As Congress and the White House prepare to tackle comprehensive immigration reform next year, there is much at stake for California, the state with the largest population of undocumented immigrants.

After decades of minimal oversight, the controversial hydraulic fracturing industry will finally be regulated in California. "Fracking," the high-pressure injection of chemicals and water to split rocks and extract natural gas and oil, is in use by companies at more than 600 wells throughout the state.

The skies are less friendly than they used to be. Air travel has become increasingly frustrating with penalties and fees going up for everything from checking baggage to preferred seat selection. The struggling airline industry expects to pocket $36 billion in revenue from fees alone this year.

As the sun and moon align this week, their combined gravitational pull on the ocean is producing the highest tides of 2012. Though "king tides" aren't caused by climate change, organizers of the King Tides Initiative say the phenomenon is a vivid demonstration of the future impact of rising sea levels on the Bay Area landscape.

• California King Tides Initiative
• KQED Science report on the fracking debate
• PBS: Talking with Kids About News