Republican Governor Terry Branstad is faulting President Obama for failing to outline a new approach to fighting terrorism. But Branstad himself is expressing opposition to one idea some of his fellow Republicans have proposed: allowing guns in schools. “That’s a very controversial issue and I’m not going to wade into it because it just divides the country,” Branstad says. “Instead, we need to focus on constructive things we can do that focuses on the real threat.”

Iowa schools are currently “gun-free” zones. Critics say that makes them a target for mass shootings.  “I’m a supporter of the Second Amendment, but I don’t want to try to divide people on an issue that people have real strong opinions on,” Branstad says. The governor says he is “satisfied” with the law as it currently stands. In 2013, Republicans in the the Iowa Senate tried to let teachers, administrators and other school staff who have a permit to carry a gun to be allowed to bring a gun to school.

Their proposal was not adopted in the Democratic-led Senate. That debate came in the wake of a mass shooting at a Connecticut school that killed 26. Last night, President Obama addressed the nation after a mass shooting at a government facility in California and Governor Branstad says Obama has made a “big mistake” by bringing up gun control rather than seeking to unite the country against a common enemy.

“I think people are concerned about the safety of our country and the threat we have from ISIS and this Islamic terrorism,” Branstad says. “We know that gun control is a very divisive issue and people have very different views on it.” Branstad made his comments to reporters after speaking to at an elementary school assembly in West Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man who broke into a Des Moines home died of a stab wound. On Monday, following an autopsy, Polk County Medical Examiner Gregory Schmunk confirmed the cause of 31-year-old Travis Williams‘ death. Police say Williams, of Earlham, died early Saturday morning after an altercation with two people at the Des Moines home.

Investigators believe Williams broke into the home before the confrontation. The two people were identified as 19-year-old Ali Cano and his girlfriend, 18-year-old Whitney Campbell. The case is still being investigated. No arrests have been reported.

Veterans across western Iowa are invited to attend a town hall meeting later today (Tuesday) in Omaha. Veterans Administration spokesman Will Ackerman says the goal is to provide an opportunity for the V-A to get feedback from the people the agency is supposed to be serving. Ackerman says, “The VA secretary is emphasizing being open and transparent with our veterans and our stakeholders in the community about VA health care, benefits and services and answering any questions or concerns that they may have.” He says the town hall meeting will be a two-way discussion.

“The purpose of this is to share some updated information about benefits and services with our veterans,” Ackerman says, “and then the second and most important part is to gain open and honest feedback from veterans, family members and other beneficiaries.” The town hall meeting will be held at 5:30 P-M in the Education Conference Room at the V-A Medical Center at 4101 Woolworth Avenue in Omaha.

(Radio Iowa)

A survey of Iowa employers released today (Tuesday) shows nearly a quarter of them expect to add workers in the first few months of 2016. Karen Miller is spokesperson for Manpower Group. “Twenty-four-percent of those employers we surveyed said they’re looking to increase staffing levels in the first quarter of the year,” Miller said. While that’s positive news for those Iowans seeking employment, many other Iowans could be losing their jobs, according to the new survey.

“Nine-percent (of the Iowa employers surveyed) said they’re looking to do some decreasing,” Miller said. Another 66-percent of the Iowa employers surveyed believe they’ll maintain their current staff levels between January and March. The Q-1 Manpower survey gives Iowa a “net employment outlook” of 15-percent. That’s down from 20-percent three months ago and 16-percent one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)