Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for Birmingham and the Black Country have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Tuesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Monday 14 December 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Tuesday
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Defibrillator damage 'could cost lives'published at 17:51
Vandalism to a life-saving device in Lichfield "could potentially end up costing a life", the ambulance service says.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceA cabinet protecting a defibrillator on Breadmarket Street has been damaged, West Midlands Ambulance say.
It is thought to have happened on Thursday night and the device is now being kept inside a nearby - which they say means it can only be used when it is open.
National Memorial Arboretum to reopen in 2016published at 17:43
The new Remembrance Centre at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire will open in Autumn 2016, the charity says.
It says the £15.7m development will allow the arboretum to host up to 500,000 visitors a year.
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End of twitter postTwo found guilty of murder after man stabbed to death in streetpublished at 17:35
A teenager and a man from Oldbury were found guilty of murder, external after a man was stabbed to death in a street in Birmingham.
Coming up on BBC One at 18:30published at 17:25
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayOn BBC Midlands Today this evening - love it or loathe it, say goodbye to Birmingham Central Library as demolition work gets under way.
The old library officially opened in 1974 and was once described by Prince Charles as looking like "a place where books are incinerated, not kept".
Media caption, Nick Owen looks ahead to Midlands Today at 18:30.
But, attempts have been made to save it for future generations.
Join me for more on this story and others on BBC One at 18:30.
Headlines: Sandwell Council's children's services could be put in special measures and demolition of Birmingham's old library beginspublished at 17:03
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom right now:
- The prime minister says a government-appointed commissioner could take over the running of Sandwell Council's failing children's services within a year
- The demolition of Birmingham's old Central Library has begun
- Villa fan rips up season ticket in anger at team's performance
The latest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 16:48
A mild night with temperatures well above average for mid December.
Listen: 'I haven't got enough money' says hospital chief execpublished at 16:35
BBC Radio 4's Jon Manel spends the day with Dame Julie Moore at the University Hospitals Birmingham Trust to examine financial issues facing the NHS.
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End of twitter postWest Brom's Saido Berahino 'ruining his career'published at 16:17
The Baggies' most-capped and record goalscorer Tony "Bomber" Brown tells @bbcwm , externalthat striker Saido Berahino is "ruining his own career"., external
Image source, BBC SportThe 22-year-old, who made it known in September he wanted to leave the club, has not featured in the last three games.
Redditch murder arrest after woman found dead at housepublished at 15:53
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead at a house in Worcestershire.
The 27-year-old woman was found at Knowle Close, Redditch (pictured), after police were called early on Sunday.
Image source, GoogleThe arrested man, a 32-year-old from Redditch, is in police custody.
The results of a post-mortem examination on the woman, who has not been formally identified, will be released later, a West Mercia Police spokesperson said.
LIVEBLOG: Birmingham Independent Improvement Panelpublished at 15:36
Birmingham EastsideFollow a Q&A from the public, external about Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel.
Council workers in Oldbury hit by parking price hikepublished at 15:31
Furious Sandwell Council workers in Oldbury have been told they will now have to pay £240 a year to park their car whilst at work, external.
Walsall hospice to benefit from X Factor winner's single proceedspublished at 15:29
Proceeds from the X Factor winner's single will benefit a Walsall charity, external this year, it has been announced.
Image source, Walsall AdvertiserSandwell Council children's services facing takeoverpublished at 15:26
Children's services in Sandwell - branded "inadequate" by Ofsted in June - could be taken over within a year.
Under plans announced by the prime minister, failing departments will have six months to improve or be taken over by high-performing councils or charities.
Sandwell's summer rating, external came after an equally poor 2013 inspection prompted a director and a cabinet member to quit.
David Cameron said the plan would mean "not a single child is left behind".
Timeline: Birmingham Central Librarypublished at 15:07
As demolition work starts on Birmingham Central Library, take a look back at the history of libraries in the city which involves fire, public support and architectural controversy.
Image source, Birmingham City CouncilDid you know three libraries have stood on the same site since 1865?
Headlines: Sandwell Council's children services could enter special measures and Birmingham library demolition beginspublished at 14:50
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom at the moment include:
- Government appointed commissioners are being sent into Sandwell with a view to taking over the protection of vulnerable children
- Big rise in number of babies in care
- The demolition of Birmingham's old Central Library has begun
Watch live: Birmingham Improvement Panel meetingpublished at 14:34
You can watch the Birmingham Indepedent Improvement Panel online now,
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End of twitter postMore babies in care in Birmingham than anywhere else in Englandpublished at 14:18
There has been a "huge" rise in the number of newborns who are subject to care proceedings in England, according to figures compiled for the first time.
In March, 120 babies were in care in Birmingham - the largest number of babies in care within the country.
Across England some 2,018 babies were involved in such cases in 2013, compared with 802 in 2008, the University of Lancaster said.
Within the West Midlands, 530 children under 12 months old were in care, according to figures from the Department for Education.
Record breaking season for Villa but for all the wrong reasonspublished at 14:03
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today SportIt’s certainly turning into a record-breaking season at Villa Park - but for all the wrong reasons.
They have now gone 15 league games without a win, a club record.
And nine home league games without a win, another club record.
But it could yet get worse. No team has ever gone a whole Premier League season without a home win, and Villa have yet to take all three points at Villa Park this season.
Image source, Getty Images / BBCBirmingham Kerslake public meeting reviewpublished at 13:49
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMI'm at the Birmingham City Council public meeting which is looking at whether it is improving its services following the Kerslake report.
The Labour leader John Clancy says himself and Brigid Jones, the cabinet member for Childrens Services, have been learning from Newport Council about how to improve the children's services department.
