Mary Dooe

The Federal Reserve could vote today on a proposed merger between Capital One and ING Direct USA. We talk to two unemployed Spanish women about what it is like to live in a country with such poor job prospects. The Grand Canyon announces a ban on bottled water, despite fears that Coca-Cola, a big parks sponsor, would react badly. And Wal-Mart chooses a new head for its China operations.

Nevada led the nation in the number of home foreclosures last year, a fact that could help steer the caucus there tomorrow. States have until Monday to decide if they want to join a national settlement with banks over abusive mortgage practices. In the U.K., restaurants and bars have declared war on the straw. And we dig into the January unemployment numbers from the government.

Facebook's initial public offering means that the general public now knows more about the company than it did yesterday. In Nebraska, farmers don't typically save, but instead invest back into their farm, with more land or new equipment. Happy Groundhog Day!

Super PACs are allowed to spend unlimited cash, as long as they reveal where the money's coming from -- but it is often still hard to know who is making the donations. Gambling isn't the only thing the Nevada economy has to offer in this election year. And does a foreclosed home down the block hurt your chances of staying above water?

Facebook's IPO looks to be drawing near, and even if you aren't investing in the company, it could still offer you something valuable. We take a look at the current state of the gambling industry through the eyes of the president and CEO of Caesars. And our election 2012 coverage kicks off with peek into the Real Economy of Nebraska, a place where agriculture still takes center stage.

One European company is offering interest paid in chocolate to its lenders, who are also customers. As soon as this week, regulators could green-light construction on two new nuclear power reactors in Georgia. Why can't European leaders seem to get enough of summits, and will they eventually be able to find a solution to the debt crisis there? And a warm weather winter also means a heating fuel glut.

Social networking site Twitter has announced that it can now censor certain messages based on a country's policies. In Western China, Tibetans are once again stepping up their protests in the quest to gain more independence. And what is the role of airports in a city's, or nation's, economy? Happy Earned Income Tax Credit Day!

Netflix is bouncing back, gaining subscribers after a rough 2011 full of price increases and botched plans to separate its mail order service from the rest of the business. Economy 4.0's David Brancaccio explains the new Leading Economic Index. And in this year's presidential debates, the audience has played a bigger role than ever before.

President Obama's State of the Union speech put a spotlight on American manufacturing and job growth. We take a closer look at the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, and how the process affects people across the country. Today marks the one year anniversary of the uprising in Egypt. And is it possible to trademark the color red?

As President Obama prepares to give his State of the Union address this evening, it seems likely that political gridlock will continue in Washington, D.C. Debt talks continue in Greece, and the country is taking some steps to boost revenue. Reporter Amy Scott looks at what higher education actually teaches students. And the American TV show 'Pimp My Ride' has big fans in Morocco.