President Obama announced on Nov. 16 that Minoru “Min” Yasui will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Minoru Yasui was a civil and human rights activist best known for his U.S. Supreme Court Case questioning the constitutionality of curfews imposed on Japanese American citizens during World War II. Cases […]
ICHS honored with award for excellence in health care
Gov. Jay Inslee has named International Community Health Services (ICHS) winner of the 2015 Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care. The annual award, which was established by the state legislature in 1994, identifies and honors health care providers and facilities in Washington state who exhibit exceptional quality and value in the delivery […]
Director Sheila Burrus chosen as APEC Summit delegate
Filipino Community of Seattle Executive Director Sheila Burrus has been chosen as the official White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders delegate to attend the Asian Pacific Economic Council (APEC) Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 16-18. Initiated in the Philippines in 1996, the APEC CEO Summit is a business forum that focuses […]
Inslee appoints Pacholke as Secretary of Corrections
Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Dan Pacholke to serve as the new Secretary of Corrections for the State of Washington, effective Oct. 17. Pacholke, whose mother is Japanese American, served as the Deputy Secretary for the department, and has more than 32 years of experience with the agency. Since 2014, in his role as Deputy […]
Former foes, vets of UK, Japan shake hands
By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — In 1944, the two men were in northeastern India as foes, fighting one of the harshest battles of World War II between Japan and Britain. More than 70 years later, they shook hands and sipped tea in Tokyo earlier this month. Roy Welland, 94, a former British […]
South Koreans sue government over farm slavery
By Kim Tong-Hyung Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Eight men who had been held as slaves at South Korean salt farms for several years took the government to court on Friday for alleged negligence and police inaction they say largely caused and prolonged their ordeal. In the lawsuit filed at Seoul Central District […]
Tweaking traditions — Americans abroad celebrate holidays
By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press In our global world, you can easily buy a Thanksgiving turkey for roasting in Dubai or Beijing or Tokyo. You also can shop for Christmas trees in Bangkok, where stores play Christmas carols throughout December, a constant reminder that Santa Claus can come to town even when you’re 8,000 miles […]
Suit claims violations at Chinese agencies, restaurants in Illinois
By Sophia Tareen Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office announced a federal lawsuit Nov. 13 against three Chinatown employment agencies and two suburban restaurants, alleging wide-ranging wage and civil rights violations of immigrant and Latino workers in the Chicago area. The complaint alleges the agencies sought out Latinos for employment […]
Racketeering defendant to testify during his trial
By Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A defendant in a San Francisco racketeering case will take the stand at his trial as prosecutors accuse him of ordering the killing of a rival before taking over his organization in Chinatown. Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow is a reformed criminal whose testimony will be the […]
COMMENTARY: Acknowledging the horror of all attacks
By Andrew Russell For Northwest Asian Weekly I understand why so many people I know are upset about what happened [Nov.13]–Paris is a place many of us have been to, and the people who died were doing things that we’ve all done before (eat in restaurants, go to concerts). It’s relatively easy to relate to […]