Arkansas Politics

An effort to recall one of four Texarkana city directors has been dropped while petitions to recall the other three directors remain.

The Texarkana Gazette reported Sunday that a petition to recall Director Sue Johnson filed by Miller County Emergency Management Director Larry Pritchett was dropped by Pritchett.

Arkansas Republican gubernatorial hopeful and former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson says school safety should be a fundamental part of an adequate education for students.

Hutchinson made the comments Wednesday when he spoke to members of the National Lieutenant Governors Association during a gathering in Little Rock.

Hutchinson was named the head of a National Rifle Association committee studying ways to improve classroom safety after 20 children and six educators were fatally shot at a Connecticut school.

A Republican candidate for a state Senate seat says he cannot overcome the 67-margin that separated him from the leader in a primary runoff, but a Democratic candidate wants to see if he picks up any votes in a canvass.

Ascent Children Services CEO Dan Sullivan says he will not contest balloting that made former AT&T manager John Cooper the GOP nominee for a Senate post from Jonesboro.

Members of the Arkansas Board of Corrections are scheduled to discuss the board's policy on parolees following the release of a report that outlines problems within the state's parole system.

The board will meet Wednesday in Little Rock.

The meeting comes after Gov. Mike Beebe this month released the findings of an investigation about the Department of Community Correction. The Arkansas State Police report found systemic problems with the parole system but no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by officials after a man who was on parole was charged with murder.

Fewer than 100 votes separated the top candidates from the also-rans after ballots were counted in the party primary runoffs for a state senate seat in northeastern Arkansas.

Jonesboro businessman Steve Rockwell led Valley View Schools Superintendent Radius Baker by 24 votes in the Democratic primary, while former AT&T manager John Cooper led Ascent Children's Services CEO Dan Sullivan by 67 votes among Republicans.

If the results stand, Rockwell and Cooper would face off Jan. 14 in a special election to replace former Sen. Paul Bookout, who resigned in August.

A new ad began airing Tuesday in several Arkansas television markets, targeting Senator Mark Pryor for his support of President Obama’s judicial nominees.

In particular, the ad by the conservative Judicial Crisis Network is tying the Democrat, who is up for reelection next year, to the President’s picks to fill out the District of Columbia's Circuit Court of Appeals.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson unveiled details of his plan to reduce Arkansas’ individual income tax rates, a cornerstone of his tax cut platform for Governor.

“Arkansas is not competitive in its income tax structure,” said Hutchinson. He cited surrounding states with lower or no individual income tax rates.

“Why is this important? It impacts the recruitment of industry,” he said.

Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James Lee Witt is preparing to announce whether he'll run for the Democratic nomination for a south Arkansas congressional seat.

Witt scheduled a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon to announce his decision regarding the 4th Congressional District seat. Witt has been exploring a run during the past several weeks and has been touring the district.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling to Arkansas this week amid questions about the nation's farm policies.

Vilsack is scheduled to visit Little Rock on Wednesday to talk about the need for Congress to pass the nation's farm bill.

The farm bill sets policy for farm subsidies, food stamps and other rural development projects. The fight over renewing the farm bill has centered on cuts to the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program.

Members of the House and Senate are set to begin negotiations on the five-year, roughly $500 billion bill this week.

The Republican primary for a central Arkansas congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin could get more crowded.

State Rep. Ann Clemmer of Benton planned Wednesday to announce whether she'll seek the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. If she runs, she'll be the third Republican to launch a bid since Griffin announced last week that he wouldn't seek re-election next year.