Tom Turrell
BBC Midlands Today

New BBC research shows there are more than 24,000 empty homes across the region.

The properties have been sitting vacant for six months or longer, with many derelict and run down. 

Councils say they have worked hard over the last decade to reduce the number.

Walsall sign teenage Bermudian midfielder Kacy Milan Butterfield on a one-year deal, subject to international clearance.

The Met Office is warning that rising temperatures could trigger some heavy, slow-moving downpours, external across the Midlands, between now and 22:00.

Image source, Met Office

It says there could be some flooding, disruption to travel and even lightning in places.

Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News

A 24-year-old hooligan has been handed a five-year football banning order for his involvement in violent disorder before England's opening Euro 2016 match against Russia. 

Daniel Warlow, of Spring Meadow, Tipton, did not contest the application by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of West Midlands Police today. 

Prosecuting, Amar Sanghara, said a police "spotter" in the UK saw coverage of violence in Marseille on Friday and saw video showing Birmingham City supporter Warlow "throwing a chair". 

Passing sentence, District Judge Shamim Qureshi told him: "I'm not going to give you a lecture, I think you've learned from experience of the last week how things can go terribly wrong in society." 

A driver eating porridge was among the hundreds of motorists that police spotted distracted at the wheel on the M6.

During a week-long crackdown on careless drivers last month, motorway officers also stopped a woman applying makeup and a biker steering one-handed as he made a phone call.

Image source, West Midlands Police

In total, 289 people were found using a hand-held device or driving carelessly during the campaign by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG).

First-time offenders were offered the chance to attend a driver improvement course, while others were fined and had licences endorsed with three points or faced court action, said police.

Birmingham-born singer Laura Mvula has branded the music industry "sexist" and "racist", and said that we are living in the "Donald Trump time of music". 

She's due to perform at Glastonbury this summer, where Adele will be only the second female headliner this century. 

In an interview with the Radio Times, external she said that demonstrated there was still a "long way to go".

Cannock Mercury

A woman was left trapped in her car after a crash involving two vehicles, external in Cannock.  

Adrian Goldberg
Presenter, BBC WM

The sister of a convicted football hooligan from Tipton says the first she knew of his arrest was when she went to police to report him as a missing person.

Ashley Kelly, 26, has been jailed for three months and banned from France for two years. He threw seven bottles outside the stadium during disorder involving 150 "hyper violent" Russian hooligans in Marseille.

His sister Sammy said his friends told her he had been separated from them and was bleeding after he was hit over the head with a chair and "goaded" by Russian fans.

She said Mr Kelly had "never been involved in football trouble" before.

Labour MP for Dudley North Ian Austin has called on the government to reopen the investigation into the unsolved murder of paperboy Carl Bridgewater. 

The 13-year-old was shot in the head at close range in 1978 after stumbling across a burglary near Stourbridge. 

A Channel 4 documentary on Sunday revealed new evidence about the case. Mr Austin raised the issue in parliament yesterday.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A Tipton football fan has been jailed for his part in the disorder which broke out in Marseilles before England's Euro 2016 match against Russia. 

Ashley Kelly, a 26-year-old construction worker, has been sentenced to three months in prison after throwing seven bottles outside the stadium. He's also been banned from France for two years.

He was among six men who appeared in court in the French city yesterday.

Thousands have gathered at vigils in memory of those killed in a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Members of England's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities turned out in force in cities across the country, including Birmingham's gay village.

In London, the Pride flag was flown at half mast from City Hall in memory of the 49 people killed by a suspected terrorist who opened fire inside the venue on Sunday.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories on Tuesday so far:

- Birmingham's gay village has held a vigil for victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shootings

- Aston Villa's £76m takeover goes through

- Action call over thousands of empty homes across the region

Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporter

Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia has completed his £76m takeover of Championship club Aston Villa.

The 39-year-old has passed the Premier League and Football League's fit and proper person test and will become the new chairman of the West Midlands side.

Dr Xia succeeds American Randy Lerner, who bought Villa for £62.6m in 2006.

His takeover comprises a £52m purchase price and a £24m overdraft. In addition, he will contribute £60m in operating costs.  

Image source, PA

Lucy Martin
BBC Weather

There's the chance of catching yet another shower today and there is another yellow weather warning for rain - it could be quite heavy and could cause localised flooding.

Highs of 18C (64F). Find out more.

BBC Travel

One lane is closed and there is slow traffic on the M6 southbound between J10 for Walsall and J9 for Wednesbury because of a breakdown, drivers are warned.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I'll bring you Tuesday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.

If you see a story you think we should be covering, email us, tweet @bbcwm, external or reach us on the BBC WM Facebook page, external.