Updates from Wednesday 3 May 2017
That's it from the Local Live team on Wednesday.
Please join us again from 08:00 on Thursday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.
And remember, the polls open tomorrow morning in the election for the first ever West Midlands Metro Mayor.
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today
In just over 12 hours time, the polls open in the election for the first West Midlands Metro Mayor.
There are six candidates in the running for the job, which would make one of them arguably the most high profile politician in the region.
So who are the candidates and what will the job entail? We will explain it all on the Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.
Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands Today
Actress Shobna Gulati, who's well known for her role on long running soap Coronation Street and Dinner Ladies, dropped by Wolverhampton today.
She met storytellers who've helped form a new piece of theatre which will be performed at the largest UK festival inspired by South Asian culture.
Shobna will be re-telling stories shared by the women here at - the Humjoli Group in Wolverhmapton.
It's all for a new stage production called Mother Tongues from Father Lands , externalas part of the Southbank Centre's Alchemy Festival inspired by South Asian Arts and Culture.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
It's going to be overcast again tonight, but we should see some sunshine across the region tomorrow.
Shefali Oza has your forecast
A seven-year-old from Shirley in Birmingham shows off her new sports blade to playground pals.
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BBC WM
The Conservatives have selected their candidate to stand against Labour's David Winnick in the Walsall North seat.
Eddie Hughes, 48, will stand in next month's general election.
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One of the oldest MPs in Westminster, 81-year-old David Winnick (pictured below), retained his seat for Labour in the 2015 general election, with a 2,000 majority against the Conservative candidate.
The Labour MP has already served 38 consecutive years as the member for the Walsall constituency.
Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM
As the campaign to become West Midlands mayor enters its final stages, the polling experts suggest it's a tight race between Labour and the Conservatives.
Andy Street’s team are talking about causing a "political earthquake" in Labour’s heartlands.
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But the Labour team for Sion Simon, appear relaxed and confident, despite the party’s difficulties nationally.
As Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson extolled the virtues of Andy Street in Wolverhampton, Labour leafleted in Birmingham, no high profile party figures visiting for them, "It’s about the West Midlands", they said.
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After the news that 1D star Liam Payne and Cheryl have named their baby son Bear a football shirt has already been printed with his name on it.
Liam Payne, from Wolverhampton, who is a Baggie, will be match ready with his son.
The club have revealed his shirt, hoping he won't be a Magpie.
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Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Councils have spent millions buying back homes they sold at a discount under Right-to-Buy laws to meet housing shortages.
Image source, PABBC News Online investigated local authority areas where waiting lists rose for four consecutive years since 2011 and made Freedom of Information (FOI) requests of 10 councils at random.
Islington spent £6.2m on 25 houses it once sold for less than £1.3m.
It comes after Birmingham, one of the biggest councils in Europe, agreed in its budget to buy back Right-to-Buy homes when they became available - up to 200 in total, although it has not re-purchased any yet, according to an FOI response.
The government has vowed to build more affordable houses and in February called the current market "broken".
Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM
The Green’s James Burn says plans for the West Midlands need to change, as he bids to become the first mayor for the region which covers, Birmingham, the Black Country and Coventry.
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Communist Graham Stevenson says "vote for socialism, not austerity". Yesterday he was speaking to students in Birmingham.
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Whilst many see this election as a two horse race, the supplementary voting system means that the second choices made by the other four candidates supporters are likely to make the crucial difference when the result becomes clear on Friday afternoon.
A Walsall mother-of-four is currently in intensive care following a severe car crash, external, with her concerned family members revealing "she was almost paralysed".
Rob Mayor
Political Reporter, BBC WM
Yesterday was fraught with campaigning as the poll booths prepare to open on Thursday for the West Midlands Metro mayor election.
A visit to Dudley town centre has become a UKIP election staple and leader Paul Nuttall was there to sing the praises of their mayoral Candidate Pete Durnell.
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For the Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen was out leafleting in Wolverhampton yesterday.
Here's why she thinks she should be mayor.
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Read more about the candidates on BBC News. Polls open from 08:00 on Thursday.
Aaron Barley pleads guilty to trying to kill father-of-two Peter Wilkinson at his West Midlands home.
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Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
Aaron Barley, 23, has not entered pleas to two other charges he faces of murder.
Image source, PAHe is accused of killing Tracey Wilkinson and a 13-year-old boy on the same date, 30 March.
Lydia, the daughter of Barley's victim Peter, was in Birmingham Crown Court along with Peter's father Stephen, when he entered the guilty plea.
The case was adjourned until 19 July, ahead of a possible trial date of 3 October.
Arafa Nassib is accused of trying to commit fraud against Scottish Widows.
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Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent
Aaron Barley, 23, who is charged with the Stourbridge murders has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Peter Wilkinson.
He has made no pleas for two murder charges.
BBC Sport
Warwickshire have awarded professional contracts to seam bowlers Grant Thornton and Mitchell Spencer.
The pair, both 24, have been given three-month contracts with the County Championship Division One side.
Image source, Sam Bagnall, Warwickshire CCC.Grant Thornton took 0-34 on his first-class debut against Northamptonshire in April
Thornton made his first-team debut in their One-Day Cup win over Northamptonshire on 27 April, while Spencer is yet to play for the county.
"They are two very different bowlers and good options for Ian Bell to have as captain." said coach Jim Troughton.
Warwickshire's sport director, Ashley Giles, had talked about bringing in "new blood" after they made an difficult start to the season.
BBC Entertainment and Arts
A Birmingham painter has been shortlisted for this year's Turner Prize.
Hurvin Anderson is one of two artists over the age of 50 to be nominated for the first time in more than 25 years.
One of Britain's leading contemporary painters, Anderson takes inspiration from his youth in Birmingham's African-Caribbean community and visits to Trinidad. Barber shops feature regularly - they are places where he says both cultures meet.
Image source, HURVIN ANDERSONSince 1991, the upper age limit for those eligible to be considered was set at 50 but the rule change was confirmed earlier this year to reflect "the fact that artists can experience a breakthrough in their work at any age".
Follow final score, text, images and social media as Burnley host West Brom in the Premier League.
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