Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, who is running for both the Republican presidential nomination and the Americans Elect nomination, issued a statement as American forces pulled out of Iraq.

In second place behind U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in Iowa, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts garnered two major endorsements this weekend. He was endorsed by the Des Moines Register on Saturday night and also won the backing of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan. Dole, who was the Republican presidential nominee in 1996, won Iowa in 1988 and 1996.

State Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, wants the Florida A&M board of trustees to "stand firm" against Gov. Rick Scott's call for FAMU President James Ammons to be suspended amid the ongoing investigation into the school's marching band. Scott called for the board of trustees to suspend Ammons until the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation is completed. The FDLE is investigating the hazing death of a member of the Marching 100 band that the Orange County Medical Examiner on Friday ruled a homicide.

With two weeks to go, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas now leads the pack of Republican presidential hopefuls in Iowa while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has come crashing down in the Hawkeye State, according to a poll released late on Sunday from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connection to prominent Democrats on the national level.

Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah --who handled Pacific affairs as an assistant secretary of commerce for East Asia and ambassador to Singapore under President George H. W. Bush, and as ambassador to China under President Barack Obama --weighed in on the death of North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il on Monday.

Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann topped the field in a national tea party straw poll Sunday night. Gingrich received 31 percent and Bachmann garnered 28 percent of the ballots cast in the Tea Party Patriots' "Tele-Forum" poll. Mitt Romney placed third with 20 percent, followed by Rick Santorum at 16 percent, Ron Paul at 3 percent and Rick Perry at 2 percent. Jon Huntsman received a fraction of a percentage.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement Sunday night clarifying his position on the investigation into the alleged hazing death of a Florida A&M University student: I am disappointed in the direction the dialog regarding the hazing-murder of a Florida A&M University student has taken. I know many people who care about the great institution share with me the concerns I have with making sure the current investigations proceed independently and without any appearance of interference so responsible parties may be brought to justice.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, wrote late Friday that she is extremely disappointed that Gov. Rick Scott has strongly recommended the suspension of James Ammons, president of Florida A&M University." In a letter to Gov. Scott, Brown, an alumna of the Tallahassee university, called it unfair to make Florida A&M University a scapegoat and possibly jeopardize the academic accreditation of FAMU.

Joining seven fellow Florida Republicans who opposed the $1 trillion spending measure in the House, Sen. Marco Rubio also voted against the measure. This massive 1,217-plus-page bill represents everything that is wrong with Washington," the Miami Republican said in a statement Saturday. "Our country faces major economic challenges, but Congress wasted the whole year stuck in partisan gridlock, only to pass a funding bill that solves none of our problems, just to avoid a government shutdown.

Gov. Rick Scotts next Lets Get to Work" day will be spent collecting and distributing toys, food and clothing for needy families. Scott and first lady Ann Scott will spend Sunday afternoon with the Tallahassee Christmas Connection at the Tallahassee Mall.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University President James Ammons told reporters -- after meeting with Gov. Rick Scott on Friday -- that he would abide by the board of trustees' decision if he should remain in his post as an investigation into the school continues. Meanwhile, the death of a member of the school's Marching 100 band that is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was ruled a homicide. The board is scheduled to meet Monday morning.

The Republican Party of Florida announced Friday it will co-sponsor a presidential debate with the Hispanic Leadership Network that will air live on CNN and CNN en Espanol on Jan. 26 from Jacksonville. "The presidential debate, just days before the Jan. 31 primary, will present a great opportunity for our candidates to make their case to Florida's Republicans," party Chairman Lenny Curry said in a statement. "We wanted Florida Latinos to join the conversation, and this partnership with the Hispanic Leadership Network allows it to happen."

Gov. Rick Scott has given state employees an early Christmas gift: a day off. On the day before a weekend during which Christmas falls, historically, there has been an extremely low business volume, and a large number of state employees take annual leave to be with their families, Scott wrote Friday. In a letter to Jack Miles, Department of Management Services secretary, Scott noted that employees continue to selflessly serve even though they havent received a cost of living increase in five years.

State and national flags will be flown at half-staff at the Capitol and outside the county courthouses in Polk and Levy counties on Saturday in honor of Army specialist Ryan M. Lumley of Lakeland. Lumley, 21, was one of three soldiers killed on Dec. 3 in an explosion in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

With holiday and seasonal hiring in full swing, Floridas unemployment dropped to 10 percent in November, down from 10.3 percent in October, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday. The latest rate is the lowest for the Sunshine State in 31 months and the Department of Economic Opportunity notes the number represents a 2 percentage-point drop since Gov. Rick Scott took office.