Manx Newscast

This year's government conference will be 'more focussed' and hopes to target the business community, according to the Cabinet Office Minister. Around 500 people have signed up for the annual event so far. It's being held at the Comis Hotel this year - moving away from the Villa Marina which has been used in previous years. Kate Lord-Brennan has defended the decision not to host the event in the e...

When will the Public Services Commission agree a pay deal with its staff? Talks between unions and the government body have been ongoing for some time, with unions recently rejecting the PSC's latest offer in a ballot. Chair of the Public Services Commission Kate Lord-Brennan has been telling us their stance:

Do you like reading or writing about the sea? A local marine biologist is inviting writers of all levels of experience to attend a series of 10 workshops sponsored by Culture Vannin. Starting next Saturday 14 September, each session will run from 10am-4pm and will feature themes of global ocean conservation. Siobhán Fletcher caught up with Dr Fiona Gell in Ramsey to find out more.

A former Manx Care employee is calling for the health body’s contract to be ‘looked at’ saying ‘failings’ need to be addressed to ensure better patient care. Kevin Oliphant-Smith has started the ‘Save Our Health Services’ Facebook page and a petition ‘demanding’ the resignation of the chief executive. Manx Care says its leadership team continues to ‘go above and beyond’ each day and it's proud of...

Do you think you could walk the length of the Island... all with a leg tied to someone else? That's what Andy McMillan and Graham Wright are doing today (31 August), all in aid of charity Depaul UK, which helps young people all over the UK who are homeless, at risk and disadvantaged. Siobhán Fletcher gave them a call to find out more.

The Isle of Man is likely to continue facing difficult decisions for at least the next couple of years, according to the treasury minister. Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned of a 'painful' autumn budget but pledged not to increase taxes on working people, such as VAT and National Insurance. However, Dr Alex Allinson notes that due to the Customs and Excise Agreement with...

Buildings and landmarks around the Island are set to light up purple tomorrow night in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day (Saturday 31 August). Spearheaded by Manx Addiction Charity Motiv8, This year's theme is 'Together We Can' - highlighting that the impacts of an overdose are 'far reaching and indiscriminate'. In this edition of Newscast Lewis Foster speaks with Motiv8 CEO Thea Ozen...

Trespassing on train lines, knock door run, swearing and going into disused buildings are just some of the anti social issues that police have been reporting to recently.  With the summer holidays in full swing, officers have been busy responding to some minor and not so minor incidents in their respective communities.  PC Louise Kennaugh and Joanna Whittle from the Early Action Team tol...

The motorbike which won the 1923 senior TT will be displayed in Douglas at the weekend. It was ridden by Manxman Tom Sheard. His granddaughter Ruth Cowin lost her son Daniel to bowel-cancer shortly after TT 2024. She's hoping to raise awareness of the disease by displaying the bike.

This weekend (24-25 August) an Andreas woman is taking on a challenge with a difference in memory of her late husband. Darren 'Daz' Hignett died of bladder cancer the day before their 25th wedding anniversary last year, after an 18-month fight. Now, in his memory, his amazing wife Liz is taking on not one, but two major walks to raise funds for the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association. Siobhán...

Manx Care says it accepts there is a ‘significant risk’ to patient safety because of difficulties sharing medical records across the health body. It's been asked to take action by the coroner of inquests and change the way they can be shared between what he’s described as ‘silos’. Coroner James Brooks’ recommendation follows the death of a Ramsey resident last year who unintentionally overdosed on...

The Clerk of the Course says riders competing on the Mountain Course can be brought back to The Grandstand the wrong way around the circuit in ‘extreme circumstances’. It happened on Sunday after a red flag in the first qualifying session of the 2024 Manx Grand Prix following an incident which saw the death of rider Louis O’Regan. The decision led to social media speculation with many referring ba...

Do you have a dog that is a little bit nervous when you're out and about? Maybe they're reactive, and can struggle to be around other dogs or people? Well, if so, and you want to expose them to these things from a distance and have a chance to work on your training safely - let us tell you about the group for you. Eva Boyd rescued her dog Spot two years ago, and felt there was a gap on the Island...

The chair of Live at Home says it's hoped the Manx charity can be 'restructured' as it looks to cease its services at the end of the month. The organisation has helped residents on the Island live independently in their own homes for almost 27 years. A letter to members says, due to financial reasons, services will stop on 28 August. David Gawne MBE says the ability to raise funds has reduced...

Peel Commissioners say they are continuing to ‘evaluate their options’ for playground provision in the west. It’s after claims that the local authority is planning to reduce the number of play areas. Over the weekend one parent who lives in Reayrt Ny Cronk took to social media to advise that the Close Caaig playground was being replaced with a picnic area. It led to children who use the facility l...

The Department of Infrastructure wants your help to shape a new transport strategy for the Isle of Man. It says it’s intending to develop an integrated and socially inclusive document that meets the needs of communities and keeps people connected in work and leisure opportunities. The document would also support the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Manx Radio headed north to speak...

The long-awaited Local Economy Strategy has been released in draft form, which hopes to ensure the wellbeing of the retail, hospitality and leisure industries for the next 10-years. Business Isle of Man is setting out a range of tools for residents, local authorities and businesses to enable them to 'take ownership' of their local areas. The document itself is eight-months late from when it was fi...

This time last year Manx resident Helen Newbery noticed an 'unusual bump' in her breast. A regular walker and four-time finisher of the Parish Walk, Helen put it down to inflammation from a sports bra she'd been wearing during a recent 100-mile trek along the South Downs Way. However, after a month without change, a visit to the doctors revealed she had two types of breast cancer. Between Aug...

Residents in Jurby whose homes fall within the boundaries of a potential future airport site say they're ready to fight back against any proposals. Earlier this month the map was discovered as part of the Public Inquiry into the Draft Area Plan for the North and West. It showed where, in the future, a site the size of Liverpool John Lennon could be created, extending the current Jurby Airfield sit...

If you can't wait until members are back in October, here's Manx Radio's Political Correspondent with a look back at what happened in July for the final sitting of this legislative year.

A warning that this Newscast contains information which some readers may find distressing. It is impossible to remove all risk from the Isle of Man Prison but one death in custody is one too many.  That’s what the prison governor has told Manx Radio following the culmination of a series of inquests into the deaths of serving prisoners. The three men had all taken their own lives, in similar c...

The RNLI is reminding everyone planning on heading to the coast this summer to stay safe. It's as today marks World Drowning Prevention Day. Since the RNLI was founded 200 years ago by Manx resident Sir William Hillary, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives. In this edition of Newscast, Claire Hamer, a Water Safety Officer based at Peel lifeboat station, explains to Lewis...

The organiser of a Queer Artisan Market says they believe the Isle of Man has become more progressive towards the LGBTQ+ community.  It's being held at Onchan Parish Hall on Saturday (27 July) between 1pm and 5pm.  There'll also be a queer workshop to discuss Manx LGBTQ+ history and culture taking place at 3pm. 

The Isle of Man is not actively planning to follow the UK’s lead and release prisoners early due to overcrowding. That’s from the prison governor who says 24 temporary cells – in portable cabins – should help alleviate some of the current pressure. The prison population has risen by around 66 percent; so what happens if the prison population peaks before the new cells - on 'J Wing' - are ready? It...

A global IT outage is still affecting some services on the Isle of Man. Manx Care has seen several GP practices hit and the Steam Packet Company says it can only currently accept cash payments onboard. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike say they're "actively working" to fix a defect in an update for Microsoft Windows users which sparked the incident. Andy Cuff is the CEO of Computer Network...