Sandwell Council shuts door on Syrian refugeespublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Sandwell Council has refused to sign up to a government scheme, external that would see Syrian refugees settle in the borough.
Summary
Fatal house fire
Forty years since Abba played Brum
Man who swallowed 100 packets of cocaine jailed
Lego builds towards attraction in city
Updates from Friday 10 February 2017
Sandwell Council shuts door on Syrian refugeespublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Interim principal called on government to close 'broken' schoolpublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WMAn interim principal called for his own "broken" school to be closed as soon as possible, in a letter to the government.
Image source, GoogleHundreds of residents and parents of pupils at the Baverstock Academy, in Druids Heath, Birmingham, have backed a petition calling for it to stay open, after a four-week consultation began on plans to close it.
It has now emerged that in November, the interim principal Peter Cox wrote to the schools minister claiming "the academy is broken" and he believed it should close as quickly as possible.
A four-week consultation on the future of the school finished on Tuesday and the government is set to make a final decision over whether to shut it this summer.
Hero passers-by help save 15-year-old cyclist who was hit by carpublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WMPassers-by have helped save the life of a Birmingham teenager who was knocked off his bike.
The 15-year-old boy, from Great Barr, was riding along Wandsworth Road when he was hit by a car on Tuesday evening.
Police said a quick-thinking driver used his van to shield him while a woman performed CPR until the emergency services arrived.
The boy remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Watch: This morning's weather forecastpublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterIt's been a cold start and here's how the rest of this morning is looking.
You can also get latest forecasts for your area from the BBC Weather website.
Media caption, Charlie Slater
Funeral for Rachael Heyhoe Flint to be held in Wolverhampton laterpublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
The funeral of former England cricketer and World Cup winner Rachael Heyhoe Flint takes place in Wolverhampton later.
Media caption, Large crowds are expected in Wolverhampton for the service to remember Wolves' vice-president
The former England Women's captain, who died last month aged 77, was the first female cricketer to hit a six in a test match.
She was known for more than just cricket; also playing as goalkeeper for the England national field hockey team in 1964, as well as golf and squash for Staffordshire, before eventually becoming the vice-president of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.
And in 2011 she was appointed a life peer, taking the title of Baroness Heyhoe Flint.
Good morning from Local Live for Birmingham and the Black Countrypublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveI'm back with Wednesday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.
Comment on our stories and share your pictures over email, tweet us, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external.
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
We're back from 08:00 on Wednesday with more news, sport, travel and weather.
Until then, keep an eye out here for breaking news.
Coming up on Midlands Today: Nova Welsh murder trialpublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
BBC Midlands TodayThirty-six years after a woman's body was found hidden inside a cupboard in a block of flats in Birmingham her former partner has appeared in court charged with her murder.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceNo one had ever been charged in connection with her death in 1981, but today a jury was told that new DNA evidence linked former partner Osman Bell to her murder, which he denies.
Our special correspondent Peter Wilson will have more on BBC1 from 18:30.
Coffee dress makes use of the daily grindpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
A fashion designer has made dresses perfect for those who like to feel full of beans.
Rhys Ellis, a graduate from Birmingham City University, creates the garments from thousands of used coffee pods - the small capsules found in coffee-making machines.
He's been busy chatting to the media today...
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End of twitter postHere's our video of what it's all about...
Media caption, Birmingham designer makes dresses from thousands of coffee pods
Weather: Cold nightpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
A chilly night with clear spells which will allow a frost to develop.
Mist and fog patches are also possible, with lows of 1C (34F).
Media caption, BBC Midlands Today's Rebecca Wood has your forecast
Your pictures: Stourbridge and Suttonpublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
BBC Weather Watcher Susanne took this lovely picture in sunny Stourbridge.
Image source, SusanneDi's walk shared this snap of Sutton Coldfield.
Image source, Di's walkLatest: Murder trial; library proposals; council tax increasepublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WMThe headlines for Birmingham and the Black Country this afternoon include:
- A man's gone on trial accused of murdering his former partner in Birmingham 36 years ago
- Revised proposals for Birmingham libraries threatened with closure
- Plans to increase the West Midlands Police force's share of council tax have been approved unanimously
Man accused of sex attacks remanded in custodypublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Andrew Dawkins
BBC News OnlineA 53-year-old man has appeared in court charged with rape and sexual assault.
The charges are in connection with a series of attacks in Selly Oak, Quinton and Edgbaston between November 2016 and January this year.
Elvis Sidaway, of Fountain Road, Edgbaston, is accused of one count of rape and seven counts of sexual assault.
He has been remanded in custody and is due before crown court next month.
Man faces murder trial more than 30 years after body findpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special CorrespondentMore than 30 years after a woman was found dead her former partner goes on trial accused of her murder.
The jury has been told that DNA found on an anonymous letter handed into police discussing Nova Welsh's death was, 36 years later, linked to Osman Bell.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceNova Welsh's body was found in a utility cupboard at flats in Lighthorne Avenue, Birmingham. She was 24.
Mr Bell denies murder.
New plans to save two librariespublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Sutton Coldfield and Aston libraries could have shut under previous proposals.
Read MoreSutton Coldfield homes discussed in commonspublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
The Government is making clear it won't intervene in Birmingham City Council's plans to build 6,000 homes on greenbelt land in Sutton Coldfield.
The promise has been made in a Housing White Paper published today.
The Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, told the Commons that the Government should step in.
Image source, DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATESImage caption, A sketch of what the Langley Hills development could look like
Quote MessageDoes he (Mr Speaker) understand the deep anger throughout Sutton Coldfield that the reasonable views of 100,000 people have been totally ignored by a Labour Council in a deeply flawed process to build 6,000 homes unnecessarily on our green belt, but the frustration that the government has not been able to stop it?"
Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield
Council tax rise for police forcepublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Plans to increase the West Midlands Police force's share of council tax have been approved unanimously by the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel.
It will rise by £5 a year for a band D household from 2018.
Despite the rise, the local Office for Policing and Crime says people will still be paying less than those living in almost every other force area.
Rachael Heyhoe Flint funeral: 50 Wolves fans to receive ballot tickets ahead of Wednesday's servicepublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Fifty Wolves fans will receive tickets through a ballot for the service of thanksgiving, external for Rachael Heyhoe Flint.
EFL team of the weekpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Birmingham City defender Cheick Keita has made the English Football League's team of the week.
Boss Zola earned his first set of three points as Birmingham manager at the 11th time of asking, with a 1-0 win at home against Fulham on Saturday.
Keita set up Jutkiewicz's goal.
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End of twitter postHednesford Town FC manager resignspublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017
Hednesford Town FC have announced that following a meeting this morning Paul Casey has resigned from his position as first team manager.
They say more details will be released in due course.
The club is 12th in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier.
