With the national unemployment rate remaining at 9.1 percent in August, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, slammed President Barack Obama and his economic policies on Friday.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the national unemployment rate in August remained unchanged from July at 9.1 percent.

It's barely moving right now, but a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana has shut down almost 6 percent of the regions oil production, according to the National Hurricane Center. The system, which virtually popped up out of nowhere, is located at about 210 miles (338 kilometers) southwest of the Mississippi River mouth, the Miami-based center said today in an advisory issued before 8 a.m. EST Friday. The depression may become a tropical storm later in the day before reaching Louisiana over the weekend.

College football kicks off in earnest this holiday weekend, with all of Florida's top teams in action. The Miami Hurricanes' tilt at Maryland on Labor Day (8 p.m., ESPN) could be the most intriguing. Initially a 5-point favorite over its ACC rival, the "U" ran afoul of NCAA rules and declared eight players ineligible for accepting illegal benefits from ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro (now residing in federal prison).

Lenny Curry says he is humbled to be asked to succeed RPOF Chairman Dave Bitner and gratified by the support he's received thus far. The party's vice chairman was tabbed by Bitner to be the party's next leader when Bitner announced he would be stepping down for health reasons, effective Sept. 23, at the party's Presidency 5 summit in Orlando. "He asked me and I will work to fulfill his wishes," Curry told Sunshine State News on Thursday.

In case anyone's laying bets, take the "under" on Barack Obama's TV ratings next Thursday night. Pancake-blocked by House Speaker John Boehner, the president will present his "jobs" speech to a joint session of Congress Sept. 8, just as NBC ramps up its wall-to-wall coverage of the NFL season opener between the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. A rehash of stale political bromides and failed economic policies probably won't be a Nielsen ratings blockbuster compared to that.

The Florida State-SEC rumor mill cranked up again Thursday after Texas A&M announced it was leaving the Big 12 Conference. The Aggies finally have had enough of the University of Texas, and the Southeastern Conference will likely pick them up, establishing a rich recruiting beach head in the Lone Star State. With an odd 13 schools, the SEC would look to round up that number by adding a team from another conference, and the ACC appears to be the logical poaching ground.

On Thursday morning, the team behind former U.S. Sen. George LeMiuex, who is running in a crowded Republican primary looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, took aim at President Barack Obama on the economy.

As he continues his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas will focus on the early primary states over the Labor Day weekend. On Thursday night, Paul will be holding a town hall meeting at New England College in Henniker, N.H., where he will talk about economics. Paul will continue to focus on business matters on Friday when he tours businesses in Salem and Manchester.

Indian River State College (IRSC) beat out other institutions to win a $3.1 million National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant to establish a Regional Center for Nuclear Education and Training. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney cheered the news on Thursday.

Thursday marks the start of Floridas prescription drug database which will require any release of controlled substances to be reported to the state within a week. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan has introduced the Pill Mill Crackdown Act in Congress and cheered the new program in the Sunshine State.

A new national poll released by Rasmussen Reports on Thursday found that Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in August, is ahead of President Barack Obama.

Unveiling his jobs plan in New Hampshire on Wednesday, former Gov. Jon Huntsman, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, vowed to fight for free trade. Huntsman said he backed free trade and its effects, from his years in business and in public service as ambassador to China under President Barack Obama, and working on Asian issues under President George H.W. Bush.

Polling in low single digits at the national level and in most states as he continues to seek the Republican presidential nomination, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah took aim Wednesday at his former boss President Barack Obama on the economy. Huntsman, who served in the Obama administration as ambassador to China, unveiled his jobs plan on Wednesday in New Hampshire. He called for reforming taxes and regulations, expanding free trade and seeking more energy exploration to lead to energy independence.

A poll released on Thursday found that President Barack Obama slipped with voters in August and is now upside down as he prepares to run for re-election in 2012.