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Iain, John and Donald with Tasga Adult Support Worker Deborah MacVicar

Uist food project could be just for starters...

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Willie ‘Buchach’: 100 years of a life well lived

The nightingale is one of the birds which have increased. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: Birds are so important to the UK environment

Encourage children to dispose of their litter correctly. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: It’s never too early to start litter picking

The Universal Service Obligation was a founding principle of the Royal Mail, but under privitisation could be about to change. (Pic: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Royal Mail should deliver to “hubs not homes”

The prices quoted on Loganair website for Benbecula to Glasgow flights.

Glasgow-Uist flight costs soar - and no respite on horizon

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street to present his Autumn Budget Statement at the House of Commons..(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

​£20 million Levelling-Up assistance for the isles

Glencolumbkille on the west coast of Donegal. Like much of the Irish Gaeltacht, it has a straiking resemblence to our communities - and their inherent challenges.

Two sides of the same Celtic coin

The MV Isle of Arran, built 36 years ago, is still being pressed into service.

Ferries to linger in dry-dock for longer

People

The Loch Portain suffered a breakdown.

Campaign launched to avert second ferry crisis
Further serious disruption on the Sound of Barra ferry services has strengthened the case for an urgent reappraisal of CMAL’s Small Vessel Replacement Programme to include vital inter-island links.

She donated £160,000 to the Bethesda care home in Stornoway

Death of Maryanne Trump Barry announced

Nursing team award for “going the extra mile”

Fionnlagh, mar a bhios cuimhne aig gu leor air - air a' chuairteachadh le leabhraichean. (Dealbh: Fiona Rennie)

A' cuimhneachadh air ​Fionnlagh MacLeòid (1937 -  2023)

Jane MacDonald and Karen Macleod at the CT scanning unit.

Radiography team at Western Isles Hospital in triple award success

Cost of Living

The top 10 business challenges CEOs face

The dates benefits recipients can expect their payments over Christmas and New Year in 2023

The dates benefits recipients can expect their payments over Christmas

Grocery inflation has fallen again, helping lower costs for shoppers

Grocery inflation drops again with butter now 16p cheaper

Sharon White poses with her award after she was made a Dame CBE, for public service, next to her husband Sir Robert Chote (Photo by Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

John Lewis boss Dame Sharon White to step down

Crime

Superintendent Shepherd

The rural policing challenge

Police in the Western Isles are advised to concentrate more on tackling drugs misuse.

Combatting drugs should be top policing priority in the islands

David Carrick has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison

Rapist ex-police officer David Carrick jailed for at least 30 years

Councillors expressed concern over the situation.

Youth offending twice the Scottish average

MSPs heard there was a backlog of cases right throughout Scotland, including in Stornoway.

Concern expressed over courts system backlog

Chief inspector Alasdair MacLeod: "We are taking these crimes seriously"

Petition calls for action against unruly kids

Business

The company were hosting a consultation event this week.

SSEN faces challenge over converter site selection
Scottish and Southern Energy are facing challenges from several directions over their plans for a converter station on a site to the north of the River Creed, as part of the infrastructure required for the proposed electricity interconnector with the mainland.

The Sound of Barra ferry, and the similar service covering the Sound of Harris, provide a lifeline link.

Inter-island ferries: A “big problem” awaits

The historical society has called for a relocation closer to the Arnish deep water port.

SSE station plan needs revised

Tha mòran sgìrean dùthchail, mar ceann-a-seas na Hearadh, a’ cur feum air barrachd thaighean.

Tha crathadh a dhìth air poileasaidh an taigheadais anns na sgìrean dùthchail

Getting ready to depart Leverburgh.

Harris and Barra ‘2030’ ferry fears

Traffic and Travel

Loganair chief executive, Jonathan Hinkles

Loganair lambast new charges as "airway robbery"

The EU wide system provided advanced navigation through satellites, which proved particularly useful for small airports, and its unavailability has led to increased cancellations.

EGNOS 'vandalism' trebles Barra flight cancellations

The 24/7 Greggs in the airport was the only refuge for those stranded.

‘No duty of care’ for stranded passengers

(Photo: ChargePlace Scotland)

Government-owned EV charging network in Scotland to be scrapped

Health

The UK's first drug consumption room in Glasgow has been given approval. (Credit: Getty Images)

UK's first drug consumption room gets approval to open in Glasgow

An Cotan in Stornoway also faces an uncertain future.

Nursery appeals for help amid financial challenges​

In the early days of recuperation a return to competition seemed unlikely.

Christina’s remarkable road to recovery

The Ness team that made the journey

Ness footballers turn vital life savers

It is now hoped an MRI scanner will be available in the islands in just over a year's time. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

£2.4m support for new island-based MRI scanner

Eoropie playpark in Ness which has won the community award for the fifth year.

​Island facilities raise Green Flag of success

Politics

Comhairle Leader Paul Steele is involved in the talks.

Comhairle joins fury over tax freeze announcement
​Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has voiced strong criticism of the surprise announcement by the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, that next year’s council tax is to be frozen – compounding the “unprecedented financial challenges” it already faces.

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs giving evidence at the Scottish Parliament. A KC report said the organisation were not to blame for the award of the contract.

Ministers to blame on ferry contract, says KC

The low response rate has prompted a fresh call for candidates

Elections for only half of community councils

Keir Starmer is interrupted by a heckler. Credit: Getty

Keir Starmer Labour conference speech crashed by protester

UK Trending

Everything you need to know about new series of hit BBC show The Traitors

Everything you need to know about series two of The Traitors

Damian Aspinall and gorilla Tambabi share a hug at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury, Kent. Picture: Damian Aspinall/SWNS

Moment gorilla gently hugs man captured on camera

Taylor Swift has announced The Eras Tour concert film will be available to watch from home.

Taylor Swift announces The Eras Tour concert film home release

Spotify Wrapped 2023 will be available very soon.

How to access your Spotify Wrapped 2023

Grace Dent has left ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

Grace Dent leaves I’m A Celebrity on medical grounds

Rosie Ritchie before and after her surgery Picture: Rosie Ritchie / SWNS

Woman given bag containing stomach after Turkish weight-loss surgery

Weather

El Nino: how will the weather phenomenon affect the UK?

The warning is in force today.

Yellow weather warning for the Western Isles today.

Readers' Pic by Rob Livingstone

Rob Livingstone is this weeks chosen Readers' Pic

Education

Loch-a-Tuath councillor Calum Maclean said he had been contacted by "concerned parents".

Consultation on sex education in schools is a “sham”

The Nuclear Test Medal.

Nuclear testing medal for ‘emotional’ 84-year-old

Harris distillery gave Shona Macleod the dream job on her doorstep.

Raising a glass to a long Harris journey

Mark Elston

​Missing man on Lewis