Big List Hits Airwaves

Damien Whinnery, the Big List Editor is to hit the airwaves tonight, making his first guest appearance on Blast FM 106's 'Live Music Scene' show. Hosted by Chris Barber, the show takes a look at upcoming shows with a focus on the local music scene. The show also holds regular live acoustic shows and interviews with a local act, and this week will feature Belfast indie-rock band Dirty Kansas. Damien will in the studio at the beginning of the show to discuss recent events in local music, reviewing a recent gig and indulging in idle chit-chat with the show's host, Chris. Damien said: "It's all light hearted fun, and should be an interesting show. I'm delighted to have been invited to take part in the programme, I just hope Chris knows what he's let himself in for." The Live Music Scene show takes place on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm on Blast 106FM. You can also listen live at www.blast106.com

Ardoyne Shooting

There has been a shooting in north Belfast with a 41-year-old man taken to hospital following the incident in Ardoyne on Sunday. He was bundled into a car at about 10pm and taken to a grassy area at Jamaica Road where he was shot in both legs.

Inspector's Murder Case Re-Opened

The PSNI's Serious Crime Branch has now reopened a murder case from 1974 after a review by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) found potential new leads. RUC Inspector Bill Elliott, 48, heard that a robbery was under way at the Ulster Bank in the Diamond, Rathcoole and raced to the scene, but died after a shoot-out with the culprits, said to be members of the Official IRA. Detectives said they were armed with two submachine guns and a pistol. Insp Elliott was posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal and was commemorated in the nearby Newtownabbey Police Station. The HET is re-examining killings from the Troubles and alerts detectives to any new lines of investigation.

Wilson Backs Small Traders

The Stormont Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson has reiterated his appreciation of the resilience of our local retailers and the contribution they make to the local economy. The Minister was speaking as he gave the keynote address at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards. "Northern Ireland has a proud history of independent, family run retailers. Many of these businesses have been severely affected by this prolonged economic downturn and the recession has dented consumer confidence. However, I firmly believe that the resilience of our local retailers will enable them to play their part in helping to grow the Northern Ireland economy as we seek to emerge for the global recession," he said, adding that the Executive has made it a priority to implement initiatives to assist small business including the independent retailers and one of those measures is the decision to examine our current rating system – over the next three years, a period when we want to create the conditions for a sustained economic recovery. "We want to ensure a balance to the non-domestic rating system," said the DUP Minister.

SF Hails Al's Early Departure

The Sinn Fein Policing Spokesperson Gerry Kelly has welcomed the recent statement from Ombudsman Al Hutchinson that he is to leave the office in January 2012 rather than June. The North Belfast MLA said: "While we would prefer if he left the position immediately this is certainly an improvement on his previous position. Obviously the pressure brought by the victims' families, the three previous damning reports, the media and political sources has made him rightly reconsider his position. We want to see the Ombudsman's Office return to being an independent, effective and credible mechanism for holding the police to account. Clearly it had become dysfunctional," he said.

Top Woman For QUB Role

The winner of the 'Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year', which will be announced at the inaugural Women in Business NI (WIBNI) Awards next month, will also receive the honour of becoming the first-ever 'Entrepreneur-in-Residence' in the Leadership Institute at Queen's University Management School. Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive of WIBNI, said: "This tenure will see our award winner act as a coach and mentor to students and bring perspective to the classroom. The winner will be announced at the gala event finale on 17 November at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast. Comedienne Ruby Wax, herself a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, will be the after-dinner speaker.

Derry Development On Way: McCausland

The NI Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has been to Londonderry to undertake a number of engagements including visits to Foyle Haven, The North West Volunteer Centre and the Playhouse Theatre. While in the city he outlined progress on the allocation extra money secured to support preparations for hosting UK City of Culture 2013. Under the recent Comprehensive Spending Review, DSD secured £10m to support preparations to be utilised in the current and next financial year (£5m per annum) and are being delivered in part via the Department's North West Development Office and in part via Ilex Urban Regeneration Company. "I am aware that Ilex is currently considering some 41 applications and am advised that decisions on funding will be made in the very near future," he added.

(BMcC/GK)