Manager Dean Smith to leave Walsall
HS2 section to open six years early
Dozens of firefighters at house blaze
'Proud Brummie' Malala unveils portrait
Updates on Monday 30 November 2015
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
With some bookies, the Saddlers' Dean Smith had been 1:10 on to take over at Brentford, but it is now understood he has agreed terms.
It brings to an end his near-five-year stint at the helm at the Banks's.
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
Walsall's Dean Smith has agreed terms to become Brentford manager, we understand.
Joanne Malin
BBC Midlands Today
We will join BBC WM's Black Country political reporter Rob Mayor at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in South Staffordshire, where Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed the HS2 line will open six years ahead of schedule.
And we will be catching up with a Midlands' success story business - Gymshark, a Bromsgrove-based online clothing company which is benefiting from the cyber boom.
Join us for Midlands Today on BBC One at 13:30.
Artist Nasser Azam revealed his 9ft 10in (3m)-high oil painting of Malala Yousafzai at the University of Birmingham.
During the unveiling, at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Malala said she was "very grateful" for the support she had received in Birmingham.
"In terms of buildings you may not see a lot, but in terms of people, their love, their hearts, their passion, there's a lot of things," she said.
Image source, Nasser Azam"Other than the cold weather I love this place, I am proud to be called a Brummie."
Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer
A callous Erdington carer who stole nearly £12,000 from a vulnerable pensioner has beenjailed for 10 months, external.
Image source, Royal Sutton Coldfield ObserverThe children of a man killed when attending a charity function in Oldbury have paid tribute to him, external as "the kindest soul on the planet".
Inderjit Singh Dhariwal, 49 and a production operative, died in hospital the day after he was attacked at Samsons Banqueting Suite in Rood End Road just before 02:00 last Sunday.
Image source, West Midlands PolicePooja Dhariwal, 21, the daughter of Mr Dhariwal, who was from Langley, said: "Our father... put everybody before himself and was always willing to help."
Two men are awaiting trial charged with Mr Dhariwal's murder.
BBC Travel
There is queuing traffic on the M6 southbound between J10 for Walsall and J9 for Wednesbury in the roadworks area, drivers are warned.
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Here is a recap of the top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country:
- Tributes have been paid to a father who was killed at an Oldbury function
- Malala Yousafzai revealed she was a "proud Brummie" as a portrait was unveiled of her in the city
- The cost of "paupers' funerals" has risen for West Midlands councils
Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score
In Sunday's 1-1 draw against West Ham, the former Manchester United player and Scotland captain Darren Fletcher was the Baggies' steadying influence.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe was the most accurate passer on the pitch against West Ham, finding the target with 95.5% of his passes.
A racing motorist, whose rival's car careered into a Birmingham bus stop killing a student, has been cleared of causing her death.
Inderjit Singh, 31, was racing Sukvinder Mannan, 33, who lost control and hit Rebecca McManus, as she waited for a bus to go to a hen night.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceSingh had admitted dangerous driving, but denied causing the 21-year-old's death in May 2014. He was also cleared of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Jack Grealish spent this afternoon enjoying a different kind of partying, external after coming to the rescue to save a junior fan-club Christmas bash.
The cost to local councils of so-called "paupers' funerals" has risen almost 30% to £1.7m in the past four years.
The number of these funerals has also risen by 11%, with industry figures saying increases may be due to people living longer and dying alone, and a rise in fees.
Public health funerals, as they are known, are carried out by local authorities for people who die alone or without relatives able to pay.
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
Birmingham City fans are waking up to the great news that Gary Rowett is going nowhere.
He has been linked with the QPR and Fulham jobs, but Blues have put out a statement, external saying Rowett is fully committed to the club; and likewise, the club is fully committed to him.
Image source, EmpicsUp to 200 highly-skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs will be created in the Midlands after the Chancellor pledged £16.6m to form a new team led by Jaguar Land Rover, external.
The proposed high-speed rail link between Birmingham and Crewe will be opened six years earlier than planned, in 2027, Chancellor George Osborne has said.
Improving transport links with the North is a key part of the government's transport policy.
Image source, OtherMr Osborne also announced that ex-head of the CBI business group John Cridland would chair Transport for the North.
It's not a brilliant start to the new week. There is a warning for winds hitting the region.
Find out what else is in store for this afternoon.
Latest weather for the West Midlands
A man has died after being hit by a car in Stourbridge yesterday.
It happened on Brettell Lane shortly before 18:50 yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service says, external the man suffered serious injuries and was confirmed dead at the scene.
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Here are the latest stories in the BBC WM newsroom:
- Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai says she is a "proud Brummie", at the unveiling of a portait of her at a university in her adopted city
- More than 40 firefighters have been battling flames at a derelict house in Sutton Coldfield
- A man has died after being hit by a car, external in Stourbridge
Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai says she is "proud to be called a Brummie" at the unveiling of a portrait in her adopted city.
Image source, ReutersThe girls' education campaigner was flown to Birmingham in 2012 after she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman.
She has made the city her home since receiving treatment there.
Caroline Gall
BBC News Online
More than 40 firefighters have been tackling a severe house fire in the West Midlands.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceNine fire engines were sent to the derelict property in Ladywood Road in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield at about 23:20 GMT on Sunday.
