Gee and Ursula’s top stories: Coast Guardsman robbed, King County Judge reprimanded, and gas prices continue to decrease

KIRO Newsradio’s Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin bring you their top stories on Monday, July 11.

Coast Guardsman deployed to Seattle, loses everything to Tacoma thieves

A Coast Guardsman and his family got a very rude welcome to Washington. Thieves stole just about everything they owned, including the two vehicles that had all their belongings.

Bo Partsch tells KIRO 7 TV they had stopped at the Best Western Plus in south Tacoma Saturday night on their way to his new posting in Seattle. He had parked in a well-lit area outside the motel, but that didn’t stop thieves from taking everything, including his uniform.

It was a busy night for police as Partsch says it took six hours before officers responded. The family has set up a GoFundMe.

Judge admonished for implying man would be a ‘new best girlfriend’ in prison

A King County judge is under fire for suggesting that a defendant would be raped in prison if he didn’t change his behavior.

Judge Virginia Amato was handling a case involving a man charged with misdemeanor domestic violence assault and resisting arrest last August.

During his hearing, Judge Amato told the guy that he was setting himself up to be ‘Bubba’s new best girlfriend’ at the state penitentiary. Someone filed a complaint and the State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished her, saying the comment violated rules required of judges to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.

Amato admits her comments were insensitive and thoughtless, but says they were not motivated by bias or ill-will toward the defendant.

Gas prices finally dropping

You probably noticed it the last time you filled up, gas prices have been steadily falling over the past four weeks, from an average high of $5.70 a gallon to some locations now offering gas for $4.57 a gallon around the Puget Sound area.

Prices here are still higher than the national average, but they’ve been dropping consistently since June 15.

As of this past weekend, the lowest regular gas price around Tacoma is $4.57 a gallon. For people north of Seattle, the cheapest gas is closer to Smokey Point, at $4.59 to $4.69 a gallon.

It’s a good thing gas prices are going down because more and more people are driving on fumes and getting stuck on roads.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.