Asian American woman becomes two-time cheese-rolling champ

Hello and good morning! It’s Friday, May 31st. Here’s some of what you need to know in our community today:

This day in history

In 1921, mobs of white residents looted and set fire to the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as America’s “Black Wall Street.” The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre nearly destroyed the area and is believed to have killed up to 300 people, with up to 10,000 Black residents left homeless.

Animals

The US to welcome new giant pandas

Bao Li, a 2-year-old male whose name means “treasure” and “energetic” in Mandarin, and Qing Bao, a 2-year-old female whose name means “green” and “treasure,” will arrive at the Smithsonian's National Zoo by the end of the year, the Smithsonian Institution and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden announced on Wednesday. They will be the first pandas to land in the U.S. after the departure of the last four in Zoo Atlanta.

• Upon the pandas’ arrival, the zoo will relaunch its Giant Panda Cam, a dedicated webcam that went offline last November with the return of its last three pandas to China.

• The zoo is seeking $25 million in donations to be used for the next 10 years for renovations to the panda habitats, conservation research and ongoing program costs.

Sports

Asian American woman becomes two-time cheese-rolling champ

Abby Lampe, who won her first Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling competition title in 2022, endured some cuts and bruises to win the women's division of the event for the second time in three years on Monday.

• The highly dangerous competition, whose 2023 race Lampe skipped, involves chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down an extremely steep hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England. The annual event, known for its high risk of injury, attracts competitors from around the world.

News

Mixed Asian fifth-grader “segregated” by peers

Kathryn Kelley was shocked to learn that her son, who is of half-Asian descent and attends Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy in Alexandria, Virginia, was discriminatorily excluded by white students. She told News4 that her son tried to stand up for students of color who were allegedly being teased about their race and class by white students.

• The school’s principal acknowledged the “inappropriate game” the students played in a letter to parents, attributing it to a "role play of a social studies lesson," a response that Kelly criticized. The principal said the school plans to incorporate lessons into the curriculum that teach students to think about their actions before acting. The principal did not reveal whether the students involved were disciplined.

Space

South Korea aims to plant its flag on Mars

The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) launched on Monday with plans to send its first lunar rover by 2032 and plant South Korea’s flag on the Red Planet by 2045.

• On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a total investment of 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) for space exploration. He also said he will work to designate May 27 — the founding of KASA — as “Aerospace Day.”

• By 2027, the country plans to boost its space budget by 80% and hold at least three more space launches. The news comes amid recent efforts from other Asian nations to grow their space programs. 

Environmental

Japanese researchers build world’s first wooden satellite

Built based on a traditional Japanese technique that avoids screws or adhesives, the cube-shaped “LignoSat —which combines the words “ligno,” a prefix meaning wood, and “satellite” — was completed, developers announced on Tuesday. It measures 10 centimeters on each side and weighs about 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).

• The satellite comes after about four years of development by researchers at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry. It is made from magnolia — chosen for its strength and workability — and has a frame partly constructed from aluminum. It also has solar panels.

• LignoSat is expected to be launched in September aboard a SpaceX rocket. After being released from the International Space Station, it will send data back to researchers to test its strength, durability and environmental impact. The results will help in developing future wooden satellites.

Crime

“Bad Breath Rapist” arrested after 16-year chase

Tuen Kit Lee, a 55-year-old Massachusetts fugitive colloquially known as the “Bad Breath Rapist,” was arrested on Tuesday in Danville, California, after 16 years on the run. 

• Convicted of kidnapping and raping a young woman at knifepoint at her home in Quincy in 2005, Lee fled before the end of his 2007 trial. The media dubbed Lee as the “Bad Breath Rapist” because his victim identified him by his foul breath odor.

• Investigators connected social media images believed to be of Lee to a home in Diablo, California, confirming his identity through fingerprints. Lee is now held in the East Bay, awaiting extradition to Massachusetts.

News

Chinese American cop fired after FBI spy probe

Lieutenant Steven Li, an NYPD officer with over 20 years of service, was fired after a federal investigation revealed he assisted a Chinese national involved in “Operation Fox Hunt,” a program by China’s Ministry of Public Security that targets alleged Chinese fugitives for repatriation. 

• Li claims that he told the victim, whom he knew from community events, that he was a police officer and was merely facilitating communication for resolution, and not representing any party. Although he faced no criminal charges, Li was terminated for making “false statements” and for “failure to report” the FBI’s investigation about him to the NYPD. 

• Li is the second Chinese American NYPD officer to be fired over foreign-agent-related cases since 2008, following Baimadajie Angwang, who was dismissed for missing an internal interview despite charges against him being dropped. Li’s case, amid rising scrutiny of Chinese nationals in the U.S., has sparked concerns about potential bias in disciplinary actions against Chinese American officers.

Crime

Fontana, California man lands hate crime charge for attacking Asian woman

Jesse Allen Lindsey, 37, was charged with a federal hate crime on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting an Asian American woman in Culver City while shouting racial slurs at her in June 2021.   

• Lindsey, who is already in state prison on an unrelated conviction, reportedly attacked the victim, who he thought was a “Korean” man, after she declined to give him a lighter or cigarette. Lindsey allegedly followed the victim and hurled racial slurs, telling her “you don’t belong here,” before punching her in the face, causing her to fall and sustain head injuries.

• The victim sustained injuries requiring hospitalization and missed over a month of work. Lindsey fled the state upon learning of the hate crime investigation but is now in custody and will appear in federal court soon. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison for the hate crime.

News

California DA’s “Chinese name” plan mocked

California District Attorney Pamela Price canceled her plans to announce her "Chinese name" after drawing accusations of cultural appropriation and pandering. Initially set for Tuesday, the event was meant to coincide with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

• In the Bay Area, adopting Chinese names is a tradition among politicians who aim to forge closer ties with the local community. However, Price's strained relationship with the Asian community, including her refusal to commit to sentencing enhancements in cases with Asian victims, raised skepticism about her motives.

• Social media users largely perceived the event as a political stunt rather than a genuine gesture. Charles Huang of the National Asian Pacific Islanders Prosecutors Association suggested it was a tactic to garner support amidst recall efforts, while reporter Dion Lim initially questioned whether the announcement was “an April Fool's joke.”

More News

• Delhi hit with its hottest day ever?: India’s capital was reportedly hit by a scorching record temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius (126.1 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. This latest heat spike followed a high of 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 49.2 degrees Celsius (120.5 degrees Fahrenheit), which was recorded in May 2022. The India Meteorological Department, which is still working to verify the temps, noted that India’s heatwave is expected to subside starting Thursday.

  

• “Moana 2” trailer unveiled: On Wednesday, Disney released its first teaser trailer for “Moana 2,” featuring the titular protagonist, voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, setting off on another exciting adventure. “This is a call from the ancestors. To sail to new skies and reconnect our people across the entire ocean,” Moana says in the video. “Moana 2” premieres in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

  

• Smell that? The Rock’s record-breaking popularity: Dwayne Johnson set two Guinness World Records in April for being the most followed American man and the most followed actor on TikTok. He credits his success to authenticity, kindness and sharing life lessons. ”It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,” he wrote on X.

• Sony plans to launch an anime academy: Last week, Sony Group announced its plan to launch an anime academy aimed at nurturing anime creators in global markets. Leading the initiative will be Aniplex and Crunchyroll, with collaboration from across the industry.

Featured Posts

Until Tomorrow,

Alan Van