Lifeline for Dudley Hippodromepublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
In December the venue, which once hosted famous acts including comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, was earmarked for demolition.
The venue has been empty since 2009.
Summary
Aston Villa: Roberto di Matteo is the new manager, Steve Clarke is assistant
Rail delays after man 'struck by train'
'Difficult days ahead' for the families of the Birmingham pub bombing victims
Half a million calls to the police 101 number 'have gone unanswered', data suggests
Updates on Thursday 2 June 2016
Lifeline for Dudley Hippodromepublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
101 police calls: Thousands unansweredpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
James Bovill
BBC Midlands Today, ReporterI’ve been looking at how many calls to police 101 numbers in the Midlands are being abandoned.
That’s people calling but hanging up before they get through. There’ve been 456,000 unanswered calls since 2012, with big variations across the Midlands.
About 146,000 have been abandoned in Staffordshire, about one in eight of all calls. Gloucestershire has a similar rate. But Warwickshire and West Mercia are only failing to answer about one in 30 – why?
The Staffordshire police and crime commissioner says forces record calls in different ways and you can’t compare like for like. He wants a standard system across the board.
Nevertheless, his force says it’s investing £450,000 a year in more call handlers. West Midlands Police also says it’s taking on new staff, and the West Mercia and Warwickshire alliance says it's introducing a single system to help improve things.
Motorcyclist 'seriously' injuredpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
A motorcyclist suffered multiple injuries when he came off his bike in Rubery this morning.
It happened at 10.30 on the A38, heading towards junction 4 of the M5.
Ambulance Service staff immobilised the man, thought to be in his 20s, using a neck collar, spinal board, leg splint and pelvic splint.
Villa's prospective owner 'convinced Di Matteo will raise club's profile'published at 13:58 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporterMore on the breaking news that former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been appointed the new manager of Aston Villa. Ex-Baggies manager Steve Clarke will be his assistant.
Image source, Getty ImagesVilla were also linked with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and new Derby County manager Nigel Pearson, but Di Matteo was always first choice.
Dr Tony Xia, the Chinese businessman whose takeover of Villa is awaiting Football League and Premier League approval, is convinced Di Matteo will raise the West Midlands club's profile in the Championship.
The former West Brom and Schalke boss and Clarke have been out of management since last year.
The pair have never worked together in management but were Chelsea teammates for two years.
Villa appoint Di Matteo as managerpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Former Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo is appointed Aston Villa's new manager, with Steve Clarke coming in as his assistant.
Read MoreDi Matteo is new Villa bosspublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
BreakingPat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporterEx-Chelsea, West Brom and Schalke boss Di Matteo replaces Remi Garde, who was sacked in March prior to the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Italian Di Matteo, 46, and former West Brom and Reading boss Clarke, 52, have been out of management since last year.
Di Matteo, who guided Chelsea to Champions League success in 2012, was always the first choice of Dr Tony Xia.
The Chinesse businessman, whose takeover of Villa is currently awaiting Football League and Premier League approval, is convinced that Di Matteo will raise Villa's profile in the Championship.
Image source, Getty ImagesWalsall council worker remembered as park group marks 20th anniversarypublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
A "fitting tribute" in memory of a tireless council worker has been unveiled at a park in Walsall, external as its user group celebrated its 20th anniversary this week.
Image source, Walsall AdvertiserLatest headlines: 'Difficult days ahead' for pub bombings families; Police to invest in 101 call centrepublished at 13:05 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the BBC WM newsroom this lunchtime include:
- There are "difficult days ahead" for the families of the Birmingham pub bombing victims, according to a lawyer
- Campaigners say the government having to review future development plans for Birmingham is a huge step in the right direction
- Staffordshire Police says they are investing nearly £500,000 a year in its call centre - after a BBC investigation found one in eight calls to its non-emergency number had been 'missed' in the last four years
Blades bring in Duffy and Husseypublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Sheffield United sign Birmingham City midfielder Mark Duffy and Bury full-back Chris Hussey on two-year deals.
Read MoreStories we're working on: BBC Midlands Todaypublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
BBC Midlands Today
Hilary McConnell, ProducerMidlands Today will have more on the fatal crash on the M5 Southbound between junctions 8 and 9.
Have you ever called 101? - we have a special investigation into the non-emergency police number. Almost half a million calls to the police 101 number in the Midlands have gone 'unanswered' in the last four years.
We’re also finding out why polecats are growing in numbers in the Midlands.
Join us for those stories and more on Midlands Today, BBC One, at 13:30, 18:30 and 22:30.
Watch: 24-hour forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Kay Crewdson
Weather presenterIt should stay dry through the day despite a dull and cloudy start.
Here's my one-minute forecast for what's in store for the next 24 hours.
Media caption, The weather for the West Midlands.
Watch: 'Clean it up' - will doggy-doo messages work in Dudley?published at 11:55 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Daz Hale
BBC WMDudley Council is using spray-painted warnings to remind dog owners to clean up after their pets.The images - in bright yellow paint - not only feature a dog but a pile of mess at its feet.
Media caption, Dudley Council using spray-painted message in campaign to clean up dog mess
Erdington girl who beat cancer opens new £500,000 centrepublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Royal Sutton Coldfield ObserverA four-year-old girl from Erdington who won her battle with cancer was the guest of honour, external at the official opening of Birmingham Children's Hospital's new £500,000 centre.
Image source, Sutton Coldfield Observer'Difficult days ahead' for bomb familiespublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
A lawyer for some families of the Birmingham pub bombing victims says there are "difficult days ahead" now inquests will be reopened.
Read MorePolecats numbers grow but many don't recognise thempublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands TodayThe polecat isn't just surviving it's doing really well with numbers increasing according to surveys by the Midlands-based Vincent Wildlife Trust. But would you recognise one if you saw one? Here's a simple spotters' guide.
Image source, VINCENT WILDLIFE TRUSTSpeedway: Winners and loserspublished at 10:29 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
BBC WM SportWolves were beaten 53-37, external by the Elite League leaders Lakeside.
Birmingham Brummies earned a narrow 47-43 win, external against Eastbourne.
Watch: Pub bombings inquest to be reopenedpublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Sian Lloyd
BBC News CorrespondentInquests into deaths of 21 people in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings are to be reopened, a coroner has ruled.
Watch my report.
Media caption, Families of the victims welcomed the decision
Chasewater steam railway honoured with Queen's Awardpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Chasewater Railway has been honoured, external with the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryDi Matteo set for Villa boss job?published at 09:28 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WMWe're still waiting for Roberto Di Matteo to be confirmed as the new manager of Villa.
Reports yesterday claimed the former Albion head coach was close to agreeing terms, external to take over at Villa Park.
Image source, Getty ImagesLatest headlines: Families hope for pub bombings answers; police 'miss' half-a-million 101 callspublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 2 June 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country this morning include:
- The Birmingham pub bombings families are hopeful that fresh inquests will mean their questions will be answered
- Almost half a million calls to the police 101 number in the Midlands have gone unanswered in the last four years, a Freedom of Information request reveals
- Roberto Di Matteo should be confirmed as the new manager of Aston Villa - reports yesterday claimed the former Albion head coach was close to agreeing terms to take over at Villa Park
