legacy, and a chance to celebrate a life that continues to inspire us.

The concert will also include a selection of classic and contemporary works performed by the AHS Concert Band, 6th,7th, & 8th Grade Bands showcasing the talent and hard work of student musicians throughout the year.

Admission is free-will donation, and all are welcome to attend. Community members, alumni, and friends of the Andersen family are especially encouraged to join in this meaningful evening of music and reflection.

Event Details:
What: Atlantic High School Band Spring Concert
When: Sunday, April 27, 2025 – 2:30 PM
Where: Atlantic High School Auditorium
Admission: Free-Will Donation

(Radio Iowa) – The Mason City Police Chief believes a body found this weekend is that of a 19-year-old, reported missing by his family on April 4th.  Shortly after 2 p-m Saturday, M-C-P-D was called to a report of a body in the Winnebago River at East Park in Mason City. Officers arrived on the scene and worked with the Mason City Fire Department to remove a body from the water.

Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said in a statement, “While the formal identification and autopsy are yet to be completed, the preliminary information points to this being Dominic Garrett’s remains. Foul play is not suspected in Garrett’s disappearance.”

The body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

(Radio Iowa) – A state senator who was Governor Kim Reynolds’ budget director says he is exploring a run for governor.  “I want to listen to Iowans. I want to see if the support is there and understand what issues are important and then make a decision.” Mike Bousselot of Ankeny has been a legislator for nearly four years. Bousselot says he was caught off guard like a lot of Iowans by Governor Reynolds’ announcement that she would not run for a third term.

“In the wake of that announcement, Governor Branstad and others reached out and said: ‘You should take a look at this,'” Bousselot says. “And in hearing from folks and talking to my family, we thought maybe announcing a little bit more formal effort at taking a look at the governor’s race was appropriate.” Bousselot was legal counsel and chief of staff for Governor Terry Branstad. Bousselot, who is 42, was born on the day in 1982 when Branstad was first elected governor.

State Senator Mike Bousselot (R-Ankeny) (Photo provided by Bousselot and MikeBforIowa.com)

In 2009, Bousselot was among those who encouraged Branstad to launch a comeback campaign for governor and Branstad, in a written statement, says he’s pleased it’s Bousselot who’s now exploring a run for governor. “He said it’s just something you should consider. You don’t get to choose your time, that I should take a look at it now,” Bousselot said, “so that’s what I’m going to do.” Between his stints working for Branstad and Reynolds, Bousselot was an executive of Summit Agricultural Group, the company founded by Bruce Rastetter, who also owns the company developing the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.

Bousselot won a special election for a seat in the Iowa House in September of 2021 and has been a state senator since 2023. Bousselot says his decision won’t hinge on how many or who else may run for the Republican Party’s 2026 nomination for governor.

“I believe that competition gives us our best candidates. It allows us to organize, to listen to voters, to understand what issues are important to Iowans and respond to those,” Bousselot says. “That competition makes us better as a party and makes candidates better.” Bousselot says he’ll focus economic growth and an “Iowa First” agenda.

“I think under Trump policy you’re going to see more manufacturing jobs coming back to America and Iowa should be at the table for those jobs,” Bousselot said. “Our number one job sector in our state is manufacturing. It’s the number one producer of our agricultural success, beyond agriculture actually. We need to be capturing those manufacturing jobs, making sure we have the skilled workforce ready to fill those jobs and those are jobs that, by the way, go throughout the state.”

Bousselot is a Davenport native who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Iowa and a law degree from Drake University. He recently started his own land and real estate businesses.

CLARINDA, IOWA, April 21, 2025: The Page County Attorney’s Office has announced 60-year-old Inez N. Luna was sentenced this (Monday) morning, to a term of incarceration not to exceed five years for the crime of Enticing a Minor. District Court Judge Craig M. Dreismeier sentenced Luna to the maximum 5-year term of incarceration. Luna will also be placed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for a period of 10 years.

Immediately after sentencing Luna was remanded to the custody of the Page County Sheriff’s Office to await transport to the Iowa Department of Corrections, where he will serve his sentence of incarceration. Luna was convicted of the crime of Enticing of a Minor at a contested trial that was heard by Judge Dreismeier on January 28, 2025.

Inez N. Luna

This case was investigated by members of the Clarinda Police Department and prosecuted by the Page County Attorney’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – University of Iowa researchers are studying whether psychedelic drugs can help to treat alcohol use disorder. Participants who are struggling with alcohol will be given either ketamine or psilocybin. U-I psychiatry professor Peg Nopoulos says research suggests psychedelics have the potential to help those who are being impacted by addiction.

Nopoulos says, “If we find that these drugs are useful for alcohol, they will probably also, I hope, be useful for opioid addiction, or methamphetamine use disorder, or nicotine, whatever.” It’s possible, she says, that psychedelics can influence abnormal brain circuitry that’s associated with addiction.

Nopoulos says there are few medication assistance options available for substance use disorders. “There’s so much more, if you think about in the context of what we can do for things like PTSD or depression,” she says, “We have everything from medications to acetamin to trans-cranial magnetic stimulation to ECT.” That’s electro-convulsive therapy.

The study is still in its early stages, and U-I researchers are actively recruiting participants who have alcohol use disorder.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – A woman from Glenwood was arrested over the weekend on a drug charge. According to Glenwood Police, 34-year-old Katie Christie was arrested Saturday for Possession of a Controlled substance. Her bond was set at $1,000, but Christie was released on her Own Recognizance. 

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Catholic Conference executive director Tom Chapman says his first reaction to the death of Pope Francis was sadness. “Also not too surprised in that he’s had a lot of health challenges recently,” Chapman said, “so my feeling is I’m glad he didn’t have to spend his last days in the hospital, but I’m sorry to see him go.” Chapman says the pope sent a signal of his priorities when he was elected in 2013 by the College of Cardinals and took the name Francis.

“Francis as in Francis of Assisi and so when you hear that name as a Catholic, you think about peace and efforts for peace and you think about the poor and care for vulnerable people and care for creation,” Chapman says “…That’s what we saw from him from the start to the finish.” Chapman does not expect the archbishop of Iowa or the state’s three Catholic bishops to be at the Vatican for the pope’s funeral. The next time the state’s bishops are scheduled to be together is May 1st, at the installation ceremony for John Keehner, the Bishop-elect of the Sioux City Diocese.

“A lot of other bishops will be there from the Midwest and around the country as well,” Chapman says. “We assume that’s going to be going forward as scheduled.” Bishop-elect Keehner’s installation may happen as the College of Cardinals begins meeting in Rome to select a new pope. About 84-thousand Catholics live in the 24 counties that make up the Sioux City Diocese.

Chapman estimates there are about half a million Catholics in Iowa — about 15 percent of the state’s total population.