Sen. Blanche Lincoln reports that she met with First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House today to discuss ways to combat childhood obesity.

As chairman of the Senate’s Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Lincoln will oversee reauthorization this year of the Child Nutrition Act.

“The prevalence of childhood obesity is an alarming trend, with one in three American children now considered overweight or obese,” Lincoln said in a news release. “Although we have our work cut out for us, we are not going to be starting from scratch. Programs in Arkansas have been making great strides to encourage more nutritious eating habits among our children, to get them physically active and to promote healthier lifestyles. I was proud to share these successes with the First Lady.”

Also attending the meeting were Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; Senate Agriculture Committee member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Senate Health Committee member Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.; House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Mill, D-Calif., and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.

Rogers Mayor Steve Womack says he’s formed an exploratory committee in preparation for a potential campaign for the 3rd District congressional seat in western and northwestern Arkansas.

The incumbent, John Boozman of Rogers, is expected to announce this weekend that he will run for the U.S. Senate.

Womack, a Republican, isn’t the first Northwest Arkansas politician to express interest in replacing Boozman in Washington. State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, also has said she is seriously considering a run at the seat.

Sarah Palin is headed to Arkansas for a fundraiser this month, but Arkansans still like their resident would-be 2012 Republican presidential aspirant, as poll results from our content partner, TalkBusiness, show.

The head of Arkansas’ utility regulatory agency is staying put.

State Public Service Commission Chairman Paul Suskie says he’s decided against running for the open 2nd District congressional seat.

The 38-year-old Democrat from North Little Rock who lost to Dustin McDaniel in a Democratic Party runoff for attorney general four years ago says he seriously considered a race for the Central Arkansas seat incumbent Democrat Vic Snyder is vacating. But in the end, Suskie says his current job and family considerations trumped political aspirations — this year.

“Although a congressional race in 2010 is an opportunity that MAY not come again, I know that the opportunity to watch my children grow up on a daily basis over the coming years will NEVER come again,” Suskie says in an e-mail to friends and supporters today.

Suskie and his wife have two children. He is also a lieutenant colonel in the Arkansas Army National Guard’s Judge Advocate General Corps and has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Suskie’s term as PSC chairman ends in 2012.

Also today, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola announced plans to run for re-election, ruling out a 2nd District congressional bid.

Among those who say they ARE running for Snyder’s seat are House Speaker Robbie Wills of Conway and state Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little on the Democratic side, and Republicans Tim Griffin and Scott Wallace of Little Rock and David Meeks of Conway.

U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder’s chief of staff, David Boling, has resigned effective immediately, Snyder’s office reports.

Boling’s resignation comes two weeks after Snyder announced he would not run for re-election this year.

UPDATE: Roby Brock reports that Boling will run for Synder’s seat.

Second District Republican hopeful Tim Griffin says he has the endorsement of the last Republican elected to represent Central Arkansas in Congress.

The endorsement is from Ed Bethune, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978 and served until 1985.

“Tim Griffin will make an outstanding congressman,” Bethune is quoted as saying in a release from Griffin’s campaign. “He is the right person to represent the common sense conservative values of the 2nd District; and, we need more veterans serving in Congress.”

Griffin, a former Karl Rove aide and interim U.S. attorney, is a major in the Army Reserve and was previously deployed to Iraq.

“I am honored to have the support and endorsement of the only person to win the Second District seat as a Republican since 1874,” Griffin said. “Congressman Bethune is well respected among conservatives in Arkansas. He is a former state party chairman, prosecutor, federal agent and a military veteran. I look forward to working with Rep. Bethune as our campaign continues to build momentum and grassroots support.”

Griffin is seeking the GOP nomination for the seat now held by U.S. Rep Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, who recently announced he will not seek re-election. Republicans David Meeks of Conway and Scott Wallace of Little Rock also have said they will run for Snyder’s seat, along with state Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock.

Gov. Mike Beebe says he’s not interested in running for anything except a second term as governor.

Talking to reporters after today’s meeting of the Little Rock Political Animals Club, Beebe said no one has asked him to run for national office. But he acknowledged recent speculation and said supporters have been calling saying they’ve heard he’s running for the U.S. Senate.

“We’re trying to quell that as fast as we can,” the governor said.

Beebe offered this during the meeting at the Governor’s Mansion: “I can tell you unequivocally I have no desire to run for any other political office. I like being the governor. I hope people will let me stay.”

The governor appeared unswayed despite rampant speculation spurred by incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s declining poll numbers and Republican gains elsewhere in the country.

“You can actually affect positively more people’s lives in a shorter period of time and with more unilateral action in this job than I suspect you can in any job except perhaps president of the United States,” Beebe said.

U.S. Rep Marion Berry is expected to announce Monday he will not seek re-election this year.

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza has details here.

The Arkansas House of Representatives will meet at 12:15 p.m. on March 24 to select the next speaker of the House.

Rep. Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, appears to be the front runner for the seat. His only announced rival is Rep. Johnnie Roebuck, D-Arkadelphia.

Each candidate will have up to 15 minutes to address the House before a secret ballot is taken.

From opposite ends of the political spectrum, two nationally known political figures will debate America’s future direction next month at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The university announced today that Michael Steele, head of the Republican Political Action Committee GOPAC, and former Congressman Harold Ford Jr., chairman of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, will share a stage Feb. 4.

The event, “Left, Right, and Forward: On the Future of America,” at the University Theater in UALR’s Center for Performing Arts, is sponsored by UALR’s Office of Campus Life. Admission is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required.

The discussion by the two black political combatants kicks off UALR’s annual Black History Month program.