BBC Radio Jersey

The States of Jersey has increased its spending on lifeguard services at beaches around the island by more than £72,000 in the past seven years.

The RNLI patrols the beaches in St Ouen's Bay, Greve de Lecq and St Brelade.

Lifeguards also give safety talks in schools.

A freedom of information request, external revealed the lifeguard service cost the States £222,644 last year.

Costs per year 2011-2017:

• 2011: £150,000
• 2012: £166,740
• 2013: £170,074.80
• 2014: £205,072
• 2015: £213,998
• 2016: £218,278
• 2017: £222,644

The States signed the first contract with the RNLI in 2011, external. It was renewed in 2015, external for five years.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Virtual reality is being used by a charity to help people in Jersey experience aspects of autism.

Image source, Getty Images

Autism Jersey plan to use the technology to simulate a "sensory overload, external", which can manifest itself in situations such as the ticking of a clock becoming louder or the pattern on a strip of wallpaper animating - the charity say.

Islanders will be able to put on a headset for 30 seconds at a stall in King Street, manned by volunteers from the charity on Friday, 13 April.

It is hoped the project will give those who take part a "better understanding" of the way people living with Autism see, hear and feel the world.

The equipment is being provided by Virtual Reality Jersey.

Jack Murley
Channel Islands Sports Producer

Guernsey's Lucy Beere will be one of the favourites to take a medal in the lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games this year, having become world champion last month, external.

The bowls champion, originally from the Isle of Wight, says she won't let her success put extra pressure on her performance.

"Anyone who plays bowls [knows] you can win one thing and lose another," she said.

Ms Beere knows many of the competitors in her singles tournament, and said she was disappointed she wasn't facing new challenges.

"But if I get through to the quarter finals it all goes through to a draw, then it's anyone's game," she added.

Jersey Evening Post

More than 50 insect traps around the island are being checked every day as beekeepers step up efforts to try to halt the spread of the deadly Asian hornet, external.

Guernsey Press

Alderney could become a testing ground for electric driverless vehicles before they are launched in Guernsey, external.

Jersey Evening Post

A major review of Jersey's future housing needs has begun to examine what impact an ageing and growing population could have on the housing market, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

A charity that runs a residential home for older people wants to open more sites in Jersey.

Abbeyfield, which run Abbeyfield House near Havre des Pas, St Helier, currently has one home with rooms for 11 people, plus sheltered accommodation.

The charity says it has a waiting list for the first time in three years.

It offers independent living for some of its residents as well as care for those that need it, staff say.

Bob Bowden, a member of the charity's executive committee, said lots of people in Jersey were living "lonely lives in large houses" and these could be used for their expansion.

He says the charity could purchase these large properties, adapt them, and move others in to live with the occupier.

BBC Radio Jersey

A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service at Jersey Magistrate's Court after being found guilty of attempting to rob a shop in the island.

He was also placed on probation for two years.

The attempted robbery happened at Samares Stores, St Clement, on 9 March.

The boy asked the shop assistant behind the till for money before being chased out by the assistant, who was brandishing a large water bottle.

Image source, States of Jersey Police

BBC Radio Jersey

A UK-backed "humanist group" for the Channel Islands will be launched tonight at a hotel in Jersey.

Jersey Deputy Louise Doublet, who is part of the group, said it had come about because of social change and the confidence non-religious people have to "speak out and identify as such".

The group is supported by the organisation Humanists UK, which says it has members in both Jersey and Guernsey.

"I very much look forward to taking this role forward to bring non-religious people together to develop their own views," Ms Doublet said.

Humanist marriages are now legal in Jersey, following a recent change to the island's marriage laws. A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony that differs from a civil one, and reflects the beliefs and values of the couple and can be carried out by a celebrant.

Rob England
BBC News Online

The Condor Liberation was cancelled today due to poor weather conditions, says Condor Ferries.

The Commodore Clipper is also operating "behind schedule", the company said, due to extra vehicle loads that were transferred from the cancelled Liberation.

Originally due to arrive in Guernsey at 16:00, the Clipper will now arrive at 17:30. This will push back its arrival in Jersey to 20:50 and Portsmouth to 07:00 tomorrow.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Reforming Guernsey's system of government is one of the main reasons why a Castel deputy joined a "political group" in the States.

On announcing he was joining the Islanders Association, Castel Deputy Barry Paint, said it was "obvious to many" the government's current structure was "not working well".

He says he was hoping to encourage like minded people to stand for election in 2020, who could "decide and implement common-sense policies".

Mr Paint is also calling for an "induction process" for new deputies, to get them "up to speed" when they enter the States Assembly.

He claims "many bad decisions" had been made by the island's politicians in the last few terms.

"A lot of people, as I did, when you first go into the States, don't really understand how the system works, or perhaps doesn't work."

He is also member of another political group, Charter 2018.

More on this story:

• Islanders Association defends funding request

• Political groups: 'No need for funding watchdog'
• Guernsey 'political association': What are its aims?
• Is party politics 'inevitable' in Guernsey?

Twitter

BBC Radio Jersey

A website developed by Jersey students, external enrolled in a coding programme run by Digital Jersey has been launched.

The website - called "TheyWorkForYou" - records current politician's attendance and voting patterns, and was influenced by the UK version, external.

Gailina Liew, the director of the Jersey Policy Forum - which described itself as a "public policy research centre" - said the website reflects a "common objective" in Jersey to encourage more political engagement by making information about States members more easily accessible.

Mark Egan, Greffier of the States, who released the data for the website, said it was a "terrific example" of how technology can be used to allow better access to information "already in the public domain."

Image source, TheyWorkForYou

Islanders will go to the polling booths on May 16 to vote in Jersey's 2018 general election.

Jack Murley
Channel Islands Sports Producer

Team Guernsey Boxer Billy Le Poullain will begin his Commonwealth Games campaign when he steps into the ring tomorrow.

The Alderney-born fighter is the first person from the Bailiwick to ever compete at this high a level.

Image source, Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association

Rob England
BBC News Online

"Various items" have been taken from a sports shop in Guernsey, police have said.

It happened between 21:00 on Sunday and 08:45 on Monday at Intersport on Lowlands Industrial Estate in the Vale.

Officers said a group "gained access through a back door".

Rob England
BBC News Online

You can see all the flags of the commonwealth flying on the memorial mast in St Peter Port.

The opening ceremony for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast has begun.

You can watch it live on BBC One.

BBC Radio Jersey

Work to re-design Jersey Airport will not start until planners have enough feedback from the public, Ports of Jersey has said.

The £42m development has been granted planning permission, and will be funded by commercial returns from the Ports of Jersey.

Passengers will check in on the ground floor and go up to departures by escalators and lifts.

Steve Tanner from Ports of Jersey says work will not start until they have finished collecting public feedback.

The project is expected to begin this autumn.

Jack Murley
Channel Islands Sports Producer

The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony is under way in Australia and Guernsey’s athletes are looking the part.

Marathon runner Lee Merrien, distance runner Sarah Mercier, and brothers Alistair and Cameron Chalmers are kitted out and ready to go.

The opening ceremony starts at 11:00 BST and can be seen on BBC One, BBC Red Button and online.

Coverage of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in the Gold Coast has started on BBC One, the BBC Red Button and online.

The ceremony starts at 11:00 and will feature athletes from both Bailiwicks.