Top stories: Jail funding woes; civil commitment trial; English ivy; gas prices

The Bellingham Herald covered a range of news on May 5, 2026, from local government disputes to environmental warnings. Stories ranged from a contentious jail funding meeting to rising gas prices across the region.

Here are key takeaways:

• Whatcom County leaders clashed at a special meeting over a revised proposal capping the new jail budget at $205 million and the Behavioral Care Center at $34 million. County Executive Satpal Sidhu said he would not negotiate an updated Interlocal Agreement, calling the project “doomed to fail,” and the council pushed its vote to May 12.
• The civil commitment trial of Jake Unick, 41, began Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court, where the state is seeking to indefinitely commit him to McNeil Island Special Commitment Center as a sexually violent predator. Unick was convicted in 2014 of first-degree kidnapping and related charges stemming from 2013 incidents involving attempted abductions.
• English ivy was added to Washington’s quarantine list in August 2025, making it illegal to buy, sell or transport in the state. The plant outcompetes native species, kills trees by shading them out and can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
• Gas prices in Whatcom County climbed to an average of $5.60 per gallon, a 29-cent jump from April. Washington’s statewide average of $5.67 ranks third-highest in the country behind California and Hawaii — a position the state has held for seven consecutive months.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Top stories: Jail funding woes; civil commitment trial; English ivy; gas prices."