Two big stories today. President Obama is expected to sign a bill helping out small businesses. And Southwest Airlines said it’s buying AirTran for $1.4 billion.

For the global perspective, we looked at why the U.K. is fretting over a potential biscuit brand takeover, whether China is tightening the flow of good to Japan, and facility conditions at the Commonwealth Games.

Domestically, we learned that Gulf-area labs will get priority for studying the oil spill’s impact, what’s next for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he finishes his term, whether print or digital media are more sustainable, and the impact that undocumented people have on local businesses.