Black Country flag 'race' rowpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Tens of thousands of readers have leaped to the defence of the Black Country flag, external Â-Â while the MP at the centre of the furore has beaten a hasty retreat.
Summary
Injuries as ceiling collapses at school prom
Terror trial juror discharged over 'attractive' policeman
'Street race' killers jailed
'Sleeping' teacher barred from food fight school
Block of flats declared fire risk
Second arrest over fake acid attack
Updates from Friday 21 July 2017
Black Country flag 'race' rowpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
West Brom press conference in Hong Kongpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Mikey Burrows
BBC WM SportAlbion boss Tony Pulis has refused to comment on links to Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs.
Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong for the Premier League Asia Trophy, Pulis told reporters "we are linked with 50-60 players. We will do our business in private".
Pulis confirmed that Jonny Evans would be the club's new captain this season.
Quote MessageWe're looking for new players. We've got to add new ones - the chairman and directors understand that. As a football club we have a blue print and we're going to try our best to stick with that."
Tony Pulis, West Brom boss
The whiff of a summer bin strikepublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Birmingham refuse workers hold daily stoppages as a dispute with the local authority continues.
Read MoreMum and young son stabbedpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
A mum and her young son were rushed to hospital after they were both stabbed in Dudley., external
'Door remains open' on bin strike discussions - councilpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
The union representing refuse workers in Birmingham says its members will continue industrial action until September - with daily walkouts.
Bin bags have been piling up across the city as the dispute between rubbish collectors and the city council continues.
Unite says the council is cutting more than 120 jobs and claims members have received their notice letters.
Meanwhile, the local authority said its "door remained open" for discussions and there were "no job losses", with workers offered other opportunities.
Quote MessageThere are no job losses as a result of the changes being made and we have not issued redundancy notices. In fact we have recently written to colleagues to outline the job opportunities available to them - including opportunities for promotion."
Jacqui Kennedy, Corporate Director, Birmingham City Council
Unite regional officer Lynne Shakespeare said: "The blame for any missed collections rests squarely with council bosses who have shown themselves incapable of running the service, let alone capable of making any meaningful or positive changes to it."
Man needs surgery after city centre stabbingpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
A 19-year-old man is being treated in hospital for serious injuries after being stabbed in the bicep and armpit in Birmingham city centre yesterday evening, police say.
The West Midlands force, which has released a CCTV image of a man it wants to trace,, external says the victim requires surgery following the attack near bus stops on Moor Street Queensway.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceQuote Message[The pictured man] has a distinctive hairstyle. He has long afro hair worn in two buns high on either side of his head."
Det Insp Tom Hadley, West Midlands Police
New head teacher at Hydesville Tower School announcedpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
It's a new chapter for an ambitious Walsall school after announcing its new head teacher for next year., external
People with knives 'need to be scared'published at 13:50 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Campaigner whose brother died wants sentences for knife possession to match those for gun possession.
Read MoreBicycle theft and vehicle crime top for offences unsolved by West Mids forcepublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Most vehicle crimes investigated by West Midlands Police go unsolved, according to BBC research.
The analysis focused on cases that were closed because of that outcome.
In two types of offence, the West Midlands force performed more poorly than any other English and Welsh force - bicycle theft and vehicle crime.
No suspects were identified in, respectively, 93% and 85% of cases.
Free tennis sessionspublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Bin workers striking until Septemberpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Services will be suspended for three hours every day from the end of July.
Read MoreBereaved family calls for tougher knife sentencingpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Emma Thomas
Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayThe sister of a 23-year-old man from Wolverhampton who was stabbed to death is calling for tougher sentences for people who carry knives.
Thomas Kirwan was killed outside Uberra Club in July 2012. The perpetrator has never been identified.
Quote MessageUntil you change the law and make it a deterrant for a young man to ask 'is it worth me taking this knife out?' it's not going to change. They need to be scared and question what impact it will have. Make sentences tougher and they might think twice."
Martine Johnson, Sister to Thomas Kirwan
Birmingham pub bombings: Police request copy of BBC interviewpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Breaking
Chris Blakemore
BBC WMThe chief constable of West Midlands Police says the force has asked the BBC for a copy of the full interview with Michael Hayes who told a programme he was part of a group responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings.
In the interview, Mr Hayes, a self-confessed IRA bomb maker, said he defused a third device on the night of the explosions at two city pubs which killed 21 people.
Speaking at a meeting of the police and crime board in Birmingham this morning, Dave Thompson said the matter was under active review and that families of victims would be kept informed.
Media caption, IRA man said he was sorry innocent people died in the pub bombings
Jane Austen Centre given £50k fiverpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
A Bath museum is given one of five valuable fivers on the 200-year anniversary of the author's death
Read MoreDIY SOS for grandmother and late daughter's girlspublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Daz Hale
BBC WMDIY SOS is in West Brom for the start of its latest project.
Sandra Chambers lost her daughter Crystal to cancer aged 32 in 2015.
She is now the full-time carer to Crystal's two young children at her two-bedroom house.
Workmen and women from across the area are donating their time to help a planned, ten-day transformation of the property.
Your comments: The pen helping blind children to drawpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Meet Yusuf, a blind student from Birmingham who now enjoys drawing after being given a special 3D pen which creates raised lines so he can feel what he is creating.
The story featured on BBC News' Facebook page yesterday and has received hundreds of comments
Media caption, Special pen helps blind students to draw in Birmingham
Richard Mullins writes:, external "Only a matter of time until some genius savant blind artist creates something amazing. Fantastic technology. Well done to those who worked on this."
Shahad J. Hassan posts:, external "This is totally amazing! I feel so overwhelmed. Now they can use their imagination to actually see what they draw. I loved it. Other kids would use creatively as it is mentioned. Well Done!"
Natalie Jon adds:, external "God bless these students 💖💖 despite their disability that doesn't stop them from shining."
Speedway: Wolves 44-48 Poolepublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Mike Taylor
BBC WM SportWolves lost at home for the first time this season 44-48 to Poole.
They had been leading until a heavy crash involving Kyle Howarth saw him taken to hospital.
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End of twitter postMatt Preston stays as Walsall target two morepublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Centre-back Preston saw his previous contract with the Saddlers expire at the end, external of June but has remained with the group throughout pre-season.
Case closed: Most thefts 'never solved'published at 10:17 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
Analysis of 18 million crimes reveals how many cases are closed without a suspect being identified.
Read MoreMP says he will oppose HS2 votepublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 18 July 2017
The Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has warned of "devastation" after details of the HS2 route north of Birmingham were revealed.
Quote MessageThere are farms facing devastation in my constituancy. There are quarries being planned for them under phase 2a. This legislation certainly will not have my support when it comes to a vote."
Michael Fabricant, Lichfield MP
The Department for Transport said the full line would connect Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands in a Y-shaped network, with all of them being linked to London.
