(Radio Iowa) – A bill under consideration in the legislature would position Iowa to immediately allow prescriptions of a synthetic version of psychedelic mushrooms if it gains F-D-A approval. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms.” Christopher Rants is a lobbyist for Compass Pathways, a pharmaceutical firm that’s developed a synthetic form of psilocybin that’s currently in the third phase of clinical trials. “Synthetic is important because that’s how you maintain the purity and the exact quantity of dosage that you want to do,” Rants says, “and under the protocol that we are going trials through the FDA, it’s prescribed to a person dealing with treatment resistant depression, PTSD, things of that nature.”

The product, called “Comp-three-60”, is administered in a doctor’s office or clinic. “They have to stay in a medical setting because it is a 6-8 hour experience — I know the radio wants me to say a ‘trip,'” Rants said. “…This not a ‘I get my prescription and I go home and, you know, take it later.’ No, you’re taking it under the auspices of a medical professional who is monitoring you before you can go home.” The trials indicate a single dosage addresses symptoms like depression and anxiety. The reason for the bill? Most states immediately allow F-D-A approved medications to be prescribed, but in Iowa a law must be passed before any drug may be dispensed. Senator Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, led a senate subcommittee hearing on the bill this (Thursday) morning.

“Hearing the testimony today and doing some of my own research, I think it’s an important tool to put in the tool box once you receive FDA approval,” he said. “If it can really provide relief for those folks suffering from hard to treat, long-term mental illnesses — especially PTSD, I think it’s our job as a legislature to make sure they have those tools available once they become FDA approved.” Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville also signaled his support for the bill. “Not necessarily a topic that I expected I’d be dealing with when I was first elected to the Iowa legislature, but no doubt serving in the legislature is a trip,” Wahls said, and his fellow senators laughed. The bill has already cleared the Iowa House unanimously.

Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs says Comp360 is showing amazing results in clinical trials. “Although this is a synthetic form of psilocybin, I hope that this leads us to also address more holistic, natural medicines,” Turek said,”and maybe even leads to some conversation about decriminalization.”

Voters in Oregon and Colorado have passed ballot measures that have decriminalized natural psilocybin for supervised use.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center School Boards, Wednesday night held a joint meeting in Guthrie Center, which included a public hearing on the 2025-26 District Master Calendar. Superintendent Josh Rasmussen said there are very little changes to the calendar, but a lot depends on the Iowa legislature.

In other business, the A-C Board discussed with Snyder and Associates Engineers a roof project.

The Guthrie Center Board talked about budget matters and approved reductions in spending.

They also approved an out-of-state trip to Florida for the district’s DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) students who might qualify for nationals. In other business, the Boards set April 16^th at 7-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on the 2025-26 Certified Budget. The Guthrie Center Board approved the resignation of HS Volleyball Coach Barb South, and a Contract Recommendation for Savana Fuller as Assistant Softball Coach.

Superintendent Rasmussen said they’re really excited about the academic and athletic success the districts experienced over the Winter. And are looking forward to the Spring Weather and activities.

The Boards concluded their meeting Wednesday with an annual evaluation of Superintendent Josh Rasmussen.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held a brief, Special Session this (Thursday) morning. During their meeting, the Board held a Public Hearing on the Proposed FY 26 Adair County Property Tax Levy. Residents of the County recently received their property tax statements showing the proposed tax asking per entity, such as the school district. Auditor Mandy Berg broke down the levy components.

Several Adair County residents were on-hand for the meeting. Berg explained the letters residents received with regard to the levy was “Hypothetical” example, not the actual valuation.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said the property tax figures are what they derived from a State formula and the Governor’s office.

The final outcome of the levies depends on action taken by the Iowa legislature and signed into law by Governor Reynolds. No action was taken following the hearing, as it was just to receive questions and comments from the public. Following the Public Hearing, the Adair County Board set April 9^th at 9:15-a.m. as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the FY26 Adair County Budget.

(Lewis, Iowa) – Firefighters from Lewis, Atlantic and Griswold were paged out to a large structure fire on the southeast side of Lewis, at around 6:33-a.m. today (Thursday). Lewis Fire Chief Terry Erickson told KJAN News when the first crews arrived on the scene moments later, they found a barn at 701 E. South Street fully engulfed in flames.  Erickson said “We immediately started to extinguish the fire. Atlantic and Griswold [firefighters] were enroute for manpower and tankers for water, due to its location.”

Chief Erickson said “there [were] goats and peacocks housed in the barn [that] perished.” He said while they were working the blaze, one firefighter passed out due to possible smoke inhalation. They were transported from the scene to Cass Health. The number of goats lost amounted to 10, along with some of their babies, and four peacocks, according to Erickson.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who parked outside during Wednesday’s heavy thunderstorms (and for that matter, storms that occurred the week before) are finding their vehicles now look like they’ve been dunked in mud. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says those brown smudges and polka-dots have far-away origins, thanks to the winds of the massive storm, which topped off above 70 miles an hour.

“With it being so powerful, it pulls up a lot of air from the south,” Jimenez says, “and usually we think about moisture coming from the south, but also it brought in some of the dust and dirt from places like New Mexico and Texas all the way up into the Midwest.” There’s plenty of grit and sand in the gunk, too, which she says came from the deserts of the southwestern U-S. “Truly, it is just how powerful the winds were with that system,” Jimenez says. “The moisture in the air just moved this way from the south and that dirt just continued to get lofted higher up. And as you go higher up in the air, the winds get faster, so it can travel a lot farther, and then once the rain started to form, it’s sort of just taking all that dirt out of the sky.”

The effects of a “Mud rain”

With sunny skies and highs back in the 40s and 50s, Iowa car washes should likely brace for a business boost.

SAC CITY, Iowa [KCCI-TV] – A group of travelers from Minnesota was greeted with some Iowa Nice when they found themselves stranded during Wednesday’s severe winter weather.  The group from Cleveland, Minnesota, included 45 kids and was headed to Florida on Wednesday when their bus got stuck in the snow in Auburn. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office and an East Sac school bus driver took them to the community center in Sac City and helped set up a place for them to stay. Local businesses donated snacks and drinks.

Sac County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page photo

Sac City Police Dept. photos from Facebook

Sac City Police Dept. photos from Facebook

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Creston faces possible charges – pending the results of lab tests – following an accident Wednesday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 51-year-old Aaron Eugene Porter, of Creston, was driving a 2024 Chevy pickup “in a reckless manor,” when the vehicle crossed the center of the road on Highway 25 (S. Sumner Street), and struck a legally parked & unoccupied 2011 Ford pickup truck, registered to Terry Danielson, of Creston. The collision occurred at around 4:15-p.m. The impact caused damage to both vehicles, amounting to a police-estimated $5,000. No injuries were reported.

Creston Police say Porter “showed significant signs of impairment.” A urine specimen was obtained and sent to a lab to be tested for possible impairment.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston, Wednesday afternoon, arrested a man on a drug charge. 51-year-old Aaron Eugene Porter, of Creston,was arrested near the intersection of Russell and Sumner at around 4:15-p.m. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st Offense. Creston Police cited Porter and then released him from the scene on a Promise to Appear in court.