Channel Islands Live: 12 June 2019

There will be some bright or sunny periods but with a chance of showers.

The showers may be heavy and thundery at times and it will be a relatively cool, breezy day.

Highs of 15C (59F).

Jersey:

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Guernsey:

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Showers will continue through Wednesday evening and overnight. They should ease and become more isolated, but a few will persist. Some clearer intervals later.

Minimum temperature: 7C (45F).

There may be some bright or sunny intervals on Thursday, but there will be showers and perhaps some longer spells of rain too. The showers may become heavy and thundery locally.

Maximum temperature: 14C (57F).

Jersey:

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Guernsey:

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Jersey's Music in Action was given nine months' notice that they would not be receiving government funding for their Jersey Sings event due to "budgetary constraints", according to the education minister, Senator Tracey Vallois.

The charity has appealed to the government, public and local business to help raise the necessary £16,000 to run the event.

Senator Vallois said that she had informed Music in Action in September that the department wouldn't be able to provide assistance and it was "incorrect" to imply that the charity had only be given 10 days' notice.

A meeting is due to take place on Wednesday to "determine a way forward".

Quote Message: There is genuine partnership working between Education and Music in Action, so this extremely last-minute approach to ask for additional costs for relocating from Fort Regent is entirely inappropriate." from Senator Tracey Vallois Minister for Education

There is genuine partnership working between Education and Music in Action, so this extremely last-minute approach to ask for additional costs for relocating from Fort Regent is entirely inappropriate."

Via Guernsey PoliceCopyright: Via Guernsey Police

Officers from the UK's National Crime Agency have been in Guernsey to help with the investigation into the death of Mikus Alps, Guernsey Police have confirmed.

It is almost 18 months since the 33-year-old Latvian man's remains were found in a burnt out car at Petit Bot.

He was last seen alive in the early hours of 8 January 2018, the same day his car was discovered by police.

A shotgun and "other items" were also found with Mr Alps' remains in the car.

Guernsey Police said they had had a number of final reports from UK agencies involved in the case and that they were continuing to work closely with them.

Police in Guernsey are trying to track down £56,000 worth of stolen gems.

The jewellery was taken in August last year and many pieces are still missing.

"If you’ve been offered any of the jewellery, or have any information about where it is, we would like to hear from you," police said.

"The owner is understandably keen to be reunited with them."

The FBI has highlighted to American senators the ‘immense value’ of Guernsey’s information sharing in helping combat financial crime.

Deputy Neil Inder has been elected onto Guernsey's Economic Development Committee.

He replaces Deputy Dawn Tindall, who stepped down after becoming president of the planning authority.

Deputy Inder received 22 votes to Deputy Victoria Oliver's, even though she was the favoured candidate of the committee.

Neither Deputies Inder or Oliver were present for the vote, which took place via secret ballot.

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A Jersey charity has asked local people and businesses for help after the government withdrew funding for a local music event.

Music in Action has been working with 1,500 young people preparing for the community music event Jersey Sings.

But, because of extra costs in 2019, the event is in jeopardy after the island's music service said it didn't have the money.

The charity said it needed about £16,000 to run it, with only 10 days to go before the event.

The chairman of the charity, James Mews, has blamed the deficit on a variety of factors, including the recent strike action by teachers over pay, which meant that parents had to be refunded for music lessons.

He also called on the States to make funds available again to help fun the "wonderful" event.

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Uncertainty surrounding Brexit is pushing people to explore a move from the mainland to live locally.

That's according to one Guernsey estate agent which said it had seen a growth in the number of people wanting to relocate to the island.

The director of Swoffers said open market sales were similar to that of last year, despite the continuing Brexit negotiations and uncertainty.

Shauna Clapham said it was impossible to say whether Brexit would be good for Guernsey in the long-run, but added the island would continue to attract people due to its favourable tax rates, low crime rate, high standard of education and supportive business environment.

On top of this, Matt Brouard, the director of Cooper Brouard Estate Agents, says a so-called "Corbyn effect" - with people being concerned if the UK Labour Party leader becomes prime minister - and other factors have been good for Guernsey's open market.

Jersey BullsCopyright: Jersey Bulls

Jersey Bulls will host Leicester City's Under-23 side in a pre-season friendly next month.

The Foxes' development side will take on the first Jersey club to play in an English league at Springfield on Tuesday 16 July.

The Bulls host League Two side Stevenage in their first pre-season game on Saturday 6 July.

"These are exiting times for Jersey football. I'm sure the local football community will be out in force to support Jersey Bulls FC and watch potential premiership stars of the future," said Bulls manager Gary Freeman.

Pre-school sessions will be available at St Anne's School in Alderney from September.

The decision comes after consultation from parents who found the current facilities at the island hall were too limiting and not of a high enough standard.

The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said having some pre-school sessions at St Anne's would mean "very little" structural change to the building.

The States Early Years Team will also be working with other States of Guernsey services to look at the possibility of developing a community hub in Alderney where various services can be offered.

The Early Years Team said it was excited by the new opportunity to help enable parents to make an informed choice.

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A Guernsey environmental group wants a blanket ban on the use of herbicides and pesticides in the island.

The Pollinator Project has joined others, calling on the States to investigate banning the chemicals which they claim are harmful to the environment.

Its co-founder, Barry Wells, said the States should follow nearby France and ban pesticides entirely.

The States said it was working to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides in the island, but, to remove them completely, the alternatives must be economically viable.

About 1,000 additional women in Jersey have undergone cervical screening since the fee for the potentially life-saving test was scrapped by GP surgeries.

It's believed the removal of the £62 charge and a high-profile social media campaign has helped to significantly improve uptake by women who were due for screening.

Between 1 August 2018 - when the fees were scrapped from GP practices - and 31 May 2019, 3,822 women, who were due to be tested, were screened.

That's an additional 996 women compared to the same time period 12 months previously.

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Quote Message: It is fantastic news that the removal of the charge, as well as our social media awareness campaign, has helped to significantly increase the number of women undergoing cervical screening when their test is due, rather than putting it off. I would urge any woman due for screening to undergo this potentially life-saving test, and, if embarrassed, ask for a female doctor or nurse." from Dr Linda Diggle Head of Preventive Programmes in Health and Community Services, Jersey

It is fantastic news that the removal of the charge, as well as our social media awareness campaign, has helped to significantly increase the number of women undergoing cervical screening when their test is due, rather than putting it off. I would urge any woman due for screening to undergo this potentially life-saving test, and, if embarrassed, ask for a female doctor or nurse."

Any remaining early Wednesday rain will largely clear, but it will stay grey and overcast for most.

Showers will likely develop into the afternoon with the risk of thunder.

Maximum temperature: 16C (61F).

Jersey:

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Guernsey:

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