Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

Today the Prime Minister (pictured below) made a rallying call to create 300,000 new jobs here in the Midlands. 

Image source, Reuters

As the Conservative Party conference came to a close, the online retail giant Amazon announced it was hiring on a huge scale in the run-up to Christmas. 

Also on the programme, a girl aged just five has criticised the Prime Minister for not doing enough to help homeless people. 

Brooke Blair says she was inspired to send a message to Theresa May after seeing people sleeping rough on the streets of her home town of Coventry. 

You can find out more on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.

After a fine end to the day it will be a dry night with clear spells, although cloud will tend to thicken towards dawn. It will be rather chilly, especially in rural parts but winds will remain brisk, particularly over higher ground such as Bilberry Hill. Lows of 8C (46F). 

Four station signs are to be turned gold in honour of successful British Paralympians, London Midland has announced, external.

Image source, London Midland

 - Bromsgrove: Lauren Rowles who won rowing gold in the TA Mixed Double Sculls

- Kidderminster: Claire Cashmore, gold medalist in women's 4x100m medley relay

- Stratford-upon-Avon: Cyclist Megan Giglia, winner of the women's C1-2-3 3,000m individual pursuit

- Northampton: Ellie Robinson, who won gold in women's 50m butterfly

Gold boards have already been put up at the stations in Sutton Coldfield, in honour of cyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth and Hemel Hempstead, for Olympian Max Whitlock and Paralympic archer Jessica Stretton.

A man is jailed for 27 years after seven people were injured in a series of shootings during a feud between rival gangs in Birmingham, police say.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a teenage boy from the West Midlands.

A 31-year-old man was arrested at a flat in Cheltenham at 01:00 on suspicion of murder. 

Gloucestershire Police arrested a 44-year-old woman at the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender. 

The 17-year-old victim was attacked at a property on Shakespeare Road on Sunday. He died in hospital the following day.

Express and Star

The boss of a company which supplied a two-tonne stage door that fell and killed the singer of a shanty band and its promoter had a "casual approach to safety", a court has heard, external.

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa are compiling a shortlist of 10 candidates for the vacant manager's job.

They will then select three from that list to interview as they seek a replacement for Roberto di Matteo. 

It's understood that Blues manager Gary Rowett is not on the shortlist and the club are still hopeful of making an appointment before the Wolves game on 15 October.  

Andrew Easton
Presenter, BBC

West Midlands UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge has confirmed he will be standing for his party's leadership. 

Image source, Getty Images

It comes after Diane James' decision to step down from the top job last night, after only 18 days in charge.

Nigel Farage is to lead the party until a fresh contest is completed. The UKIP North West MEP Steven Woolfe has said he will stand, external for the leadership.

There's live speedway on BBC WM's digital radio frequencies tonight.

Wolves face Belle Vue in the second leg of the Elite League Grand Final. 

Wolves have an 18-point lead from the first leg after winning 54-36 at Monmore Green.

West Midlands Police say a human rights group has praised its stop and search reforms, external and suggested continental police could benefit from following the force's lead.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The Open Society Foundations os hosting a conference in Birmingham this week to "shine a light on West Midlands Police’s efforts make street stops fairer, more targeted and officers more accountable", a force statement says.

The force said senior officers from Germany, Spain and Switzerland – all looking to review stop and search procedures – were attending the Cannon Street event to hear input from academics, UK police chiefs and experts in the field.

Corinne Wheatley
BBC WM, Journalist

Here are some of the stories making the news in Birmingham and the Black Country:

- Two people have been arrested after a teenager from the West Midlands died following a stabbing in Cheltenham

- West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge says it's a "distinct possibility" that he'll stand for leadership of Ukip again

- Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown has left Edgbaston after 27 years' service as player and coach

People can now sign up for the first Birmingham International Marathon, external.

Image source, Getty Images

It will be staged on Sunday, 15 October 2017 and the 26.2-mile route will start at the Alexander Stadium (pictured above).

West Midlands Police, external has released images of a man wanted in connection with a suspected distraction burglary after an 80-year-old man was attacked.

Image source, West Midlands Police

A man claiming to be from the water board turned up at a property on Cooper Street in West Bromwich. 

Police say he made a search of the home and when nothing was found, he attacked the 80-year-old man until he offered £40 cash from his wallet in the incident on 16 September.

Birmingham Mail

Supermarket chain Costcutter could be fined up to £40,000 after two illegal workers were arrested in a raid on a Midland store, external.  

The annual NatWest OSCAs, external celebrate the game's volunteers. 

John Bates from Warwickshire won the award for umpires and scorers.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

The home secretary's comments about companies compiling lists of foreign employees have angered the chancellor of the University of Birmingham, external.

Amber Rudd made the remarks during a speech which tackled the issue of reducing net migration. 

Lord Bilimoria, who's the founder of Cobra Beer, called the proposal "absolutely shocking".

Express and Star

An investigation has been launched after a man claimed someone shouted a homophobic slur at him, external as he walked along a road in the Black Country.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

What have you always wanted to know about Birmingham and the Black Country?

Ask us here and your question could be making the news.

Corinne Wheatley
BBC WM, Journalist

Sandwell Council, external says there have been 40 illegal traveller encampments on its parks and land so far this financial year. 

It is now inviting people in the area to give their thoughts on how the authority and the police deal with these encampments. 

In the future, there will be the option to use bailiffs to remove them and get injunctions for land at risk of trespass. People can have their say until 11 November.  

Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown leaves by mutual consent after 27 years' service as both player and coach.