captioned by closed captioning services inc. hello. welcome to assignment 7. today on our program. a community facing hard times puts it's heart and soul into a field of dream. computer hackers could go a long way with helping people with autism. we'll introduce to tim lincecum. >> we'll begin with murder rate in oakland beginning so ar and many times witnesses refuse to come forward. so mothers are pleading for the community to get involved. here is cheryl jennings. >> i found out about my son's death by watching the news and

thought i hoped never to see it again. >> the these mothers cases have never been solved. they went to talk about the critical need for witnesses to come forward. >> when something like this happens, a lot of people know about it. you don't have anyone willing to come forward. >> because they are afraid. >> because they are afraid. >> her 31-year-old son and his girlfriend with shot and killed while sitting in a car. he worked in a halfway house helping addicts. her son was gunned down at a party this year. he was the father of a little girl. lorraine taylor lost two sons at the same time. the twins were gunned down while trying to get a stalled car started. one worked at ups. the other was a barber. their murders made her sent the

remaining son to school out of state. >> it's outrageous. we have do something with our young kids. >> you can write an anonymous letter and address to it the police department, don't put a return address on it and mail. >> it or there is a tip line, 510-310-or oakland the mispolice department. in the meantime. support is free thanks to lorraine taylor. she founded a group 1,000 mothers to prevent violence. >> most of us after going through ptsd and the aggravated pain can't work. >> they had a march this year with other grieving mothers. she told me about some of the

ways her supported group helps others. >> we go to court with our families. we meet with the d.a. to find out what is going on with the case. >> she has moved out of the dark depression into a support system. >> people aren't comfortable with you talking about your loss if they haven't experienced it. so the support group is perfect for had a. >> in spite of the loss of their own sons, they are reaching out to gang members. >> if you alley need to be part of it, join us and work with the mothers. try to prevent violence. we 'will give you something to do. >> cheryl jennings, "abc 7 news." >> in august f79d jerry miller was shot and killed outside the city of ft. bragg. he was involved in many projects

including building a new high school stadium. how it's become a field of dreams. ♪ >> in ft. bragg, california, these are the makings of home making traditions, a pep rally and a parade through the center of town. and lastly, the young money who proudly wear purple may be a little pressure. >> to vision the game in your head, belief and make it happen. >> they better because the field they defend is one of the families and friends made happen by force of will. >> you know the movie field of dreams? this is it. >> we have good people. good things happen. >> joe and rich, two of the people among hundreds that dare think of it as an act of desperation.

>> nobody gave a chance of building it. >> it began in 1991 when they turned the field into so much glory into a swimming pool. it meant the end of football. for a high school of century of gridiron tradition, that was unthinkable. how they>> it's hog people. so we gave them the best ballpark they could. >> where would the money come from. at ft. bragg, times were tough. one out of four people in the town. the commercial fishing industry didn't fare much better. >> sometimes i stay up for 36 hours at a time. right now i don't have a crew. i'm fishing alone because i can't make my crew a living. >> against that backdrop they wanted to build this? >> if you want to pencil it out, it would be roughly $15 million.

but they didn't spend that here. no. how about $1.3 million. >> testing, one, two, three. >> they begin with the public address system. they picked it up from a minor league team. they bought the lights from the port of oakland and the seats. anaheim angels wanted $47 a i piece. >> they sold them to us for 10. >> truckers delivered loads and at a time with no tax money to spare, ft. bragg found a way. >> when you have to raise a bond you go do it. we needed a ballpark so we raised it. >> from con cemented to kickoff, timber wolf stadium took eight years and remains a work in progress. >> this is really a case of a community coming to its own rescue. >> when i step on there, i have

to thank them by winning. >> let the record show that fort brag won their homecoming game, made possible by a larger one. >> it's what a community can do. >> it's what a community has done! >> from ft. bragg, wayne freedman, "abc 7 news." >> still ahead, a silent kill they're hangs over west africa, carolyn johnson, journey of hope to sierra leone, promising breakthrough. and hackers, michael finney investigates a phone calm that rattled a ba area womanç%?x?x?xt

welcome back. something that is staples nuisance here is a killer. most. carolyn johnson traveled to the west african nation. >> the bush country of sierra leone is beautiful with miles of unbroken jungle but hovering in

the background is a silent killer. mosquitoes that carry a deadly form of malaria. in the surrounding villages, it hits young children especially hard. >> you worry about malaria and illness. [ speaking a foreign language ] >> yes. >> the concern for their son. >> he hasn't had it yet? >> malaria. >> with the help of a flashlight sammy and his family took inside and showed us the mosquito net they sleep under at night. if a child does develop malaria, immediate treatment can mean the difference between life and death. >> it is the number one killer disease. >> a surgeon trained at san

francisco general trauma institute is learning the latest techniques for healing fractures but most are suffering from extreme complications from malaria. families don't reach the hospital until the symptoms are severe. >> they are rushed in gasping requiring a blood transfusion. >> when you help could soon be on the way from the bay area. a researcher has developed a synthetic form of the most commonly used drug, which until now came from one place. in partnership and bill and melinda gates foundation they used their foundation to produce the drug in huge ranks. >> the goal is to lower the price substantially. >> he believes the price could drop from several dollars a dose to 25 cents and could be widely

available as early as next year. >> back in sierra leone, clinics cram bl to treat the children while aid groups educate families on prevention. >> millions have been distributed. >> while the efforts pay off off they are hoping sierra leone will join the list of countries that have eradicated malaria. the term hacker is often used in a derogatory way forspea specific time of computer programmer but there are some hacks with a positive purpose. how some people are helping for people with autism. >> these people are volunteering for a special mission. they were broken up to eight teams, each working on an application helping young people with autism. hp came up with the idea enlisting experts. >> what we're seeing here,

passion, partnering with specialists. so each time there is science side, there are families who are impacted by autism. >> this team is working on an app to help them express their feelings. another one which deals with bullying. helping, too, and this 11-year-old is serving as an advisor on the project. >> i would like to see an app that helps like social skills and writing because that is my issues. also i would like to see other things. >> they see great potential for what the teams are doing. handheld devices are changing their children's lives. >> my son is physically challenged but when i pull up an app on an ipad, it keeps them

from being isolated. >> they are donating services that would cost upwards from $100,000 and their work is only starting. >> it was three to four months before the apps are ready and when they are, they will be distributed for free. they will operate on smart phones, tablets and computers. david louie, "abc 7 news." >> a warning now on a simpler trick, hackers are using to get in your personal computer. michael finney explains how it works. >> 73-year-old has had her share of a tour guide and here in alaska but nothing scared her by a phone call. >> i'm calling from microsoft to inform that you your computer is loaded with virus and will crash. >> man on the phone warned if she didn't act fast, the computer would release all her personal information to the

worldwide web. >> this alarmed me and, of course, the shock that i didn't think. >> she did what the man told her she went to this website and went this the th buttoned and cursor came up and begin to control her computer. >> he got in and he pulled up the menu. >> the cursor was whizzing around the casino, clicking websites all the while caller probed for more information. >> he asked me several times, where my visa card was. i told him the name of the bank. >> yellow warning signs popped occupant screen, it was evidence of those viruses. >> i said what can i do it about it. they said they could fix it but it would cost, i believe it was $249. >> the caller kept pressuring her to pay for it. that is when she legalized the problem was not a virus.

it was the man on the phone. the browser on the screen. >> let go of my computer and i was extremely upset by the time i hung up. in fact i was crying. >> after that fern scrubbed her computer of malware and she contacted "7 on your side". >> they are trying to do anything they can to get on your system. they will try to trick you. try to scare you. >> we spoke with internet security expert. he says hackers using old-fashioned calls to get control. >> they can do anything want. they can install malware. they can make a remotely controlled network. your computer may be used to stoel stolen pornography. >> they are from scammers. they put out a warning to the public. microsoft does not call

customers asking for money to fix their problem. >> we have very trust financing and i don't want it to happen to anyone else. still ahead, a bay area teenager who got a prestigious award. and 12-year-old novato boy, we'll introduce you

bay area student could easily become a statistic. she was cutting class and drifting but now, she is changing the community. the story is from lyanne melendez. >> she was a high school student with no college aspirations. but she discovered she had a passion for social justice. >> we are facing those challenges. we live in poverty. a lot of people are not employed. a lot of people are fighting. a lot of people are killing one another. >> they went to this institute. here at the urban garden in richmond. she organized the community and trained local youths to appreciate agriculture. >> my role in this, i'm tryingae people can come in and take leadership of it and there is no one person that is in charge of everything. >> today she is a site

coordinator of this garden. she engages teens from the richmond community to take ownership of the the space. >> it earned her the brower youth award. there was a total of six winners they received $3,000 prize. these two michigan high school students are trying to change one of the ingredients in girl scout cookies. palm oil is cheap. >> i suggested canola oil blend as an alternative to palm oil. >> it's basically the most brightest eco activists all around north america. >> we use resources and opportunities and really work toward that. >> she is also pursuing a college education. in richmond, lyanne melendez, "abc 7 news".

>> when you play supports as a kid there is a player you look up to. mike shumann found a player that looks up to tim lincecum but looks like him. >> this patch of grass is like a field of dreams for these athletes. they have high hopes to make it to the big leaks. but for patrick jamison he is being compared to tim lincecum, for his looks. >> he looks freakishly like the freak. >> it's kind of fun people say hi and they shake your hand. >> we decided to make his wishing to meet his idol come true. >> his family joined in as he melt them, walked through the dugout and even met the manager. >> being this close to the

players get some zbloofs then the moment of truth did. >> he got his and then i introduced them. >> after patrick came down from cloud nine, he described the moment. >> meeting tim and getting his autograph, i feel like my life is complete. >> at 12 years old? >> yes. >> with this dream fulfilled maybe one day he will be on the field instead of in the stands. mike shumann, abc7 sports. still ahead, magic act of

welcome back. life and legacy of harry houdini is the subject of a museum in san francisco. don sanchez takes us for the look. ♪ >> he captured people's imagination. ultimate musician and escape artist. >> people or the edge of their sheet when people are imperiled. >> he escaped from the water torture cell. the trunk or getting out of handcuffs. he was a son of a rabbi that became america's biggest star. >> the fact that he died in his 20s is amazing. >> before television thousands of people would watch him. this huge mural is from rhode

island. he would do his tricks on buildings. he was hanging from the hearst building in 1923. he escaped from a locked box at aquatic park. he didn't stop with theater performances. he went to hollywood and became a film star. years later, hollywood made a film about him. later in life he won't crusade to dubunk people that claim that have supernatural azblilt his wife conducted a seance but finally quit, ten years is enough to wait. >> it includes by works by artists inspired by houdini. >> many artists have made the analogy of making art and making manage i can. >> the show will be on through

next january. don sanchez, "abc 7 news." if you want more information on the stories on our program today, just go to our website, abc7news.com. look under the news links on the left side for assignment 7. that is all for this edition of assignment 7. hope you enjoyed the program. i'm kristen sze. thank you for watching. we'll see you back here next we'll see you back here next

>> good evening. and merry christmas to those of you celebrating. we start tonight in west san jose where a one-year-old baby boy survived being tossed out of a second story window, police say by his own mother, who then jumped herself. the baby was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. the incident began this morning when police responded to call that a mother has locked herself in a bathroom with her child. >> heard some screaming and there what 12-13 cop cars out here, and paramedics and fire trucks, and this little baby crying and obviously in pain. >> the mother suffered minor injuries on her feet. she is being held for possible mental health issues. >> investigators will be berkeley department of environment health a