BBC Radio Guernsey

The replacement for verbal voting - pour or contre - was approved by a vote of 24-15.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby, who brought the motion seconded by Deputy Mary Lowe, said the move was all about transparency and "showing that we do embrace the new world out there and showing this is what a digital economy is all about".

The cost of installing an electronic voting system in the States Chamber has previously been estimated at £20,000-£30,000.

The amendment was to changes to the States rules and procedures, which will have to be approved in its amended form before electronic voting is formally adopted as a policy for the States.

BBC Radio Guernsey

An attempt to introduce remote attendance at States meetings has been rejected.

Deputy Dawn Tindall suggested the change in discussions around proposals from the States Assembly and Constitution Committee.

But it was dismissed by members many of whom felt it important for politicians to physically attend committee meetings.

Others in the minority thought government should take lessons from the private sector...

BBC Radio Guernsey

Deputy Matt Fallaize made the comments during debate on a motion to extend States terms from four to five years.

The move suggested by Deputy Gavin St Pier and seconded by Peter Ferbrache to extend political terms from four to five years was overwhelmingly defeated in the States as debate on changes to Guernsey's government's rules of procedure continue.

Mr Fallaize was among a number of deputies who suggested the move could not be supported due to the recent island-wide voting referendum result...

BBC Radio Guernsey

Fort Road remains closed while police investigate a two-vehicle crash earlier.

Guernsey's emergency control centre says one man has been taken to hospital, but the extent of his injuries are unknown.

BBC Weather

A few clear spells are expected this evening and tonight but skies are expected to become cloudier from the north later in the night.

Northerly winds will freshen from the northwest by dawn.

Overnight lows of 10C (50F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A leading teacher's union in Guernsey has urged the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture to begin work on the secondary school reorganisation proposals as a "matter of urgency".

It was announced on Thursday that one school will now operate over two sites.

The two sites will be at Baubigny - the current St Sampson's High School - and at Les Beaucamps.

Commenting on the plans, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT - The Teachers' Union, said the announcement did "lift the uncertainty" over the future of the schools.

"The NASUWT particularly welcomes the assurance there will be no compulsory redundancies of teaching staff," he said.

However, he added that teachers still "face huge uncertainty" in regards to how their posts will transition to the new arrangements and urged the committee to "begin this work as a matter of urgency".

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey Electricity says the new £17m substation for the west of St Helier should be up and running by the end of the year.

The site will be used to reduce electricity voltage so it's easier and safer to deliver power to homes in town.

Once complete, it will provide relief to St Helier where the network has been under pressure.

BBC Radio Guernsey

It's been announced Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's High will be the two sites to operate the new system of education in Guernsey.

It will mean the La Mare de Carteret and Grammar School site will no longer be used.

These parents at La Mare said they were uneasy about the changes...

BBC Radio Guernsey

A move to cut the number of Guernsey politicians on States committees from five to three has failed.

The motion by Deputies Gavin St Pier and Heidi Soulsby was defeated by a verbal vote.

Debate around changes to the rules of procedure continue and currently focus on an extension of political terms from fours to five.

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BBC Radio Guernsey

Closing two of Guernsey's schools at the end of the secondary education transition process is "not going to be easy" for some, says the president of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture.

Fresh plans were announced today that will see one school operate over two sites.

The two new school sites chosen to operate the new system of education are the current Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's High.

Deputy Matt Fallaize says they have plans in place for the students who will be moving schools and despite the move, the sites have been chosen "for good reasons"...

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Fort Road is blocked in both directions due to a two-vehicle crash, police have said.

Diversions are in place with traffic at St Peter Port heading south being taken down Colbourne Road and traffic at St Martins heading north being diverted away at the Route De Jerbourg junction.

Police, ambulance and the fire service are currently on the scene.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A man in his 20s has been arrested for grave and criminal assault and possession of an offensive weapon after a man was stabbed by St Thomas' Church in Jersey on Sunday.

The 24-year-old has not been named and is currently in custody.

Police were called early on 21 October to Val Plaisant in St Helier to investigate an assault on a man in his late 20s.

The man had been stabbed with a knife but police were not able to find the attacker or the weapon at the time.

The victim was left with minor injuries requiring "several stitches" and was discharged from Jersey General Hospital soon after being treated.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Guernsey's population is forecast to increase to a maximum of 64,000 by 2034, according to new census figures., external

At the end of December 2017, Guernsey's population was 62,063 - which was an increase of 0.21% over the year ending 31 December 2017.

That's compared to a decrease of 0.18% over the year ending 31 December 2016.

Beyond 2034, the population is projected to fall, declining to 59,000 by 2065.

BBC Radio Jersey

The head of Jersey's States Employment Board is preparing for talks with public sector unions on Thursday morning - as a dispute over workers' pay continues.

Despite admitting there's "not really" any more money available, Senator Tracey Vallois remains hopeful a deal can still be reached.

In a change of approach, she's agreed to meet union representatives directly.

And with some threatening to strike unless they're given a better offer, Senator Vallois says a lot could rest on today's talks...

The meeting comes ahead of a mass gathering of States employees, due to take place on Thursday evening.

Unions have indicated ballots on industrial action could be opened as early as Friday.

BBC Radio Jersey

The home affairs minister has given the green light to more than £8m of work to modernise Jersey's prison.

It's the latest phase of renovations and - if planning permission is granted - the work will include the replacement of the secure vehicle gate and the completion of the visitor entrance and search areas at HM Prison La Moye.

Some of the funding will come from money that has been seized from criminals at Jersey courts, external.

It's hoped the works will begin next April, with completion expected by the end of 2020.

Work to modernise the prison, which was designed in the late 1960s, began in 2006 and has so far provided an additional 41 cells, 62-place cell block and a new kitchen block.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There is currently a yellow weather warning in place for wind across the islands, Jersey Met has said.

It added winds of force six can be expected.

Image source, JERSEY MET

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

The transition plans for Guernsey pupils' route into the new all-ability system, released today, are "significantly improved" on those considered six months ago.

That's according to Education President Matt Fallaize.

"I think once we studied it in detail, the transition model should be less disruptive than perhaps we first feared," he said.

"When we ran the numbers and looked at different transition models, we were able to get 90% of students not having to transfer between sites, we've now been able to confirm that there will be a teaching job for every teacher who wants one," he added.

One in 10 pupils will, however, have to move site under the transition model, and Deputy Fallaize conceded his committee would have to work to allay some parents' concerns.

BBC Radio Jersey

A planning policy expert says Jersey's government needs to "refocus its efforts" on flood defences.

In 2015, Jersey's States commissioned a report, external looking into how it can protect itself as the planet warms up and the sea level rises.

Experts are in discussions on how they'll tackle these issues and what the main concerns are in the island.

Dr Hugh Ellis - the author of the report - says there are two key issues the government needs to work on...

Stuart Penn, who has won jiu-jitsu medals on the world stage, "wouldn't know what to do" with four limbs.