President Obama's address last night was seen by many as a crucial political moment — a chance for him to reinvigorate support for his strategy on the economy and job creation. Obama's approval rating has been at an all-time low, so the stakes were high. He needed to reach the electorate and instill confidence in voters. How well did he do? This is the question we’re discussing with constituents from around the country.

This week we’re marking our one-year anniversary by checking in the people who have helped us understand the lives behind the numbers on the news. Real people with real stories about every issue from the Presidential campaign to the impact of the housing crisis to the state of the economy. Laura Richards is one of the voices we heard earlier this year. She owns two California Tortilla restaurant franchises in Maryland. We met her in October when small businesses were the canaries in the economic coalmine. At the time Ms. Richards was hoping to expand her franchise, just as credit was freezing. She joins us from Annapolis with an update.

The Takeaway is looking at the economy through the eyes, webcams and cell phones of Americans. Watch the stories and add your own.

Wall Street's latest free fall is hitting Main Street hard. The credit crunch, compounded by high unemployment rates and low consumer confidence, is making it hard for small business to stay afloat. And Congress' failure to pass the $700 billion bailout bill has only made these problems more urgent.