In this week’s Manx Independent, we crunch some statistics from the Isle of Man Government.

Did you know that life expectancy here is lower than in the UK?Do you know what proportion of the prison population is there because of drug offences?There are more interesting figures inside the paper.

The lead story on page one is about a sinister stalker’s campaign of harassment against his victim.He let himself into a woman’s house, moved furniture, mowed her lawn, bombarded her with gifts and turned up at her work place.

On a lighter note, we meet an 82-year-old who keeps himself fit by skateboarding.

Inside:

Employers are struggling to fill vacancies and find experienced staff.

Support services for people with ME are being extended to Long Covid sufferers.

The Manx Footpath Conservation Group has called out the lack of maintenance on the island’s footpaths.

More than 3,000 appointments for routine breast screening have had to be rescheduled because of the pandemic.

Our photographer snapped the annual presentations of the The Duke of Edinburgh gold awards were presented at Government House. We have shots of many of the recipients on our Face in the Crowd page.

Advocate Damian Ciappelli is standing for Douglas Central in September’s general election.

A former health service employee has criticised Manx Care’s plan to reduce waiting lists across nine clinical specialities.

Property developers Haven Homes have applied for planning permission to build six residential houses in a field at Spaldrick, Port Erin.

As the election looms, we ask some basic questions in a special feature. What is an MHK? What do they do?

Lewis Jack Moulder Kelly, who spat in the face of a police officer and threatened to ’smack’ a shop worker, has been sentenced.

A weird new zebra crossing in Kirk Michael.

Two talented young Manx singers have appeared on an innovative concept album, which had its worldwide release last week. We hear more in Island Life, our leisure and pleasure section.

Two carnivals are to take place this weekend.

There is a new face at the airport, guarding the gateway to the Isle of Man and keeping his one good eye on the new visitors. Why is Odin at Ronaldsway?

The Manx wildlife and surrounding countryside has been captured in a stunning collection of paintings from two very different artists. We take a look.

In sport, we highlight the amazing comeback from injury of rally driver David Higgins.

There are 11 pages of sport altogether.

There is also plenty of community news, a page of your letters, our puzzles pages, Pullyman, the gig guide and a seven-day television guide.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

But you don’t have to go to a shop to buy a copy.

You can also read it online if you buy the digital edition. It should be uploaded by 7.30am.

To find out how to buy it, go to the ’Digital Editions’ section of the website on the grey line near the top of this site or watch the video below.

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