Olympian's Death Puts Focus on Maternal Mortality

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Good morning!

We have some good news and bad news this week when it comes to the economy.

The good news: Data shows that inflation is at about 4%, its lowest level in two years.

The bad news: It’s still a higher than the 2% target that economists are hoping for.

The good news: The Federal Reserve decided to take a break Wednesday and NOT raise interest rates. That ends a string of 10 consecutive rate hikes, as they try to gradually bring down inflation without starting a recession.

The bad news: The Fed signaled it may have to raise rates another two times this year as inflation stays stubbornly high.

So, it appears there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we are still driving through it.

Mo News will keep tabs on the rest of the trip for you—

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🗞 AMERICA’S RISING MATERNAL DEATH RATES

The death of world champion sprinter and three-time Olympic medalist Tori Bowie from complications of childbirth is shining a much-needed light on rising maternal death rate in America, particularly amongst Black women.

WHAT HAPPENED
The 32-year-old start athlete, who was once the fastest woman in the world, was found dead at her home in Florida last month after authorities were called to conduct a wellness check. She hadn’t been heard from in several days.

The Orange County Medical Examiner's Office released an autopsy Wednesday, which indicated that Bowie was 8 months pregnant and alone at home, undergoing labor at the time of her death. The report cited "possible complications," including respiratory distress and eclampsia, a rare high blood pressure that can cause seizures. The baby she was carrying, a girl, was stillborn.

The autopsy report listed the weight for Bowie, who was 5’9”, as 96 pounds.

Her agent, Kimberly Holland, said that when she would ask Bowie whether she going to her prenatal appointments, Bowie brushed her off and said she didn’t want to have her baby in the hospital. She added that Bowie didn’t trust doctors: “She wanted to make sure that the baby was gonna be okay with her being in control.”

PART OF A BIGGER PROBLEM
The number of women who die during or shortly after childbirth in the United States is higher than any other wealthy industrialized nation. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy appear to be on the rise in the US, as well.

• When broken down by race, Black women are three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes, according to the CDC. They also lead all other racial and ethnic groups in preterm births.

As fellow runner Tianna Madison writes in this Instagram post, “THREE (3) of the FOUR (4) of us who ran on the SECOND fastest 4x100m relay of all time, the 2016 Olympic Champions have nearly died or died in childbirth.”

Allyson Felix, seen the photo above, suffered from life-threatening pre-eclampsia while 32 weeks pregnant and had to give birth via emergency c-section. She has launched an initiative to raise awareness about the issue.

WHAT GIVES?
A recent Associated Press series looked at why so many Black women die in pregnancy. One reason: Doctors don't take them as seriously. The AP says it’s “a reflection of the medical racism, bias and inattentive care that Black Americans endure.”

Additionally, “Black babies are more likely to die, and also far more likely to be born prematurely, setting the stage for health issues that could follow them through their lives.”

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⏳ SPEED READ

📌 President Biden and Texas Governor Abbott are each running their own operation to handle migrants at the southern border, pulling thousands of National Guard troops in dueling directions (THE HILL)

📌 U.S. Secretary of State to meet with top Chinese officials in Beijing next week (NEW YORK TIMES)

📌 Kevin Spacey blames the media for turning him “into a monster” and claims people are lining up to hire him if he is found not guilty in his UK sexual assault trial (VARIETY)

📌 More than 23 million people are in the path of a rare outbreak of severe thunderstorms and strong tornadoes (FOX WEATHER)

📌 Most women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will become long-term survivors: ‘Their prognosis has improved so much’ (FORTUNE)

📌 Starbucks ordered to pay former employee $26 million who says she was fired for bring white (PHILLY INQUIRER)

📌 Bud Light Out: US has new top selling beer for first time in 22 years (WALL STREET JOURNAL)

📌 A dozen large eggs cost $2.67 on average in May, down from $3.27 in April — and way below the January peak of $4.82 (AXIOS)

📌 Beyonce is taking heat for fueling stubbornly high inflation in Sweden (POLITICO)

📌 Canadian fire smoke is back in the U.S., as air quality tanks in Minnesota (WASHINGTON POST)

📌 New commercial jets will be required to have secondary barriers to the cockpit to protect pilots (AP)

📌 UPS drivers to get air conditioned trucks for the first time (NBC)

📌 Scientists discover one of Saturn’s moons has all the ingredients needed to produce life (NATGEO)

🗓 ON THIS DAY: JUNE 15

• 1215: King John of England affixed his seal to the Magna Carta. The document enshrined the idea that a king is not above the law, and inspired the development of our very own US Constitution.

• 1844: Charles Goodyear receives patent for the chemical process for making rubber.

• 1992: U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle instructed a student to spell "potato" with an "e" on the end during a spelling bee. He had reportedly relied on a faulty flash card that had been written by the student's teacher. The VP would never hear the end of it.

🎂 And a happy birthday to actor Neil Patrick Harris, who turns 50 years old today. The Emmy, Oscar and Tony winner is just a Grammy short of becoming an EGOT!