Updates on Thursday 12 May
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 Friday
The son of a railway worker killed in the Birmingham pub bombings says he is hopeful fresh inquests will be held and new light shed on who was responsible.
Father of three Trevor Thrupp was 33 when he died in the Mulberry Bush pub in November 1974
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
The coroner looking at whether the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings should reopen says she will be able to announce a decision on 1 June.
The barrister representing West Midlands Police says there is no evidence to support "conspiracy theories" that they knew about the bombings in advance.
A "significant" piece of "sensitive information" has been sent to the senior coroner who is considering whether to reopen the Birmingham pub bombings inquests.
The coroner said she did not believe that the sensitive information had appeared anywhere else in the public domain.
Twenty-one people died and 182 were injured after two bombs detonated in Birmingham city centre in 1974.
Quote Message[The information is] significant and does raise concerns in relation to potential advanced notice [of the bombings], that's as much as I can say
Louise Hunt, Coroner
The coroner says that it may not be possible to publish her full judgment on the inquests because of confidentiality issues.
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
Families of some of those killed in the Birmingham pub bombings over 40 years ago have been told that "sensitive material" from the time has been sent to the city's coroner Louise Hunt.
She told a hearing in Solihull that the material was in her judgement "significant" and related to a claim by lawyers for the families that the authorities may have had advanced warning of the bombings from an IRA mole.
A barrister representing West Midlands Police said the evidence was that there had been no tip off.
The coroner is due to give a ruling on 1 June on whether the inquests opened after the bombings in 1974 should be reopened.
Train operator, London Midland, introduces a new timetable from Saturday which includes services running through Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
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This week's edition of the Walsall Advertiser, external has been published.
Image source, Walsall Advertiser
BBC Midlands Today
Hilary McConnell, Producer
Our reporter Giles Latcham is at the hearings about whether there should be fresh inquests into those killed in the Birmingham pub bombings.
Paul Thrupp lost his father in the terrorist attack in 1974 and he’s speaking for the first time about the impact it had on his family.
As the consultation begins for the West Coast mainline franchise, what do passengers want from the service? More seats and greater reliability seem to be the most popular requests.
And we’re going back to the 1980s and delving into a Hip Hop archive that’s storied in Dudley (pictured) - find out more at 18:30 with Nick Owen.
Birmingham has been named as one of the areas across the UK and Ireland that is breaching air quality standards.
The World Health Organisation has listed places that exceed safe levels for fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5.
The British Lung Foundation calls the report "deeply concerning".
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
It's Eurovision this weekend... Some people might says it's "Rock Bottom" but others think it "Sounds Good To Me".
As Joe and Jake represent the UK by belting out "You're Not Alone", we take a look at a time when our entries used to hit the charts.
From Brotherhood of Man's Save Your Kisses For Me, to Gina G's Ooh Ahh Just A Little Bit, we knew how to put out a corking tune.
And let's not forget Michael Ball. He took the UK to an impressive second place in 1992 with "One Step Out Of Time".
You can watch the contest's semi final on BBC Four tonight from 20:00 with Scott Mills and Mel Giedroyc.
A government White Paper is expected today to reveal details of a "major overhaul" to how the BBC is run - among the changes, a move of some of the services to Birmingham.
The trust governing the BBC is expected to be abolished, and a new board set up to run day-to-day matters, while Ofcom will become its external regulator.
The front page of this week's newspaper includes "Justice for Alfie, external".
Image source, Stourbridge NewsPhil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
The coroner is to hear final submissions on the Birmingham pub bombings inquests today.
The senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull has received an application from lawyers representing the families of Maxine Hambleton, Trevor Thrupp and James Craig, to resume the inquiry adjourned in August 1974.
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Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM
The findings of an investigation carried out by Sandwell Council into the sale of four of its own properties are due to be published next week.
Wragge and Co was called in to investigate alleged irregularities in the sales, between 2012 and 2014, of three former toilet blocks and an old coroner's office in Smethwick.
Two ruling cabinet members - who deny any wrongdoing - stood down when the probe started.
A police investigation ended in March and no action was taken.
The Attorney General is reviewing the sentence given to a woman from Birmingham who murdered a toddler for whom she was the legal guardian.
Last week, Kandyce Downer, 34, (pictured left) was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 18 years behind bars. She'd murdered 18-month-old Keegan Downer, who died with more than 150 scars and bruises on her body.
The review is being considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, external.
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM
Plans for two new schools due to be part of Perry Beeches Academy Trust have been put on hold following the resignation of Liam Nolan (pictured), the trust's executive headteacher yesterday.
The first site, which would have been part of the trust running all five of the Perry Beeches academies, was set to open in September, then the other in 2017.
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country this morning include:
- A new base for BBC Three is to be created in Birmingham - it comes as plans for the future of the corporation are set to be unveiled by the Government
- The trust running a chain of academies in Birmingham says plans to open another two schools are on hold after the executive head resigned yesterday
- The son of a railway worker killed in the Birmingham pub bombings hopes new information will lead to the re-opening of the inquests
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
The son of a railway worker killed in the Birmingham pub bombings says he's hopeful fresh inquests will be held and new light shed on who was responsible.
Father of three Trevor Thrupp died in the Mulberry Bush in November 1974, one of two blasts widely blamed on the IRA. His son Paul (pictured left) is joining other families going to court in Solihull today to urge the coroner to re-open the hearings.
The so-called Birmingham Six - six men jailed for the atrocities, which they did not commit - walked free in 1991 after their convictions for the murder of 21 people were quashed by the Court of Appeal.
Quote MessageIf some of the facts come out, that we think will come out, then I think there will be no choice but to make the right decision and re-open the inquest and to take the case forward.
Paul Thrupp, Son of Trevor, who died in the Birmingham pub bombings
BBC Travel
One lane is blocked on the M6 southbound at J8 M5, because of a broken-down vehicle. BBC Travel reports that queues are backing up to to J10a M54.
If you suffer from hay fever, be warned - you may be sneezing today as levels are high.
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A new base for BBC Three is to be created in Birmingham, alongside a hub for the corporation's proposed partnerships with local newspapers.
The government is due later to publish its White Paper on the future of the corporation.
The organisation has faced criticism, external for under investment in the city, once home to the fabled Pebble Mill studios.
The BBC said the plans meant a £10m boost for "fresh talent and innovative digital content for young audiences".
