The state's highest court has upheld a law in which a second DUI within seven years can cost some Washington residents their right to possess a gun.

The big picture: Thursday's ruling shows how state courts are applying United States v. Rahimi — a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld some firearm restrictions for those found to pose a danger to others — to other categories of people.

• The state ruling affirmed one of Washington's newer firearm restrictions.

The decision is drawing the ire of gun rights advocates in the state.

• Dave Workman of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation told Axios many people won't learn they are prohibited from possessing firearms until they seek to purchase a gun, apply for a concealed pistol license or undergo a background check.
• King County had 2,258 of the state's recorded 22,222 DUI filings in 2025, with 2,318 in Pierce County and 2,642 in Snohomish County.

Driving the news: In a 5-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court upheld a 2023 law barring firearm possession for people convicted of two qualifying DUI-related offenses within seven years.

• The challenge was brought by two Spokane-area men who were denied concealed pistol licenses because of their DUI records.

What they said: Writing for the majority, Justice Steven González concluded the law fits within the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.

• The majority pointed to historical restrictions involving dangerous individuals, people convicted of serious crimes and regulations aimed at preventing the combination of alcohol and firearms.
• "Taken together, our nation's history of limiting the firearms rights of those who have been convicted of serious crimes and those who have a history of dangerous use of intoxicants ... is sufficient justification for the regulation here," González wrote.

The other side: Four justices dissented, arguing the state failed to show that repeat DUI convictions justify restricting a constitutional right.

• "The majority does not adequately explain why DUI convictions create a 'plausible' expectation of potential, future firearm misuse or why the conclusion that a person who drives under the influence will one day misuse firearms is anything more than speculative," Justice G. Helen Whitener wrote.

What's next: The ruling adds another data point to the ongoing legal debate over when people can be temporarily disarmed under the Second Amendment.

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Seattle has been snubbed in the James Beard Awards — again.

Why it matters: The awards are considered the food industry's highest honor — the Oscars of the culinary world.

• The last time a Seattle chef or restaurant won was in 2020.

Catch up quick: Two Seattle chefs — Johnny Courtney of Atoma and Aaron Tekulve of Surrell — were nominated for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific.

• The regional award, which covers Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, ended up going to Ryan Roadhouse of Portland's Nodoguro last night.

Context: Atoma, which opened in Wallingford in 2023, is known for creative dishes like its rosettes (a fried cookie filled with creamy cheese and onion jam) and playful takes on baked Alaska (a classic dessert).

• Surrell, a restaurant in Madison Valley, serves up multicourse tasting menus focused on Northwest ingredients.

More than a dozen other semifinalists from Seattle and Washington state also got knocked out of the competition earlier this year.

What's next: There's always 2027.

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⚓️ Five Seattle teens are the youngest competitors in this year's Race to Alaska, a 750-mile sailing contest between Port Townsend and Ketchikan. (KUOW)

🤖 The Seattle Fire Department has been using an AI tool to help dispatchers decide which 911 calls need a rapid response — without telling callers the technology is listening in. (Seattle Times)

🏪 West Marine filed for bankruptcy and says it plans to close five Washington stores, a shakeup for boaters and waterfront communities. (Seattle Times)

🔌 More than 3,000 people and businesses lost power in north Seattle yesterday while a heat advisory was in effect. (FOX 13)

Pioneer Square and Sodo were packed with soccer fans yesterday as Seattle hosted its first FIFA World Cup match of the summer.

• The match between Belgium and Egypt ended in a 1-1 draw.

After the match let out in the afternoon, crowds flooded the Pioneer Square light rail station. Transit security workers did their best to make sure none of the visitors accidentally boarded a train to Redmond instead of the airport, or vice versa.

• One of the station's escalators was out of order yesterday, giving out-of-towners the true Seattle transit experience.

Other fans lingered. People outfitted in Belgium and Egypt gear lined up for sandwiches at Salumi, sipped coffee at Caffe Umbria and waited in line for pastries at The Pastry Project.

Some watched the tournament on giant screens set up at Occidental Mall and Pacific Place, among other locations.

Seattle hosts its next match Friday, when the U.S. team will play Australia at noon.

Yesterday was the first time Seattle weather has ever caused my iPhone to overheat. So I ducked into Gloom Coffee — and found that they've started serving their new line of nonalcoholic cocktails.

I'm normally iffy on cocktails that include espresso (if I want coffee, I'll order one, all right?) But Gloom's Supersonic Espresso Tonic is a must-order on a hot day.

Brandon Weaver, one of Gloom's owners, told me he uses the husks of limes to make the sage lime cordial that forms the base of the drink.

• The result is an unexpected mix of pear, citrus and coffee that's especially refreshing.

You can also get coffee-free cocktails. The (Head Shoulders) Bees and Toes — a carbonated concoction of elderflower honey, lavender butterfly pea flower tea, and pseudo lemon — was the perfect antidote to the sweaty World Cup crowds outside.