Mike Taylor
BBC WM

Chancellor Philip Hammond has increased National Insurance bills for self-employed people in the spring budget.

The number of self-employed workers has increased notably in the West Midlands in recent years.

Most recent figures, released only last month, show the figure has risen by 14% in five years and working men in the West Midlands are about twice as likely to be self-employed as women. 

So these changes will affect hundreds of thousands of people in our area, and more men than women.

Sarah Bishop
BBC Midlands Today

More babies die before their first birthday here in the West Midlands than in any other part of the country, according to latest figures from the Office of National Statistics. 

Image source, MILLA KONTKANEN

Health professionals are trying to reduce the number of deaths by 20% by 2021.

Often no-one knows for sure why this is happening. Maternity services are being overhauled and  Finnish-style baby boxes  are being handed out to expectant mothers - Finland has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world.

The Lily Mae Foundation, based in Balsall Common, offers supports parents who have lost a baby to stillbirth or to neonatal death.

Birmingham Mail

A worker at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull factory has allegedly been sacked and another suspended after an astonishing brawl, external left a man and woman needing hospital treatment.  

Renters demand new rules to stop landlords denying accommodation to people on benefits.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Several dozen cannabis plants have been found in a police raid in Tamworth., external

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police say they searched the house on Ridgewood Rise yesterday morning. 

The force says they're continuing to investigate after making the find., external

BBC WM Sport

Wolves midfielder Ben Marshall says there is "nothing wrong" with their team spirit or performances. 

He made his comments despite the team sitting only one point outside the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's crucial home game against bottom-of-the-table Rotherham. 

Image source, Getty

Marshall insists everyone is staying upbeat and positive in the dressing room.  

Renowned graffiti artist Temper has a new exhibition of his work at a local gallery. Watch Made in Birmingham's report .

An annual award for the best female cricketer will be named after the late Rachael Heyhoe Flint , the International Cricket Council has announced.

Image source, Getty Images

The former Baroness, England captain and vice-president of her beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers FC  died in January aged 77  after a short illness.

Heyhoe Flint played in 22 Tests and 23 one-day internationals, and became the first woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010.

The announcement came at Lord's where the launch of this summer's Women's World Cup in England took place.

A man killed his sister and critically injured his mother in a knife attack at a flat in Wolverhampton, police have revealed.

Image source, Express & Star

The 36-year-old attacker is then understood to have turned the knife on himself and died at the scene.

Stun grenades were used as officers stormed a first-floor flat in Leasowes Drive, Merry Hill, at about 09:45 on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old sister also died at the scene. The 59-year-old mother of the man and woman suffered stomach wounds, West Midlands Police said.

The nine-year-old suffered a suspected allergic reaction at the Al Hijrah School in Bordesley Green.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A bright and sunny day ahead, with some scattered cloud and highs of 13C (55F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

The name of a nine-year-old boy who died at a Birmingham school of a suspected allergic reaction has been released by police.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Mohammad Ismaeel Ashraf (known as Ismaeel) collapsed at Al Hijrah School in Burbridge Road, Bordesley Green, on Friday afternoon.

A post-mortem test will take place and the child’s family are being supported by specially trained officers.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Welcome back to our updates on the news, sport, travel and weather for Thursday.

Comment on our stories and share your pictures over email , tweet us, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external .

An annual award for the best female player will be named after women's cricket legend Rachael Heyhoe Flint, the ICC announces.

Walsall defender Scott Laird says the Saddlers could be a team to be feared in the push for the League One play-offs.

Walsall stun League One leaders Sheffield United as they end the Blades' six-game winning run.

The 36-year-old attacker is understood to have turned the knife on himself and died at the scene.

Our live updates have finished for today, but we will be updating the stream with any breaking news, including any new details of today's stabbing in Wolverhampton. 

We will be back at 08:00 on Thursday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

A man stabbed his sister to death and left his mother fighting for her life in Wolverhampton today.

The 36-year-old then turned the knife on himself and he died at the scene.  

Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

We will update you on the latest from the scene of a triple stabbing in Wolverhampton.

The Chancellor announced the government has set aside £23m to improve transport pinch points across the region.

And we catch up with Birmingham charity volunteers who have been carrying out aid work for refugees inside the besieged city of Mosul.

More on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.