welcome to assignment 7. i'm terry mcsweeney. today on our program. is there such a thing as an easy "a" at stanford? plus, warding off the effects of aging. fountain of youth is your immune system. >> and unique bay area program for veterans who landed in jail. we begin with high speed rail. many contend the project reduces traffic congestion and benefits the environment by creating thousands of jobs. others call it wasteful government spending. heather ishimaru has an in-depth look. >> the currentce tag on the high speed rail broj is about

$43 billion for 800 mile line between the bay area and anaheim. this is the animation of how it might look, zipping at along at top speed of 220 miles an hour. they want the federal government to pay about half the costs. after that and nearly $10 billion in voter approved bonds there is still $15 billion gap. >> it's absolutely crazy. the world over high speed rail is heavily subsidized by government. >> stanford professor alan entobin gave an analysis. he says it's not a good use of taxpayer money. he says there is better use of the money in times of deficit and debt it and he says it costs too much for what it offers. >> it's not if the out. we don't need it. we have perfectly good highways and very good air transport

which has a lot of advantages. >> in about 20 years we have 12 million more people, we need more roads and more ways of moving people throughout the state. it's a matter of planning for our future. >> high speed rail supporters criticize him of being biased. >> it doesn't depend on my feelings or where i live. >> the rail authority says there is no way around of initial government investment and authority says the line can't be legally subsidized once operational. >> what is occurring with high speed rail is highly politicized. it's euphemism and it's an issue with the obama administration and democrats. >> they say there are good arguments for and against it. >> it's not going to make the country independent of oil nor is it going to on solve our climate issues. is it a step a direction?

yes. it's a step in a direction. >> a studies director has analyzed current ridership projections and he says they are unreliable, possibly too high or too low because the formula used is faulty. he won't offer an opinion whether the project is an example of wasteful government spending but he will say this.... >> an alternative is going needed. either we're going to expand highways or we're going expand airport capacity and increase the number of flights or some ta new system such as california high speed rail. >> the obama administration gave the rail authority more than $4 million which will go toward building the first 45 mile segment -- $4 billion. >> it shows the bay area is becoming more diverse.

minorities is now the majorities cecilia vega reports from the east bay. >> we remember the day they moved to richmond. it was 1964. >> i was going to san francisco working on the docks and i saw all these flags and balloons. >> this retired longshoreman has seen the neighborhood change and the census findings come as no surprise, richmond is home to more litigants than blacks. >> we have a kinship because years ago there was no place to go, there was red lining in certain areas you could go in. >> and 2010 census proved what many people already know, one of the most diverse places in america is becoming more diverse. >> we're here at 320 malcolm am drive. >> 60% of her clients are

latinos that want to buy homes here in richmond. >> they want to be with their friends, they want to move there, too, and they hear about the payments and hear about the space. >> from san pablo to fremont, the majority is now the minutes. >> it's not just latinos. others are growing at the same pace. >> a fast pace. california's grew the fast testimony at 323.35% and latinos were right behind while whites trailed. >> many opportunities in california, especially the job opportunities. >> it's opportunities and the rich colorful fabric that keeps people coming. >> we need to work together as a community to have a vibrant community. >> in the east bay, cecilia vega "abc 7 news." counselors at stanford may be encouraging students to take

easier classes to maintain grad point averages. education reporter lyanne melendez has more. >> reporter: ask around stanford university and most students have heard about the classes available to student athletes. >> students have been using the list to fit classes in their schedule they thought would be essentially easy "a". >> they uncovered the list produced by stanford university's athletic center. >> some of the classes on the list don't fulfill any general education requirements, things like social dance, which is a dance class. >> it's improvising, drama. >> they have long mandated equal footing among all undergraduates

including athletes but some question whether the list is whether to again athletes' gpa up. this freshman athlete has seen the list. he said other classmen were passing it around when they were choosing classes. >> it was a list of lesser known classes. i hear the rumor it's easy classes but that is really not the vibe i got. they are interesting lesson on classes. >> before we were able to interview any other athletes the head of public relations of the athletic department demanded that we leave the area. then the student we had previously interviewed asked us to not mention his name or his sport. >> the university declined our request to appear on camera. austin lee is the director of the academic research center and he told california watch, quote, an objective evaluation of the courses included on the list would be overrule several courses that most students would

consider to be academically rigorous. he said it was designed for students to get classes in before practice. they say the list isn't necessary. they say stanford's online registration system already let's system schedule classes. >> there is no need for the list in general which calls into question, its document that is available classes. >> the list of classes was pulled when they begin their investigation. students on campus are taking the news of the list in stride. they say this is still stanford and an easier class here is not a slam-dunk. you still have to do the work. >> they all have the workload. >> in stanford, lyanne melendez, "abc 7 news." >> fish with chips in monterey bay. monitoring the marine life can

help you climate change. >> what is one company isñgñoñow

marine mammals off our coast senior giving researchers valuable clues on how to protect them and make our life better on land. karina rusk reports. >> this is what the scientific community refers to as fish and chips, as putting high-tech sensors or computer chips on marine mammals. they collect valuable information from the ocean to where species live and eat. >> depending on where the hot spots are, we are finding out the places we need to protect. >> they have developed tacks for some 200 species. fish offer a free ride for

collecting data from unmind locations. they go where satellites don't travel. noaa says the marine tags can provide critical input to track long term climate change and provide short term weather forecasts. >> all this information plays out in improving our knowledge of those storms, both the intensity and the tracks coming on to the coaster. >> taking their research to the next level by merging information in various computer models to make an explosive picture that has never been seen before. >> a group gathered in pacific grove representing government agencies announced a partnership called the international observing ocean system. they say the collaboration it will lift a veil of secrecy off the ocean. >> working in a vacuum is personally unsatisfied and professionally ununsatisfying

and to have hundred times information overnight has revolutionized the way we have done our science. >> researchers can get a better picture of the ocean's health and develop policies to help protect it. a bay area company is making a big splash when it comes to stainable seafood. it hopes it will change the way you eat seafood. >> dinner has arrived. executive chef has big plans. >> but just as important to the chef where the fish is going, is where it's from. in other words, is it stainable seafood. now he relies on this website. >> population of species is abundant and well managed and

caught in an eco friendly way. >> one year ago, i love lucy.com begin selling to restaurants and caters in the bay area, shipping recycling cardboard with reusable insta sue liags. it only sells seafood to the seafood watch program. this tuna is from the waters off the philippines. >> you catch tuna but you catch 40% of other fish because they are not a commercially, the fish are not worth a lot of money they throw them back in the water. >> i love lucy.com have signed up a handful of restaurants that promises to sell only sustainable seafood. they are hoping to make a difference with diners and diners we talked to says it does.

>> we buy the seafood from grocery stores and restaurants, it's an attractive factor. >> i don't think consumers don't really know it and it's happening behind everyone's back. so it's educating the public. for more on the stainable seafood efforts go to our website at 52 and click on see it on tv. >> up next, the fountain of youth for your immune system and michael finney will show you how your c a could prevent you frororororororororoo

[ asst mgr ] what are you doing? fixing the name. it'siber none. looks like one. well, i know. i put an "n" there. ah! fiber one honey clusters cereal! that's really good! it tastes good, so there can't be fiber in it! it's actually got about half a day's worth of fiber. [ asst mgr ] it says so right on the box. [ fiber seeker ] really? try it. [ mr. mehta ] honey, touch of brown sugar, crunchy clusters -- any cardboard? cardboard no, delicious yes. so where's the fiber? maybe it's in the honey clusters. [ male announcer ] fiber one. cardboard no, delicious yes.

lot of people try to get the best travel dees deals on line but let the user beware. michael finney explains why.

>> when she and her family travels she carefully searches the web looking for a good deal. but what if she found out the travel site wasn't giving her the lowest price? >> i probably wouldn't use that site again. >> using a different browser can get you dramatically lower travel deal. >> shop smart learned this when it searched for the same itinerary using two different browsers, fafari and fire fox. turned out it was lower using fire fox. >> we checked the flight twice on safari and once on firefox and we learned if you check a flight more than once, the cheapest fare can disappear. >> expedia insists that pricing is not affected by previous searches but they advise cookies

that track those searches. to remove, go to your browser and pick preferences and then privacy. there you can remove all cookies. >> another frustrating thing you find a great rate but when you click through, the price jumps up. >> the price on orbit went up $20 and a hotel room on travelocity jumped up $110. while they offer convenience but smarter shopping before you double click to purchase. >> and another pitiful, car rental or hotel room ouvd uncovered a package deal may cost you more than booking separately. that is just one more reason to double check rates. i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >> as we age so does the immune system. what if a pill could turn back the clock? carolyn johnson reports.

>> reporter: gloria keeps her body sharp with exercise, while eddie stays engaged with painting but now they may have a new way they have new way to go back in page, with the help of a pill. >> my immune system, 90 years, so to subtract a few years if possible. >> a doctor has zeroed on a drug. after taking blood samples from the elderly, he introduced the drug. he says that at a low dosage it stimulated proteins that help the immune system fight off bacteria and viruses. >> under stress, under infection or inflammatory disease that the immune system could resuscitate itself.

>> it was so promising they are set to start clinical trials with patients. janice schwartz is director the gee wish center in san francisco who has volunteers participating in the study. >> when we feel sick or unable to get out of bed are not quality life. >> patients will be given a single dose every day in an early phase of the trial they want to study typical challenges such as a seasonal flu shot. >> we are expecting them to have a better t-cell response and in general get their money's worth out of a flu shot. >> if successful, the drug could have applications as an immune system booster to counteract the decline that comes with age. they are both aged 90 are hoping their participation may leave a legacy for science. >> i have three grandchildren that it might help.

>> so for us to be able to help in some small way. i think its nice contribution. they once served our country. now, they are serving time in jail. up next, a bay area jaiaiaiealig with the special needs of veteransnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsns

officials with the veterans administration in washington are taking a close look at a unique program here in the bay area, is to help former soldiers who are out of the service but in jail. carolyn tyler has more. >> carleton has been out of the navy for years, out of jail just a few months. >> how is life? >> great. >> he says going to jail saved his life. that is because he was an inmate here at sflanz c number five. jail number five. every inmate here is a military vet. >> when i first came in here you could feel the atmosphere.

>> it's a pilot program called cover. >> we're kind of a fraternity and family. it's very powerful experience for me. >> those that once served the country are now serving time with the focus on special needs, including post-traumatic stress and zuab abuse, this therapy session helps them identify what triggers violent behavior. >> it was a bad situation, man. >> when there is nothing for me, where do i turn that i know? >> cover has been in operation since august under the direction of sheriff michael hennessey. he believes they are owed a debt from society. >> we are used to seeing happy military people emerging from the airport doorways.

and here they emerge from jail doorways and veterans coming through either door are deserving of our support and our respect. the sheriff estimates there are about 140,000 vets in state and county jails nationwide. here in san francisco, 1% or 10% of 1700 prisoners once served in the military. >> when there is not much of a safety net, that is what they fall through. >> he served in the vietnam war. and was with an organization back in 1974. he helped o help create the jailhouse program. >> how they ended up homeless and having hiv issues and suicidal issues and aging well past their own years. we want to prevent that from happening. >> there is no formal friend go for cover and all the staff are volunteers and they are

preparing for more men. >> we're going to be standing up from incarcerated veterans because they had multiple deployment. >> one the key strategies is offer inmates access and information about government services and benefits, officials with the veterans administration dropped by from washington to see if the program should be replicated. >> where do you think you would be without cover? >> probably back on the streets in the old places i used to hang out, tenderloin, drinking again. >> instead he is living in housing run by the salvation army. he is clean and sober, has a job and is there for his young daughter. at the san bruno jail, veterans helping veterans to help him get his life back on track.

if you want more information on these stories on our program today, go to our website at abc7news.com. look under the news links on the left side for assignment 7. that is all for this edition of assignment 7. i'm terry mcsweeney. thanks for joining us. we'll see you next time. >> the police crackdown on alcohol at this year's bay to breakers race, including some arrests. >> the big late-season snow storm? sierra forced officials to cap sell the first day of a major bike race. words of reconciliation from the mother of a giants fan who was severely beaten