Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Polls have opened in Jersey for the island's first general election to be held in the spring.

All previous elections have been held in the autumn but politicians agreed to move this year's election in the hope of increasing voter turnout.

There are elections for the three types of States member: constables elected to represent their parish, deputies to represent their parish or district and senators to represent the whole island.

There are 17 candidates for eight senatorial seats, 13 candidates for 12 constable seats with all but St Mary already elected unopposed, and 61 candidates for 29 deputy seats.

Three deputies have already been elected unopposed.

Polls are open across the island until 20:00 and there will be live coverage of the results on BBC Radio Jersey, BBC Channel Islands News and on the BBC News website.

• How to vote, external
• Where to vote, external

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

There have been countless attempts to establish independent states around the world, more commonly known as "micronations", and now there is an attempt to bring one to Guernsey.

One Guernsey man wants to build a house on his land, where a bunker currently resides but was told by the States the law wouldn't allow for development to go ahead.

This pushed Steve Ogier into trying to take things into his own hands.

Rather than lodge an appeal and push to get permission, Mr Ogier wants to create his very own independent state within Guernsey where he is the king.

"King" Steve said he was "very serious".

He said: "Although it sounds ridiculous but I have declared independence. This is now a country, a micronation. It might sound ridiculous, but it is very real.

"This is what it came to, the States wouldn't listen any other way. I was driven to this."

His Royal Steveness said anyone can come and visit and be a resident in his kingdom, Everland.

The States has been approached for a comment.

A circus artist falls during an opening night performance.

Jersey Evening Post

A unique opportunity for Island songwriters to help preserve and promote Jersey’s native language has been launched – with musicians urged to sing out to save Jèrriais, external.

Mark Inchley
BBC Channel Islands News

The high costs of a life-changing drug for those suffering from cystic fibrosis are as much an issue in Guernsey as they are in the UK, according to the island's health committee.

The Health and Social Services Committee (HSSC) says it plans to carry out a review of the funding of drugs and treatments before the end of this political term, and all requests for the introduction of new treatments were considered "very carefully".

Deputy Peter Roffey is currently pushing for drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to be accessible to islanders, which has been supported by a group for sufferers of cystic fibrosis.

The group is calling for the drug Orkambi to be introduced, with some islanders saying it could change their lives "dramatically".

But HSSC says the drug is not available under the NHS in the UK because of the high costs involved and the same issues apply in Guernsey. However, the committee said if any formal application for the drug to be funded locally were made it would be "considered seriously".

No applications have been made so far, the committee claims.

Guernsey Press

Veterinary nurses marked their awareness month by helping to improve Guernsey’s marine environment, external.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Police in Jersey say they are "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of Zsuzanna Besenyei.

Ms Besenyei, 37, from St Martin was last contacted by text message at about 17:00 on Sunday.

At 11:45 on Monday her car was recovered 500m off La Haule slip in St Brelade.

Officers are appealing for information from anyone who has had contact with Ms Besenyei.

BBC Radio Guernsey

An island-wide review of Guernsey's speed limits is currently under way, according to the States.

Road Safety Officer Rex Williams said the government was looking to reduce speed on "various roads" including Belmont Road in St Peter Port.

From next week, a vehicle width restriction of 6ft (1.8m) is being trialled on the narrow road and is due to last between 9-12 months.

Tania Targett
BBC Radio Jersey

Westminster MPs are meeting with producers of some of the most beloved foods in the British Isles to prevent Jersey Royals, stilton, Cornish pasties and more from losing their protected names after Brexit.

John Garton, who handles Jersey product promotion for the States, said a reciprocal agreement between the EU and the UK on protected food names is part of the overall Brexit deal.

He also said the Jersey Royals name is doubly protected through its trademark, which not all the foods in the protected scheme have.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's treasury minister has denied accusations that he is "selling off the family silver" by agreeing to let a French company own part of a new development on the Waterfront.

Senator Alan Maclean approved a deal that will see half the flats built by the Jersey Development Company on Castle Quay - known as the Horizon Development - sold to a group called Legendre for £6.25m.

A political pressure group in Jersey, the Jersey Action Group, said the States needed to sort out the housing crisis in the island rather than building luxury flats which may make tempting investment opportunities for foreign nationals.

But Senator Maclean said there was no evidence to show how many flats were being sold this way, and outsider investors would only be able to let the properties to local qualified islanders.

The treasury minister, who is not standing in this week's general election, also said the deal would benefit other island projects.

BBC Radio Jersey

A species of mosquito known to carry dangerous diseases will probably come to Jersey this year, experts say, but is unlikely to be harmful.

Image source, Getty Images

Tiger Mosquitoes, originally from Asia, have become well-established in various areas of France and have now been identified in Tours, just over 200 miles south of the island.

They have been known to carry diseases such as the zika virus, external, yellow fever, external and dengue fever, external.

But Scott Meadows, from Jersey's Environment Department, said it was unlikely the ones in France were carrying anything to be concerned about.

He said it was likely, however, that the bugs would turn up on the island after the warm, mild, wet spring and forecast summer, but added that the insects did not naturally carry dangerous viruses.

Jersey Evening Post

Nearly every board member of the Jersey Development Company received a significant pay rise last year – with the salaries of some non-executive directors increasing by a third, external.

Guernsey Press

A Colombian circus artist last night fell while performing on the double giant space wheel at Gandey's Victoria Avenue set-up, external.

Rob England
BBC News Online

A vehicle belonging to a missing woman has been found by police in Jersey.

Zsuzsanna Besenyei, 37, was last seen on 10 May at her home address in St Martin, officers said.

She is described as slim with a petite build and shoulder length brown hair.

Police said Ms Besenyei's blue Ford Fiesta was found at La Haule, St Brelade, yesterday morning and have asked for anyone with any further information to get in contact.

Image source, States of Jersey Police

Rob England
BBC News Online

A proposal to scrap assisted dying plans, external and improve end of life care instead has been lodged by two senior politicians in Guernsey.

Deputies Johnathan Le Tocq and Heidi Soulsby lodged the amendment a day before States members begin debating whether to begin the process of developing laws to allow assisted dying.

The deputies say their alternatives plans come "in light of the ageing population and the substantial anticipated increase in health and care needs over the next 10 to 20 years".

In summary, the measures include improving the availability and cost of care services, and "possible developments" in end of life care.

It is the fifth amendment to the original assisted dying proposals, external put forward by Deputy Gavin St Pier.

More on this story:

• Guernsey to vote on assisted dying
• Assisted dying: Move to ensure capacity law in place first

• Assisted dying 'not a priority' but 'should be debated'
• Guernsey prepares for assisted dying debate

Guernsey manager Chris Tardif is frustrated after his side's 1-0 loss to Jersey in a 'soulless' Muratti Vase final.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Efforts are being made to protect a species of ant in Guernsey, the States says.

Environment Guernsey said black-backed meadow ants, external were declining in numbers around the island, and had disappeared from the UK.

The organisation is leading a project to plant red flags around large nests on Guernseys south cliffs to try and stop people and workers disrupting them.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

The States of Jersey want to improve the way the government gets its message across - by spending £300,000 on a new Department of Communications.

The treasury minister has approved a transfer from more than £10m of unspent budgets from last year.

Image source, Getty Images

A recent review was critical of the way the government managed communications. Now there will be a new director and office for the role.

The review brought up multiple issues, including a doubling-up of efforts in some areas; so called "silo working", with offices and departments not communicating with each other; and too much spending on outside agencies.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Jersey's men's and women's football teams will take part in an inter-island football tournament in Ynys Mon next summer.

Image source, Frank Pilnick

The event is being staged in the Welsh island, also know as Anglesey, as the sport cannot be hosted at the 2019 Island Games in Gibraltar due to a lack of facilities.

"Not only will this enhance our representative games programme next season, this tournament will provide our senior representative teams with vital experience for the 2021 Island Games," said Jersey FA chief executive Neville Davidson.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Outgoing Jersey ministers have signed more than 20 policy decisions since the election campaign began on the 25 April, external, despite rules saying they should only legislating on "housekeeping" matters.

The number of executive orders has prompted a deputy to say the laws around ministerial decision are not "fit for purpose" and the issues should be debated by new States members.

Eight of the decisions have been made by the treasury minister, and include the decision to allow a French company to own half of a major new development on the St Helier waterfront.

A spokesperson from the States Greffe said that they should only be ensuring that the effective day-to-day management of their department is not affected.

An incoming deputy, John Young, said the number of "important changes" being made were a cause for concern in the run-up to the election.