Man raped woman on birthday night out
Driver jailed for killing pedestrian while on phone
Extra security for Birmingham Pride
Police call to hospital made in 'good faith'
First music event in Birmingham since Manchester attack
Olympian Laura Kenny visits Birmingham school
Updates from Friday 26 May 2017
We've finished our live updates for the day, but breaking local news will be added here throughout the night.
We'll be back at 8am tomorrow. Enjoy the sunshine!
A wood in Worcestershire is being closed after complaints of drug dealing, illicit sexual activity and problems with out of control dogs.
The Woodlands Trust says it's the first time its had to do this - but it had to take action because the Uffmoor Wood has become one of their most "problematic" sites.
Find out more on Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.
Image source, GoogleAshley Peatfield
BBC Editor, Religion and Ethics
Birmingham Cathedral does appear to have gone further than any other in the country.
Closing its doors altogether outstripped the response at York Minster where security has been tightened.
Other cathedrals have seen a higher police presence too.
However, Birmingham Cathedral was doing what it’s been told it should by security advisors outside the church.
They were mindful that to do the opposite of the agreed policy would leave them open to severe criticism especially if something happened.
Better to take time to consult and reflect. Having done that they can now feel confident to adopt a change of direction and re-open.
Cathedrals do have a degree of independence and the Church of England allows local decision taking in a number of matters including security.
Hence the very different responses we have seen. Whether these atrocities in Manchester and the new emergency status announced by the government changes anything is yet to be seen.
Cathedrals may want to consult more widely and with each other going forward.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Port Vale have announced they will face Tony Pulis' West Bromwich Albion side, external in a pre-season friendly at Vale Park in August.
Image source, Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesThe club have revealed their full pre-season schedule which also includes games away at local sides Kidsgrove Athletic and Newcastle Town and one at home to Championship side Derby County.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Remember to keep the suncream handy, folks.
Shefali Oza has your forecast
Ashley Peatfield
BBC Editor, Religion and Ethics
Nobody takes a decision to close a cathedral lightly.
For centuries they have been places where people have sought sanctuary.
The modern expression of that is often seen in the numbers of people visiting them to light candles, say prayers or attend special services at times of national grief or anxiety.
For some this will be an entirely spiritual response. A plea to God for intervention in times when, for them, the world and its evil appears to have taken over.
For others cathedrals can have a national symbolism. The Church of England remains the national state church and it and Christianity can be a way of defining their personal national identity.
When that identity and way of life appears threatened attending a cathedral can seem a natural, logical response to re-asserting those beliefs and values.
Birmingham has done its best to recognise the public need while still closing its doors.
It has continued with acts of worship and opportunities to light candles in its grounds – aided by the good weather.
The Dean and other officials will have been uncomfortable at having to close the doors.
Of all the things officers need to know about, this is not one of them.
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Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands Today
A book that was loaned from a Black Country library eight years ago has turned up - 4,000 miles away in the US.
Staff at Dudley Library were stunned when they were contacted by Boone County Library in Kentucky to say they had one of their overdue books.
The Wildest Province: SOE in the land of the Eagle, by Roderick Bailey, had never been returned.
A worker at Boone County Library told a US TV station: "Part of my job is returning books that end up at our library my mistake, so when I came into work and saw a book on my desk from Dudley, England, my first thought was I’d return it to Dudley myself."
Image source, Boone County Library"About three weeks ago we received an email out of the blue from our colleagues in the inter-library loan department of Boone County library and they said we’ve got this book and we think it’s yours," said Jen Beardsmore, of Dudley Libraries.
"I think probably what happened is it was somebody who went on holiday and took it with them and forgot to pack it when they came back, or emigrated to America and forgot that they’ve got it and eventually handed it in to the nearest library."
Police have apprehended a chocolate fiend trying to escape a shop with this haul of treats today.
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Birmingham's cathedral is to reopen tomorrow after closing on Wednesday for security reasons.
Acting Dean Rev Canon Nigel Hand said the closure had given staff time to make necessaray decisons and arrangements, with an increased security presence in place.
Image source, bbc“In uncertain and trying times, we take comfort in the routine and rhythm of our daily life together, and we look forward to welcoming people to the Cathedral and to Cathedral Square for moments of prayer, reflection and stillness," he said.
Holy Communion and Evening Prayer were held outside with a prayer station also being set up outside.
It's been announced today Wolverhampton teenagers are going to get a helping hand in the kitchen, thanks to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
The Way Youth Zone has teamed up with his Ministry of Food to teach young people valuable cooking skills.
Emma Shippey, girls and health coordinator, said: “The idea is we’re going to teach teenagers 10 Jamie Oliver recipes that will give them the skills they need to be able to produce healthy food from scratch.
"It’s a brilliant scheme and I’ve taken so much from it. I’m eating healthier and feel so much better too.”
Image source, Press release imageAccording to official statistics, 41.8% of 10 and 11 year olds in Wolverhampton are obese.
Based on a recent health survey undertaken with young people at The Way, 32% believed they were overweight. About 83% of the young people asked said they don’t eat five portions of veg every day.
Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist
It's a complex network of twists and turns that drivers love to hate - but Brummies still hold Spaghetti Junction dear.
As the imposing concrete structure turns 45 today, photographer Hanny Foxhall tweeted , externalthese images of junction 6 of the M6.
She took them during a gathering of the Birmingham Instagramers , externalcommunity. Thanks for sharing, Hanny.
Image source, Hanny Foxhall
Image source, Hanny Foxhall
Image source, Hanny Foxall
Image source, Hanny FoxhallA man, now in his 30s, says he had sex with Julie Wadsworth up to 15 times as a teenager.
Read MoreMore than 100 constituencies across the UK have no female candidates standing, BBC research says.
Read MoreRebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist
A representative from the Woodland Trust has told how saddened they are to close a wood because of 'dogging' and drug abuse.
We reported yesterday Uffmoor Wood, near Halesowen, had been closed after the antisocial behaviour got out of control and were making other visitors feel unsafe.
Image source, Woodland TrustQuote MessageEssentially what's happening is people are timing their visits to make sure they can avoid certain characters in the car park, or feel intimated by other dog owners or other woodland visitors and not feeling safe in the woods. We're absolutely gutted to go to this level of action.
Hollie Anderson, Woodland Trust
In the run-up to 8 June's general election, the BBC has been sharing voters' thoughts.
The BBC's election panel in England is made up of voters with a range of political views drawn from across the nation.
Today it's been asked about employment.
Quote MessageThere are plenty of jobs, however people here do not want to work, and claim benefits instead, thus having to rely on migrant workers. I would rather the state top up Brits wages than allow migrants, as they will still save from paying them benefits not to work. The situation is ridiculous.
Tarz, Birmingham
Quote MessageImmigration is needed and it's about time the main parties and people in UK accept it. We need people with skills willing to work to be able to work in this country. If we had UK citizens willing to do any job and do it well then there would be less immigrants - UK citizens are too lazy and on benefits and can't be bothered to work and then shout that immigrants are taking the jobs.
Steven, Birmingham
Quote MessageIt is not doing well at the moment. Technology is taking over people's work, not immigration.
Shahid Ba, Birmingham
Image source, Sarah CarterAn alleged victim of two former BBC presenters accused of child sex offences has told a court he only discovered their names after recognising their voices on a radio show.
In videos of police interviews played to a jury, the man claimed he had sex with Julie Wadsworth up to 15 times as a teenager, including once when her husband Tony Wadsworth joined in a "threesome".
The complainant, now in his 30s, is among seven youths alleged to have been indecently assaulted in the 1990s by the Wadsworths who have worked for BBC Radio Leicester and BBC WM.
Mrs Wadsworth, 60, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault, while her 69-year-old husband denies 10 counts of the same offence.
The trial continues at Warwick Crown Court.
