Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Jersey

• The President of the Jersey Farmers Union says struggling farming businesses will be hit by new measures to curb immigration to the island.
• Nearly £7,000 of public money was spent kennelling a dog while Jersey's court decided if it's a banned breed.
• A controversial states fund to support new businesses should be suspended according to Jersey's auditor general.

Guernsey

• A vote of no confidence in Guernsey's education committee was lost last night, by 22 votes to 13.
• Sark Vineyards announces it is to close
• Bus passenger figures are the highest they have been in 20 years, surging nine point seven five per cent above the 2015 figure.

BBC Weather

Cloud and rain, heavy at times, will be moving eastwards during the day, accompanied by strong winds, with gales in places. 

Rain will clear to scattered wintry showers during the evening, and it will feel colder, particularly in the strong north-westerly wind. 

It will be a cold night, with a mixture of clear spells and scattered wintry showers. It will be quite blustery, with a strong north-westerly wind, with gales around exposed windward coasts. 

Friday will see a mixture of sunny spells and scattered wintry showers. It will feel bitterly cold with a strong north-westerly wind. Maximum temperature: 6C (43F)

Jersey Evening Post

A damning new report has revealed a catalogue of failings in the way in which a fund which gave more than £2 million of taxpayers’ money to start-up companies was set up and handled, external.  

BBC Travel

Guernsey States-owned airline Aurigny says it is working on solutions to limit the impact of snow and strong winds due to hit the islands and the UK over the next few days.

The company says with London City Airport more vulnerable to adverse weather than other London airports, they have taken the decision to cancel the City flights on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Passengers on these flights can rebook on an alternative flight free of charge or cancel for a refund.

They have also cancelled the Friday morning flight between Guernsey and Manchester due to the forecast.  Flights to Gatwick may face delays but are due to operate.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

The owners of Sark Vineyards say they have "invested millions of pounds in the project, but they now fail to see any future in Sark or its economy".

Sark Estate Management, owned by the Barclay Brothers who live on neighbouring Brecqhou but run locally, says in its statement the authorities in Sark "have obstructed the vineyards’ progress throughout".

The statement said: "The decision of 5 October 2016 to introduce taxation of alcohol production itself, amounting to a tax on one industry only on Sark, severely undermines the future financial viability of the business."

Sark Vineyards has announced the closure of its business in Sark.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Guernsey's bus operator, CT Plus, has launched an internal investigation after a road user posted this video on Facebook showing a bus driving on the wrong side of the road and forcing other drivers on to the pavement.

BBC Travel

Channel Island ferry company, Condor, has cancelled its fast ferry sailings between Guernsey, Jersey, St Malo and Poole on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 January.

The company says the weather conditions were "in excess of the legal limits" for its high speed ferries. 

Condor says it has put extra staff into its reservations department to let passengers known and help re-book them or give a refund. 

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Jersey's Comptroller and Auditor General, Karen McConnell, has released a heavily critical report of a government backed innovation fund aimed at providing grants and loans for companies in the island.

Image source, Comptroller and Auditor General

Ms McConnell has hinted she may have uncovered criminality in outside parties which have dealt with the fund, which would force her to take her findings to prosecutors. 

Jersey's Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said the fund had been suspended and no money had been given to companies in 2016.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Jersey's archers at the 2017 Island Games will be boosted by the help of two coaches from the UK.

Archery GB coach Harry Heeley is to take charge of the recurve team while Midlands-based coach Phillippa Lowe is to look after the compound squad.

"It's fantastic for us to get that level of experience," veteran island archer Heath Perrett told BBC Jersey.

"They're people who've competed at national and international level who are coming and give us their support."

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Image source, La Societe Conservation Herd

Here's the perfect excuse to look at some baby cows.

These two calves are the latest additions to La Societe Conservation Herd.

The animals are raised to graze on nature reserves and States land to reduce the dominance of rough grasses and encourage wild flowers and insects.

Image source, La Societe Conservation Herd

Image source, La Societe Conservation Herd

BBC Travel

Four flights have been cancelled to and from Jersey Airport because of issues at other airports impacting on available slots, Ports of Jersey confirmed.

Airport authorities say the weather warning is not likely to impact any further flights and staff are monitoring the situation. 

Passengers are being advised to check in as planned unless they hear otherwise. 

Jersey Evening Post

Islanders are being advised to keep domestic chickens, ducks and similar birds indoors to prevent the spread of bird flu, external.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

The number of people using Guernsey's bus service is at its highest level in 20 years, figures show. 

The data from the States of Guernsey show a 10% increase in the 2016 figures, taking the annual total to more than 1.6m. 

Deputy Barry Brehaut - whose committee is responsible for the service - called the figures "extremely encouraging". 

These figures are the highest collected in the current format, which started in 1996.

BBC Weather

Jersey honorary police have urged anyone needing to go out this evening to take care as winds are expected to reach force 10.

Jersey Evening Post

A French jogger who died while running on a Brittany beach may have been overcome by fumes from seaweed similar to the type that builds up in St Aubin’s Bay, scientists have warned, external.  

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Scrutiny leaders say they are shocked and disappointed by findings of a report into the £5m Jersey Innovation Fund set up by the States of Jersey to help businesses. 

Deputy Andrew Lewis says there is no evidence that proper care was taken to make sure that the taxpayer wasn't left short by lending money to new businesses. 

The chief officer responsible, Mike King, resigned last week - and deputy Lewis agreed with the chief minister that his resignation was probably linked to the findings of the auditor's report. 

He says the states must learn lessons from what happened.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A deputy has serious misgivings about the failed vote of no confidence in the current Education Committee. 

They survived yesterday by a wide margin, 22 votes to 13 with five abstaining. 

Deputy Peter Roffey said he feels the Committee may not be able to deliver the radical change needed and may only have a short stay of execution.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

The owner of Mr Bronx, a dog kennelled for 10 months after customs suspected him of being a pitbull type, has had to get used to wearing a muzzle and being on a lead, as they were the conditions imposed when he was returned to his family.

Jason Gomes says he returned from the Jersey Animal Shelter a "far less socialised dog". He said he has to get used to the muzzle and he has to get used to walking on a lead again.

Image source, Jason Gomes

BBC Weather

Jersey's honorary police force has urged drivers to be careful as there is a possibility of wintry showers later in the day. 

Jersey Met has also issued a red wind alert, with winds of up to force 10 predicted.