The Obama administration and almost every state are reportedly ready to settle with the country’s largest banks over allegations of abusive foreclosure practices. We check in with the Mayor of Los Angeles on his vision for the city, which is the second largest metro area in the U.S. A new survey out by the Pew Research Center shows that young adults have been hurt the most in the recession. And bankruptcy lawyers are warning that the latest “debt bomb” will come from student loans.

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.

Swiss commodities broker Glencore and global mining giant Xstrara announced a $90 billion merger deal. We talk to one analyst to find out why that matters to you. Also on the show, the Senate weighs a bigger government role in cyber security to protect privately owned critical infrastructure. And Ohio finds an economic bright spot in its homegrown alcohol industry.

The company that owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut reports earnings today, and it is planning on a boost from its stores in China in the year ahead. Missouri holds its presidential primary tomorrow, and it will cost the states millinos even though the votes won’t actually count. Amazon is building five new warehouses in states across the U.S., and is also testing out a program that lets customers pick up their orders instead of having them delivered.

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 a 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.