Wedding dress funded brother's 'IS' mission
Trial of three accused of murdering music shop owner
West Bromwich Albion sold
WBA joins Wolves and Villa in Chinese ownership
WBA's new owner is Guochuan Lai, 42
Updates from Friday 5 August 2016
BBC Travel
There's two lanes closed on the M42 northbound at J4, A34 (Shirley), because of an accident, BBC Travel news reports.
Congestion on M40 North to J16, A3400 (Henley-in-Arden) and to J3, A435 (Portway).
Public confidence in the quality of service at Worcestershire hospitals in "under threat", according to a patient watchdog.
Healthwatch Worcestershire say confidence is being undermined by "a constant drip of under performance, and errors over procedures not being followed or acted upon".
An inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found a backlog of 11,000 X-ray results at the trust running the hospitals.
Image source, PAQuote MessageEach time these concerns are raised we get a plausible and reasonable explanation from trust officials, but it is clear from the CQC report that is a case here in Worcestershire of one step forward and two steps back."
Healthwatch Worcestershire statement
The watchdog says it will be discussing both the latest concerns and its response at its next public meeting, at the Wychavon Civic Centre on Friday.
Aston Villa have a £12m bid accepted for Fulham and Scotland international striker Ross McCormack.
Read More
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Here are our top stories on Wednesday:
- A hospital is asking smokers not to light up in roads surrounding it
- Thousands of X-rays have "not been looked at" at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital
- Wolverhampton's BHS store has ceased trading with the loss of 100 staff
A Lichfield man who died after suffering 90 per cent burns when he was engulfed with flames in his garden has been named, external.
A hospital plans to make the streets around it a smoke-free zone - asking people not to light up in nearby roads.
Read More
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM
A Birmingham brother and sister have missed out on the 2016 Child Genius title.
Stephen, aged 12, came third in the final of the TV show on Channel 4 last night with spiders that mimic insects as his specialist subject.
His 10-year-old sister Georgia came fifth answering questions on Russian ballet and the career of Rudolf Nureyev.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A mainly dry day with sunny spells and plenty of cloud. Highs of 21C (70F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
The BHS store in Wolverhampton closes its doors for the final time today.
The Dudley Street store employed 100 staff, all from the city.
The council said it was now providing support to the workers who are facing redundancy to ensure they are in the best position to compete in the job market.
Image source, City of Wolverhampton CouncilBBC Travel
There is slow traffic on the M6 southbound between J10a, for the M54, and J8, for the M5 interchange, drivers are warned.
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
I'm back with Wednesday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.
Comment on our stories and share your pictures with us over email, tweet @bbcwm, external or reach us on the BBC WM Facebook page, external.
We're back with more news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
An "oddball" loner has been found guilty of raping and murdering India Chipchase whom he promised to "get home safe" after they met outside a nightclub.
In BBC Online's background article on the court case, it is explained she left the venue in search of a taxi, with the driver asking for his fare in advance because she was "the worse for drink". India refused - a decision which set her on course to meet her killer.
In Birmingham, the practice of requesting advance fares has been banned on the grounds it could put vulnerable people at greater risk.
Image source, SBNAMurdered India was asked to pay her taxi fare in advance - a practice banned in Birmingham
BBC WM
Concerns are being raised about a new project to transform Birmingham's Centenary Square.
Plans for the £10m redevelopment go before city councillors on Thursday and include 43 lighting columns outside the library, a new fountain and more trees and benches.
The local authority says it's an "exciting project", but Robert Alden, the leader of the Conservative group, is worried.
Image source, Birmingham City CouncilQuote MessageAs we've seen with other fountains in the city, sadly the council is just incapable of maintaining them. This one's actually a performance area, which means they'll be draining it and have people walking through it regularly which will increase the maintenance costs.
Robert Alden, Conservative leader, Birmingham City Council
Experts working on the Staffordshire Hoard have put together part of a golden helmet believed to have been worn by a king.
Seven years after it was found in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, conservation work on the unique find has finished.
Staffordshire Hoard helmet believed worn by king
Everton sign Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye from Championship side Aston Villa on a four-year contract.
Read MoreEngland captain Alastair Cook has praised Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes - describing his form this summer as "fantastic".Woakes has 18 wickets in the Pakistan series as he heads into the third Test at Edgbaston, his home ground, on Wednesday.Cook also highlighted the positive role played by the Edgbaston crowd, calling the atmosphere "sometimes riotous".
Alastair Cook - 'Not many people dislike Chris Woakes'
Somebody is clearly having a mare today - the fire service tweets it is off to an unusual animal rescue in Cannock.
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Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Latest weather for the West Midlands
A burglar who held a man prisoner in his own home when a bank holiday left him unable to extort cash has been jailed for 11 years, police say, external.
Zafran Khan, 33, from Sparkhill, broke into the 62-year-old's flat hoping to force him to withdraw bank funds. But when he realised the bank was shut, he held the resident overnight, waiting for the next day to complete his plan.
He'd already broken into the man's property six days earlier, stealing a bank card and forcing the victim to withdraw cash.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceKhan pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, blackmail and three counts of fraud and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.
