Cotton's new beard covers chin injury
U.S. Sen Tom Cotton is sporting facial hair, but not because it's increasingly trendy on Capitol Hill.
The Republican from Dardanelle decided to forgo shaving while recovering from a sports-related injury.
He slipped and fell while running last week in Washington, D.C. The city was digging out after a near-record blizzard, and there was plenty of snow and ice.
His chin required three stitches, according to his spokesman, Caroline Rabbitt. "I am not sure when they will be able to remove them, but they said he should heal just fine! No other injuries," she said in an email.
This isn't the first time he's sprouted whiskers. Rabbitt said Cotton also grew a beard during the 2014 Christmas holidays shortly before he was sworn into office.
Hill at home, goes to firefighter vigil
Because of the East Coast snowstorm, the U.S. House of Representatives canceled its votes last week, allowing members to spend the week back home in their districts.
Second District U.S. Rep. French Hill used some of his time to meet with members of the White County Farm Bureau. In addition, he visited fifth-graders at H.L. Lubker Elementary School in Bald Knob.
While in Arkansas, the Republican from Little Rock also attended a vigil honoring Lt. Jason Adams, 29, the firefighter who was shot and killed on Jan. 22 while responding to an emergency call in east Pulaski County. The congressman sent a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol so that it could be given to Adams' loved ones, a Hill spokesman said.
Boozman, designer for memorial meet
U.S. Sen. John Boozman met Thursday with Joseph Weishaar, two days after Weishaar was selected to design the nation's World War I memorial.
Weishaar, who grew up in Fayetteville, is a graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Before entering the design contest, the 25-year-old had never been to Washington, D.C.. Last summer, he was one of five finalists selected out of more than 350 applicants.
Since then, Weishaar has traveled to the nation's capital at least five times and said he'll be visiting frequently as the project proceeds.
Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, also met last week with Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance Executive Director Kathy Webb. The organization is working with the senator to make changes to the regulations on summer feeding programs for low-income children.
Under current federal rules, children -- during the summer -- generally must travel to central locations to get meals and eat them there before leaving. Boozman drafted legislation to give meal providers more flexibility and to allow states to issue electronic benefit transfer cards to provide poor families with an additional $30 per child per month during the summer.
Boozman's language was included in the Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016 before the Senate Agriculture Committee forwarded the legislation to the full Senate earlier this month.
Womack, Boozman offering internships
U.S. Sen. John Boozman and 3rd Congressional District Rep. Steve Womack are offering summer internships. Last week, both lawmakers issued news releases inviting people to apply.
Boozman's internship program is open "to all area college students who have completed at least two years of college," his office announced. Applications are available at boozman.senate.gov by clicking on the "Apply for Internships" link.
March 1 is the deadline.
In addition to his Capitol Hill location, Boozman has offices in El Dorado, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Lowell, Mountain Home and Stuttgart.
Womack's internships are available for college students and recent graduates. The applications are due by March 4. Some of the spots will be in Washington. Others will be in district offices in Rogers, Fort Smith and Harrison. The forms are available at womack.house.gov/constituentservices/internships.htm.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected].
SundayMonday on 01/31/2016