Mark Kamitomo

Mark Kamitomo, a Gonzaga University graduate, was elected president of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) at a recent annual convention held in Whistler, B.C., Canada.

Kamitomo is the first Japanese American to be elected president of WSAJ. Kamitomo’s past awards includes Trial Lawyer of the Year and Washington Super Lawyers. Kamitomo specializes in medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and personal injury for the Markam Group in Spokane. ♦

By John Huthmacher
Hastings Tribune

KENESAW, Neb. (AP) — Never in a million years did Kenesaw resident Woodrow “Woody” Rossell imagine that he would ever reunite with the young Filipino boy he befriended during World War II. Read the full story

By Lisa Leff
The Associated Press

Ed Lee

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As interim mayor of San Francisco, veteran civil servant Edwin Lee enjoyed several advantages that kept him safe in a city where the politics can be as punishing as the undulating streets.

But in the five minutes it took him to take out election papers and reverse his pledge not to seek the mayor’s post this November, political observers say Lee may have sacrificed the very safeguards that have made him the instant frontrunner in a crowded field, which includes his ability to get along with the famously fractious Board of Supervisors, his reputation as an unassuming bureaucrat, and his capacity to focus on running the city instead of campaigning. Read the full story

The KAC-WA team grills up the winning kalbi (Photo by Matthew Benuska)

The Korean American Coalition of Washington (KAC-WA), the Korean American Bar Association (KABA), and the Korean American Health Professional Association (KAHPA) held the third annual Kalbi Beef BBQ Cookoff Competition at the Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island. Read the full story

Artists, musicians, and Sometimes Astronauts band members at the Canton Alley Art Exhibit (Photo provided by Dean Wong)

This year, Sun May Company hosted the Canton Alley Art Exhibit in the International District. This year’s exhibit included artists Eun-Young Wan, Carina del Rosario, Gary Tang, Dean Wong, Jeff Wendland, the band Sometimes Astronauts, and others. Read the full story

SoYoung Kwon

SoYoung Kwon has been appointed committee chair of Celebrate Asia!, a benefit concert that celebrates and promotes a mélange of traditional music from Korea, Japan, India, and China along with Western music.

As a University of Washington and Willamette University graduate, Kwon has previously worked as an attorney at Graham & Dunn and a senior corporate counselor at Safeco Corporation. Currently, Kwon is general counsel, corporate secretary, and vice president of human resources at Onvia, Inc. ♦

Danielle Kang

BARRINGTON, R.I. (AP) — Danielle Kang became the first player in 15 years to successfully defend the U.S. Women’s Amateur title, beating Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn 6 and 5 last Sunday, Aug. 14, in the 36-hole final in rainy and windy conditions at Rhode Island Country Club. Read the full story

By David Wivell and Christopher Bodeen
The Associated Press

DALIAN, China (AP) — Chinese authorities’ swift decision to close and move an urban chemical factory after weekend street protests underscores the ruling Communist Party’s fear of alienating the increasingly outspoken middle class. Read the full story

Gary Locke and Joe Biden at the White House in 2009 (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

Vice President Joe Biden has departed for Beijing, China, the first stop on a nine-day trip to China, Mongolia, and Japan. In each country, Biden will meet with key leaders to discuss the full range of bilateral, regional, and international issues. Read the full story

By Binaj Gurubacharya
The Associated Press

NARAYANGHAT, Nepal (AP) — Hundreds of gay, lesbian, and transgender people marched with supporters in a southern Nepal town to demand equal rights under a new constitution the country is writing. Read the full story

U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke orders coffee at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Photo provided by ZhaoHui Tang)

SEATTLE (AP) — A photo of the new U.S. ambassador to China carrying his own backpack and ordering his own coffee at an airport has charmed Chinese citizens not used to such frugality from their officials.

ZhaoHui Tang, a businessman from Bellevue snapped the photo Friday on his iPhone when he spotted Gary Locke at the counter of an airport Starbucks on Aug. 12. Locke is the first Chinese-American ambassador to China and a former governor of Washington state.

Tang uploaded the photo to the Chinese social media network Sina Weibo because he thought it was cool to run into the new ambassador at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

He didn’t expect it to generate 40,000 reposts and thousands of comments.

“This is something unbelievable in China,” said Tang, a Chinese American citizen. “Even for low-ranking officials, we don’t do things for ourselves. Someone goes to buy the coffee for them. Someone carries their bags for them.” Read the full story

International Community Health Services (ICHS), which operates medical-dental clinics in the International District and at Holly Park, will close its clinics one day a month because of significant cuts in state funding. Read the full story

By Sarah Gerdes
For Northwest Asian Weekly

The Kim Sisters featured in Life Magazine

Before Tiger Woods, Margaret Cho, and Michelle Wie, there were the Kim Sisters.

Few Americans know the Kim Sisters, arguably one of the most talented and internationally recognized musical acts for generations, were the preeminent female act of the 1960s. Their sold-out shows rivaled those of Sammy Davis Jr., Sinatra, and later in the 70s and 80s, Elvis and John Travolta.

Now, the story of Sue Kim, the lead singer of the group, is being featured in a book and film. As the writer of her authorized biography, and executive producer on the movie adaptation, I am privileged to share her story. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

From left: Former Gov. Mike Lowry, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Ruthann Kurose, former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, and his wife, Constance (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

The guest list of Ruthann Kurose’s surprise 60th birthday party was a Who’s Who in politics. The party was held at the house of former Mayor Norm Rice and his wife, Constance. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

Guests at the WASITRAC event (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

On Aug. 15, a group of Indian Americans were celebrating India’s 64th Independence Day at Il Terrazzo Carmine. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

From left: Robert Wang, Gary Locke, wife Mona and kids

When I switched on the television news this Saturday morning, it was great to see two former Seattleites so visible in China. Robert Wang, a 1972 University of Washington alum, was among the U.S. embassy delegation welcoming Ambassador Locke and his family at the Beijing airport.

Wang, who is number two at the embassy, was in charge of the embassy before Locke’s arrival. ♦