Top Stories: New Bellingham park; murder plea; what to know about glyphosate

The Bellingham Herald covered a mix of community planning, crime and environmental news on Monday. Here is a quick digest of the day’s top stories.

Here are key takeaways:

• Bellingham is planning a 29-acre park on East Bakerview Road that will include trails, stream restoration and a 3.5-acre parcel reserved for affordable housing. Residents can suggest names through May 28, with construction set to begin in 2027.
• Michael Steven Daniels Jr., 48, pleaded not guilty Monday to seven felonies, including first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Jordan Cernich in Ferndale on Friday. A commissioner ordered Daniels held without bail after prosecutors said the shooting appeared planned, citing a suppressed handgun and ammunition found at his residence.
• The Bellingham Parks Department is using small, targeted amounts of glyphosate to control deep-rooted weeds in city parks, including along Padden Creek near Fairhaven Park. City officials say licensed staff apply the herbicide under a plan modeled on the county’s vegetation management program, though a 2022 study found exposure can induce neurotoxic effects.

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.