hello and welcome to kqed "newsroom." i'm thuy vu. later, what the new speaker hopes to accomplish and a courtrder has parents worried about the prircvacy of their children's school records and carolyn paul talks about her new book on the importance of girls taking risks. first, this week health officials confirmed additional cases of zika virus in the bay area including a pregnant woman in napa and a san francisco resident. we learned staid state-wide, eight cases of zika, all traveled represented. transmitted through the bite of

a particular mesquiosquito and d to birth defects. last month, it was declared a world wide emergency. joining me, editor of kqed state of health log. thanks for joining us. >> good to be here, thuy. >> off the top, what of the statistics? >> the county health officials are saying the woman has already recovered from her infection. and that is really all the information they would release. as for the san francisco resident, all the health officials would say it's a person who is not pregnant and would not disclose whether it bas a man or woman. >> do these two local cases pose a throat public health? >> as the health officials were very clear in both counties the specific mesquiosquitmosquito, d zika virus, is only in very limited places in california. it is not present in either san francisco or napa county. it is present in i believe it's

menlo park and heyward. >> do we need to worry about mosquitoes eventually carrying that virus? >> it is. there is an expectation that zika will continue to be broad in from other countries from travelers. there is, of course, the possibility that it could be spread by these mosquitoes. at present, though, there is no, no current risk of that. no public health risk. >> what are the estimates for here in california and across the u.s.? or officials expected to see many more cases? >> there is an expectation that like west nile, first brought in in i believe the late '90s and spread from there, there is an expectation especially with this summer as many people around the world will be traveling to brazil for the olympics and then returning home, that we will see more cases that we -- that it will start to gain a foothold in

the united states, but here in the united states we have things that other parts of the world do not have. many buildings have air conditioning. people have screens on windows. the whole infrastructure of our society is at a higher level and so the zika virus is less likely to be spread. less of the mosquito is here, but it is still expected, experts i've spoken to in the last couple of days it is expected it will start to be spread. >> what are the health risks associated with zika? >> most people will not even know they've been infected. so 80% of people are asymptomatic. people who do show symptoms pretty mild. mild rash, joint pain, c conjunctivitis and recently released is a study published in the new england journal of medicine showing that of 88 women who were tested, 88

pregnant women tested with ultrasounds in brazil, 29% were showing fetuses with this abnormally small head. so the strong -- what they're calling the strongest evidence to-date, that zika does dramatically increase this risk of this birth defect. >> so there's more evidence coming out, but the world health organization is still holding back on saying there's a definitive connection. given that, why do you think they were so fast to declare a worldwide emergency last month? >> there's no question that this -- so what the public health term is that it was a, a native population. a population that was not the -- no one had ever had this. there's no immunity, spreading in brazil and rapidly to these other countries across central mexico and into the caribbean

and a connection with zika a belief it was raising the rate of these birth defects, and they wanted to investigate further. i want to add there's also an association with gee yon buille a disorder leading to partial paralysis. people recover but some people end up on ventilators, on breathing machines it can be very serious. it's only a small risk of death but still to be, people can spend a long time in the hospital with that. >> as far as pregnant women are concerned, is there any distinction between whether women are infected in the first trimester or later in pregnancy? >> this is the subject of -- everything about zika is the subject of intense scrutiny right now, intense scientific scrutiny and right now there's just a lot we don't know. we just have this recently published study that draws this pretty conclusive connection but there's a tremendous effort

scientifically, a lot of resovereir research going on. >> we don't whether the health risks are more severe in the first trimester than the third? >> and we know zika can be transmitted. men who are infected and come back. already a case in texas, he infected his partner and then we don't know exactly how long the virus stays in the semen. so there's also a recommendation for pregnant women should not travel to zika-infected countries, and if their sexual partner has been infected, they should use a condom every time they have sex. >> definitely take those precautions. so many unanswered questions. lisa, thanks four cor coming up sensitive information about more than 10 million california students is set to be released under a controversial court order. it stems from a lawsuit over the rights of disabled children. a district court judge in sacramento says the state

department of education must turn over the records including social security numbers to attorneys of a parents group that filed the suit. the case is raising privacy concerns state-wide. joining us now with san francisco chronicle education reporter jill tucker who has been covering the story. jill, good to see you. >> right. >> give us a background, or what is this lawsuit about? >> well, the lawsuit is actually about special education children, and whether the state is fulfilling its duty to oversee what these children are entitled to and to take action if districts are not providing those services, and, of course, the parents out of morgan hill that initiated this are claiming that the students are not getting the services that they need. the districts are not providing all of the resources that they should be. now, that's what the actual lawsuit is about, but what the argument has been about what all the legal battles over the last three years have been about are getting the plaintiff the information that they need so they can prove their case

throughout the state. this is now a class action lawsuit and they want access to the records at the state of every child that has attended a public school in california since 2008, and that's about 10 million kids. >> under judge kimberly mueller's order what kinds of student information will be released? >> so the plaintiffs have asked for information so that they can search and sort not just special educations students, including their health records, they're behavior records, their academic records, everything from grades to whether they were suspended, and they want to be able to search that, and the judge has said, yeah. you can get that information. the question now is -- how do they get that information? because, frankly, the state department of education and many parents do not want their children's social security numbers and addresses and other information going into the hands of people outside of the state government. >> so if you're parents and don't want this information to

be released in this way, is there anything they can do? >> now, initially the judge in february ordered notices be put out that parents could submit a form objecting to their child's information being released in this lawsuit. >> is it an opt-out form? >> well, that's what many people thought. what. districts officials thought. they posted it on their sites and parents en masse have submitted these forms, believing them to be opt-out forms. however, the judge had the option of making it a, a just an objection, or an opt-out, because of the number of objection forms received in the mail, in her office, she has said she cannot review them individually and that means now as of this ruling on tuesday that there is no longer an opt-out option for parents. they can still protest. they can still object, but their form is going to go into a big

box, filled up and go into a protective room. >> so what is the point, then, are filing this form of objecting if it goes into some dark space somewhere and no one looks at it? >> well, the judge did say based on the number of forms that she received, she has acknowledged the concern that parents have for their children's privacy and has tightened up the security surrounding the release of this information. so for some of the most sensitive information, the plaintiffs have to go to the state department of education, the information will not leave the, essentially the building, and so they have to conduct their searches there, rather than putting it on a thumb drive or however they were going to transfer it to the plaintiffs. so the state department of education feels that this does keep the information more secure, but the reality is, a court can allow attorneys to access sensitive information. this is, they're allowed to do that and frankly at this point, there's no option for parents to

opt out of that. >> it's my understanding that fewer than ten people on the plaintiffs' side will see this information, but, again, how do you keep that information safe? they will have all of the sensitive data including social security numbers. what guarantees are in place? >> the judge has put several protective orders in place in terms of a special magistrate, a special security person that they have brought in to the case to ensure that the data is completely secure, but as we all know, all of those security measures, whether it's at a department store or online, has not ever fully prevented the leak of information or access from hackers or other faults. >> so this actually touchesen 0 the broader issue of data security. right? we're living in an era lots of information is stored on multiple computers at school districts, at district and state offices. how safe is that information? >> well, i think that raises some serious questions. i mean, we all fill out our

forms, our emergency contact forms and all of the papers we turn in and we turn it in often to a school secretary. that information is filed away at the school, at the district, at the state, and a lot of people have access to that information. i'm not saying it's not secure but i think there is certainly, whatever information we have, whether it's our bank accounts, social security numbers or children's information, i think that there are big question s o how safe this information is. >> is there something in place focusing on just protecting the data? >> they do. every department does. every district does. they all have security teams but we've seen some of the biggest corporations in the nation with some of the best security experts. >> sure. target, amazon. >> leak our information. you get the notices in the mail that your information has been compromised. i think it's a little scarier when we're talking ak childrbou children and i think that's why we've seen such a gut reaction from parents out in the community. they do not want their child's address and social security

number in the hands of anyone that shouldn't have it. >> quickly, what happens next in this lawsuit? >> so the attorneys are still negotiating how they're going to get this information. the state department of education is still vigorously fighting this lawsuit and they don't want to turn over any information. so i think there's still a little bit of battle. no information has been turned over to date. so -- >> the legal wrangling continues? >> absolutely. we'll be on top of that. >> jill tucker, thank you. next week a new era is set to begin in sacramento at assemblyman sworn in at the 70th speaker of the california assembly. with new term members allowing you to remain in office up to 12 years, he has a chance to remain the speaker for a better of a decade. learning more about the man that landed one of the state's most powerful jobs. >> all in favor of electing assembly member anthony residenten as the 70th speaker of the california state assembly

signify saying aye. >> people outside of your district may not know you as well as they do down in los angeles. what should people know about you? who are you? >> grew up in southern california. no stranger to the bay. lived in san francisco a couple years. worked in oakland, native son of california. went to the state's community college system, cal state system, uc system. so i'm somebody who knows california and has really benefited if the state's institutions. >> look the al your bio, you're not a fast starter in high school. i think i read your grade point average, 0.83. >> 0.83. right. >> so what happened? >> i was not a very engaged student. i didn't grow up in a community where the schools were all that great, to be honest. i grew up in a community where i don't think education was valued that highly. i didn't know a lot of people when i went to high school that went to college. used to take the bus past

community college every morning, 8:00 a.m. after working the graveyard shift, look out, see the kids going into the school and tuition was $5 a semester back then. community college, just a very, very different reality. so i benefited from that. >> what was it that shifted or who got you motivated to start thinking about klemp and getting serious about education? >> i think a couple of things. i had an older sister who did go to college. the first in our family to go to college. she certainly played a significant role. when i was 19, 20 years old i'd never read a book in my life cover to cover. she kept putting a copy of "brothers -- in my room. i saw it, didn't know what it was. just on my desk. the next day moved it to my nightstand. getting closer and closer. next day on top of my pillow. i thought i better pick it up and read it obviously she's trying to send me a message. that type of sort of positive role model that have an impact. >> so it was the first book you've read?

a little intimidating. >> brothers k. yeah. the interesting thing, turned out actually an abridged version of that book. she made me read the complete version the next year. >> the ayes have it. [ applause ] >> what have you learned growing up in a working class family you'll take with you in this new job at speaker? >> being an 'ably maker, ledge straighter can be about straust. we deal with programs not people. inners it of billions of dollars top to have real-life experiences not only in my family growing up, also running nonprofit organizations for 20 years. to be able to harkin back to those memories and those families we served is something that's really valuable to me, i think. >> you are taking over as speaker after years and years of a revolving doering speakerships because of term limits. you could be around for quite a while. what's on your short list. >> addressing poverty and mechanisms for dealing with

poverty. as a democrat i believe we haven't done a good job of talking about it let alone dealing with. it things like minimum wage is important to me. health care is very important to me. addressing the housing crisis is very important to me as well. specific to the minimum wage, more than half of california is already at $15, because of various local ordinances, and it just doesn't seem fair to some communities that they pay higher wages than others. if anything, getting the entire state to $15 an hour is something that will level>)7d t playing field for businesses. >> if you're a business in fresno, my workers don't have the same cost of living as yours do in southern california. should there be a regionally different minimum wage? >> those who represent fresno and bakersfield made those arguments. it's something we'll look at. not closed to that idea. >> legislators, people with lots of money, lobbyists, businesses trying to distract you from the goals and think about issues the way they want you to. >> yep. >> how will you keep your eye on

the ball? >> i represent nine cities. i represent the city of linwood, which a couple years ago had the second highest unemployment rate rate in the country just behind pontiac, michigan. focus back not on the lobbyist in your office but the people in the district, that's who we're here to serve. >> when you become speakers both leaders, and the senator pro tem, latino men from southern california. what's the significance of that? >> it's significant because it's the first time it's happened. second question we should be asking, is it good? and kevin and i are people who work with every caucus, people who work with diverse communities. >> some folks up north might think their interests aren't going to be addressed by two people, two leaders, from southern california. what would you say to them? >> water bond is a perfect example of that. if there's anything in california that divides us in any way, it's the issue of water.

no way you'll get a water bond through. i offered it, worked on it 18 months and able to get it through. >> the la tain oh caucus has grown tremendously in the past 20 years eclipse the african-american caucus and there is tension between the two groups in the legislature and in congress as well. in california. what are your thoughts about that? >> interesting. there was a story recently in the sacramento v, ethnic tension ripping apart the assembly and a picture of me hugging an african-american man who i endorsed for congress who's endorsed me in every office i've ever run for. i think a lot of that is ebb overplayed. >> thank you for the honor you have gishen me. >> becoming speaker at a time when there's a lot of anger among voters. we hear it in the presidential election, seen it at the convention here in san jose. people want bankers to go to jail and that kind of thing. what can you say to those folks you're going to be looking ot for them as well? the people who feel left out? >> i think a lot of those questions, a lot of the issues relating to anger totally understood. totally understandable.

it's our job to address those through oversight and legislation. >> what do you do for fun? last question. >> i'm a big runner. i like to listen to music. i love art. my first job in a contemporary art museum and i love to read. >> what kind of music do you like? >> i like punk. >> like a renaissance man. >> ah, yeah. various interests. >> good luck. thank you so much. >> i appreciate it. thanks so much. she's fought fires, flown planes and scaled theó/7( golde state bridge in her new book, recounting most memorable adventures and mishaps and now passing along lessons learned to help young girls conquer their fears and joins me now. welcome, caroline. >> hi. thanks so much for having me. i'm really excited. >> of course. i was reading your book. you detail various adventures you've had from climbing the golden state bridge to scuba diving as a firefighter. spent a large part of your career as a firefighter but scuba diving searching for a

dead body in the bay and you write about all of this in a really light, breezy style intended for girls ages 7 to 11. why that particular age group? >> well, i think we've sort of overlooked that age group when talking about helping, a lot of books on, for teens now and about teens and a lot of books for women, play big, but so this will -- this is an age group we haven't really talked to yet, and, also, they're at the perfect age now before they hit the pressures are looking really, having to look really pretty and having to be very nice, and having to be perfect, and that -- they still want to do the rough and tumble things. i think this is the time they'll listen to a book like this. >> you were one of the first women in the san francisco fire department. this is back in 1989. right? how did you get into that? and what was that experience like? >> well, i loved being a

firefighter. it's so appealing to the adventure side, and i saw so many men and women being brave and it was a great life lesson, because you were with people at some of the most important times of their life. they were often sick or dying, or their house was on fire. >> hmm. but you study the communications at stanford and were going to about journalist. how did that pivot from that to fire fighting? >> pretty abrupt. i actually worked as a radio station in berkeley and a lot of stories came across my desk about the racism in the fire department and i wanted to do an undercover story and went and took the test. race inch and sexism is never that obvious. you can't pinpoint it in the time it takes to take a test. i had no story, but i realized as i was going through the procedure that, in the process that it really, really suited my

personality. and obviously an exciting adventurous life. >> but were there experiences that you experienced as a firefighter in the way people treated you or addressed you that prompted you to write this book? >> yeah. i think -- first of all, there were definitely questions about a woman's physical ability to do this job, and which i completely understood, because up until that point, you know, a lot of women had not been encouraged to do physical things. there was a lot of good reason for that. title 9 had just come about in the '70s. we didn't have a good bench of really fit women. so i understood. i, myself, was very fit. i was an olympic hopeful in a luge and had been a rower in college. but what really surprised me was when people questioned my courage. >> hmm. >> and the fact that i wanted to be as brave as the men and do dangerous things. and i think that prompted,

helped prompt me to write the book because, in fact, women are brave. >> in fact, you wrote a "new york times" op-ed on this issue about how girls are conditioned to be fearful and how that sets girls back. how are girls being conditioned to fear things and be scared? >> i think -- they have studies that show we caution our girls way more than we do our boys. and they actually had a, a study that used a fire pole, ironically where it showed that moms and dads both cautioned their daughters against using the pole, and if the daughters still decided they wanted to play on the equipment, theeç7 parents were way more likely to help them. whereas with their sons, they simply encouraged their sons to try something new and do it on their own. >> so, then, how does that manifest itself later in life, do you think? that fearful nature? >> well, i thinkqc-t you grow u thinking that you can't necessarily do things for

yourself. and you also use fear a lot as a reason not to do things, because, you know, parents are just trying to protect their kids. and so i completely sympathize with that, but they're also trying to protect their boys. so why are they treating their girls differently? seems we have an inner bias that girls are more fragile than boys. especially at that age and the irony is, developmentally, girls are actually stronger and, or as strong, and as able as boys. >> so then how do we go about correcting that? >> well, i think as parents, we need to look at our biases, and see that we really do treat our girls differently than boys, because i they will come as a surprise. but i remember years ago friends of mine lamented that their girl was a scaredy-cat, and after that i -- i noticed that the parents were actually the ones

constantly telling her, no. don't do that. be careful. and sort of instilling this idea that everything was scary. >> hmm. >> and with boys, what we do is, we instill, we ask them to access their bravery, and i think that the world is the same for girls and boys but we ask the boys to access their bravery, let's start doing that with girls. >> interesting. let's take another look at your book here. her book "the gutsy girl." any readings coming up locally? just came out this week, your book? >> yes. i'm reading tomorrow at the booksmith, which is saturday, and then -- >> at the hague in san francisco. >> yes, and then next week. >> and quickly, a fun bit of trivia about you. you have a twin sister. >> yes. >> and she's an actress? >> yes. >> on "baywatch." >> she was, yeah. >> if you look familiar -- to all of the folks out there. >> that's why. yep. exactly. you can congratulate her on her new book. >> yes. that's right. caroline paul good to have you in. >> thank you so much.

i'm thuy vu, thanks so much for watching. for all of kqed news coverage, please go to kqednews.org.

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