Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

We expect to find out who will be the first West Midlands mayor between 14:00 and 18:00 today.

Things will depend on whether there is a clear winner after the first preference votes are tallied or whether the electorate needs to wait to see what the second preference votes turn up.

Image source, PA/DAVID JONES

Whoever is elected, they're going to head a West Midlands Combined Authority made up of seven constituent member councils - Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull and all four Black Country boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. 

They will have powers over economic development, education and skills, housing and transport - including compulsory purchase powers. 

The mayor will control a £1.1bn investment fund over 30 years, or £36m a year. The costs of the mayor's office itself will be covered by this fund until April 2018.

That money is handed down from government.

A girl whom her parents feared would never speak stunned them by saying her first words - to a rescue donkey.

Amber Austwick from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, who visits a local sanctuary, told the animal named Shocks: "I love you Shocky".  

Amber and her twin sister Hope were born prematurely at 26 weeks and both had breathing problems, but Amber would pull out her air vent at hospital, leaving her with a scarred windpipe.

Doctors did not know whether she would ever speak, but aged three she used her first sentence for the animal she befriended. 

Her mother, Tracy, 39, who works at the donkey sanctuary full time, described the moment Amber, now six, spoke as "a bit surreal". They've been telling their story in a book.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

A woman's body has been found in Dudley and a man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder, police say.

The discovery was made at about 11:30 on Thursday in Highgate Road, Brierley Hill, and the area was sealed off for searches by forensic experts.

Officers are now trying to identify the woman so they can inform her family members.

A post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow to determine the cause of her death.

The 24-year-old man was arrested in Walsall on Thursday evening and remains in police custody.

Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

We are due to find out later today who will oversee key issues in the lives of 2m people across Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. 

Polls in the vote for the West Midlands' first directly-elected metropolitan mayor closed at 22:00 on Thursday.

Phil Maiden
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The West Midlands UKIP MEP, Jim Carver, has told the BBC he won't be standing as a candidate at the general election.

The Worcester-based politician resigned as his party's foreign affairs spokesman over what he called its "misguided" plan to ban the wearing of the burka. 

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A dry day with plenty of sunny spells, but feeling chilly in the breeze with top temperatures of 17C (63F).

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Welcome to Friday's mix of news, sport, travel and weather updates.

Have your say on the headlines today or share your pictures over email, Twitter, external or our Facebook page, external.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A fireball's been seen coming from the blaze in Tamworth which broke out this afternoon at the Tame Valley Industrial Estate.

Chris Garbett took this video of the scene - Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says the blaze is under control now.

That's it from us on Thursday. Join us again for more news, sport, travel and weather updates from 08:00 on Friday.

Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

One of the region's biggest hospital trusts has almost doubled car parking charges for long-staying patients without warning. 

Polls will close in a little over three hours' time in the election for the West Midlands' first mayor.

And we'll be hearing about the stigma for men about talking about their mental health and the high rate of suicide among men.

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

BBC Midlands Today

A legal order preventing street racing events in the Black Country has been extended.

The injunction, which prevents drivers from car cruising anywhere in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, was first introduced in February 2015. 

West Midlands Police say the penalties for breaking it include fines, losing a vehicle, or even prison. 

"Do I need a mortgage?" is among visitors' criticism of the new £10 charge brought in overnight.

Warwickshire first-team coach, Jim Troughton, is looking to bounce back from successive One-Day Cup defeats when they return to Edgbaston this weekend.

After opening up their One-Day Cup qualifying group campaign by strolling to a 10-wicket victory at Northampton, the holders were then hit by defeat at home to Durham and at Leicester in successive days.

Image source, Getty Images

Now the Bears host Nottinghamshire on Friday (11:00), followed by another home game against Lancashire on Sunday (7 May, 11:00).

"Any team can beat any other on the day," Troughton told BBC WM. "We just have to make sure we are in a good place on Friday. We know we can turn it around. We have got the ability."

BBC Music

Lionel Martin, better known as Saxa, of the influential Birmingham ska band The Beat has died at the age of 87.

Image source, Ranking Roger/Facebook

The news was announced by his bandmate Roger Charlery, aka Ranking Roger, on Facebook (pictured together above).

"I am so very sad and sorry to have to announce to the world that the great Saxa passed away in his sleep last night," he wrote.

Solihull Moors midfielder George Carline has been selected by the England C team for their two forthcoming friendlies at home to the Punjab FA and then away to the Jersey FA.

Birmingham-born Carline, 24, (pictured) will follow in the footsteps of Omar Bogle, the only previous Moors player to be selected for England's non-league squad.

Image source, Soilhull Moors FC

The game against the Punjab FA (Sunday 28 May, 15:00 BST) will be on home soil for Carline at Damson Park. The team then fly out to Jersey to play at the Springfield Stadium, St Helier (Tuesday 30 May, 19:30 BST).

"It's a nice feeling knowing that my performances have been noticed," said Carline, who was signed by the Moors from Hednesford in November. 

Express and Star

Nearly a quarter of a million pounds will be spent on repairing one of Cannock Chase’s most notorious pot-hole ridden roundabouts, external – causing weeks of disruption.  

BBC WM Sport

Albion legend, Richard Sneekes, has told us the Baggies have "burnt out" this season, and he's advocating a change of system to 3-5-2.

Image source, Getty Images

Although Albion remain eighth in the Premier League table, Tony Pulis's side have won only one of their last eight games and have not scored in the other seven, losing four on the trot.

Sneekes told the West Midlands football phone-In last night that the Albion squad were "out on their feet".

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Trains between Birmingham and Tamworth have been stopped after a fire near the line in Tamworth, external. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it's got several crews fighting the large fire at Masonry Solutions site on the Tame Valley Industrial Estate, Wilnecote after being called at 15:20.

Image source, Julie Ward

Firefighters say everyone at the site has been accounted for while Staffordshire Police add that the blaze is, external "under control". 

The force adds that several roads from Ninian Way with Watling Street and Ninian Way with Hedging Lane are shut and want nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut.

Image source, Mrs O

Cath Mackie
BBC News Online

A hospital trust is charging patients and visitors £10 to park for more than six hours - a rise to nearly double the previous tariff.

The new fee, up from £5.75, was introduced by Heart of England Foundation Trust overnight without notice, patients have complained.

It is in effect at the trust's three acute sites, Good Hope, Solihull and Heartlands hospitals.

The trust said the charge for a stay of up to two hours was being reduced - stating, according to its data, the highest percentage of motorists used the car parks within that time window.   

Well, here's your answer.