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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]