Daily Skimm: Fort Hood, France, and The Cheese Tax

Fort Hood

The Story

The Army's investigating the death of another female soldier.

What happened?

Earlier this week, Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz was found dead at Fort Hood. The 21-year-old combat engineer had been serving at the Texas Army base for more than a year. Her death comes after she reportedly told family that she was being sexually harassed by a superior and others at the base. Now, Army officials say they don't suspect "foul play" but will continue investigating the circumstances of her death. It's reigniting a conversation about what's happening at Fort Hood.

Go on.

In 2020, Spc. Vanessa Guillén disappeared shortly after telling her family she was sexually harassed...also by a superior. Months after Guillén went missing, authorities found her remains about 30 miles outside of Fort Hood. The soldier accused of attacking her died by suicide as officials investigated. Guillén’s death led other service members to share their experiences with sexual harassment and assault. As for Fort Hood? A 2020 independent review found a “permissive environment for sexual assault and harassment" at the base. Fort Hood's also had a string of other deaths and disappearances.

Has anything changed?

In 2021, Congress passed the “I Am Vanessa Guillén Act." The law reforms how the military investigates sexual violence by removing commanders from investigations. It also aims to protect survivors from retaliation. However, sexual harassment and assault continues to be a problem in the military, especially at Fort Hood. A 2021 report found that women at the Texas base have a higher risk of sexual assault than the average woman in the Army.

theSkimm

For years, Fort Hood has been mirred in controversy over officials' treatment of servicewomen at the base. Now, the loss of another young life has people calling on the military to do something.

And Also...This

Where tensions are rising…

France. Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron used special constitutional powers to pass his controversial pension plan. Macron wants to raise the retirement age for most workers from 62 to 64. He argues the change is necessary because retirees are living longer and the pension system is on the verge of collapse. Since January, hundreds of thousands of people have protested against the plan — many clashing with police. While the French Senate passed the bill yesterday, Macron knew his chances of getting the plan through the National Assembly were slim. So he did things his way by passing the bill without a vote from the lower house. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the gov “cannot gamble on the future of our pensions.” But critics, including the country’s union, called the changes “brutal.” Now, Macron could face a vote of no-confidence from opposition lawmakers as soon as Monday, putting his pension bill at risk.

Where there are questions…

Virginia. That's where seven deputies and three hospital employees are facing second-degree murder charges in the death of a 28-year-old Black man. Earlier this month, police said they approached Irvo Otieno as a “potential suspect” when responding to a burglary call. Police allegedly took him into emergency custody after signs of mental health distress and later transferred him to a hospital, where Otieno died three days later. A lawyer representing Otieno's family said the 28-year-old was handcuffed and had his legs shackled during the hospital intake process. Video apparently showed seven officers holding him to the ground for about 12 minutes. Now, attorneys say he died of “asphyxia due to being smothered.” Otieno's family said he was “treated like a dog, worse than a dog” and that the officers had “no [regard] for his human life.” In a statement, officials said that Otieno had become “combative during the admission process.” The 10 people who've been charged are scheduled for a grand jury hearing next week.

What's still a problem in the US...

Maternal mortality rates. Yesterday, a CDC report revealed that rates went up 40% in 2021 compared to the previous year. That’s about 33 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The US — one of the wealthiest countries in the world — has seen a rise in the maternal death rate for years, despite medical advancements. It's worse for Black women, who are nearly three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. The report didn't give a reason for this higher death rate, but health officials say COVID is partly to blame. Now, the CDC reportedly says the 2022 maternal death rate is on track to get close to pre-pandemic levels.

What's not all it's cracked up to be...

Coconut milk. Earlier this month, HelloFresh said it'll stop buying Thai coconut milk this summer and will find a new supplier. This, after a PETA report found that monkeys in Thailand are abused and used to harvest coconuts.

What's not helping the wealth gap…

FIFA. Yesterday, it said the prize money for this year’s Women’s World Cup will be more than $150 million. That's up more than 300% from 2019, but it's still about a third of what the men got last year. Red card.

Who had us up 'til midnight...

Taylor Swift.

What’s helping us pay up the ‘cheese tax’...

Kraft Singles.

What women are doing to deal with their slacker male partners...

Sending this to a man.