Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

There's delays to the opening of the Midland Metro extension through Birmingham city centre. 

Trams should have been carrying passengers to New Street station by now, but the BBC has learned that it could be May before the trams start running. 

It's now four years since work on the £130m project started. 

I'll have more on the Midlands Today at 13:30.

Thanks to Mick Sheldon who has emailed in his pictures of Parakeets he said he captured at Sandwell Valley.

Showcase your pictures by emailing us.

Image source, Mick Sheldon

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

If you are just catching up on Thursday's news stories, here are the headlines:

- A new homeless shelter will open in Wolverhampton after a rough sleeper died

- A man is charged with conspiring to rob in connection with a fatal Digbeth warehouse raid

- West Midlands Police is criticised for how it deals with vulnerable people, external

Sutton Coldfield Local

Sutton Coldfield human rights defenders are calling on the British Government to halt all arms exports to Saudi Arabia, external and its coalition allies in the war on Yemen.  

Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

Plans to increase council tax in Wolverhampton, after it missed out on a £300m government grant for struggling authorities, have been announced.

The council is trying to save £54m by 2020 and wants to raise tax by 3.99% next year -  which works out as an extra £3 or £3.50 for most people. 

Proposals to cut school crossing patrols and grounds maintenance have been dropped after complaints from locals. 

Finance councillor Andrew Johnson said the authority was not benefiting from the extra cash given to help rural councils.

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

Dave Heeley, from West Bromwic,h has never been a man to turn down a challenge - but his latest test could be the hardest of all. 

Known as Blind Dave, after he lost his sight to an eye disease, he has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity by pushing his body to the limit .

This time it is a triathlon beginning at the notorious US prison Alcatraz, with his guide Tony Ellis, but first he has had to learn to swim.

Tamworth Herald

A Tamworth man has been left scarred for life after his e-cigarette battery in his trouser pocket exploded, external "like a firework" setting his leg on fire and leaving him with second and third degree burns.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

A teenager accused of head-butting a police officer at a Birmingham shopping centre before he was found to have a loaded handgun, has been charged.

The 19-year-old is due before magistrates in Birmingham today accused of:

- Possession of a firearm together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm

- Assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty

- Possession of a Class A drug - heroin

- Possession of a Class A drug  - crack cocaine

- Possession of a Class B drug - cannabis 

The 19-year-old was arrested at Newtown shopping centre at about 17:00 on Tuesday. A police sergeant suffered an eye injury while making the arrest, said the West Midlands force.

Express and Star

Tom Watson MP has vowed to take action, external after it emerged a convicted paedophile who called for sex with children to be legalised had been allowed to join the Labour party.  

Image source, Express & Star

Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live

Arriva Trains Wales is the worst in the country for commuter service delays, external, according to a new survey by the consumer group Which. 

Almost a third (31%) of those Arriva commuter passengers questioned said their last journey was delayed, compared with 23% on London Midland.

Image source, Getty Images

Arriva Trains Wales was also ranked fifth from bottom by passengers, in an overall satisfaction score, with just 49%       

Overcrowding, poor value for money and dirty trains were among the issues raised in the poll of almost 7,000 travellers.  

BBC WM

West Midlands Police has been told it needs to improve the way it deals with vulnerable people. 

A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, external found weaknesses in this area, but overall rated the force as good.

Staffordshire and West Mercia Police were among 18 forces told they "required improvement".

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories in the BBC WM newsroom on Thursday:

- A new homeless shelter will open in Wolverhampton after a rough sleeper died

- A man is charged with conspiring to rob in connection with a fatal Digbeth warehouse raid

- West Midlands Police is criticised for how it deals with vulnerable people, external

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Wolverhampton is getting a new night shelter next week, after a campaign for emergency accommodation for rough sleepers in the city.

Last month a homeless woman died sleeping in a restaurant doorway in Queen Street.

The new shelter in Westley Street, which opens on Monday, will provide nightly beds for 20 people and will initially run for four weeks, but it is hoped it will become permanent next winter.  

A man has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, external in connection with a Digbeth warehouse raid that ended with the death of businessman.

The 50-year-old man is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court today.

The charge is connected to the investigation into the death of Akhtar Javeed, aged 56, who was shot at his warehouse in Digbeth a fortnight ago.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Two other men were remanded in custody on Wednesday accused of murdering Mr Javeed.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

It should be a much better day than yesterday, but there is still a yellow warning in place for ice. Highs of 6C (43F).

Find out what else is in store for us later.

BBC Travel

There is slow traffic on the A454 Black Country Route/Wolverhampton Road in Walsall, near Wolverhampton, drivers are warned.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I'm back in the BBC WM newsroom with Thursday's news, sport, travel and weather.

Get in touch about our stories and showcase your pictures of Birmingham and the Black Country by emailing us, external or tweeting @bbcwm, external.