BBC WM Sport

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup has taken place overnight in Beijing.

Wolves' reward for that win over Southampton is a home tie with Bristol Rovers while West Brom will take on Manchester City at the Hawthorns.

Aston Villa have also been drawn at home to Championship rivals Middlesborough.

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

Council decision on deal between council leadership and the Unite union has been deferred to another special meeting next Friday - 1 September.

It follows reports by officers which suggest the deal agreed at ACAS is not affordable.

BBC WM Sport

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup took place overnight in Beijing - we'll have more details on that later but first, here are the top stories we're looking at this morning.

• After making 11 changes in last night's match Wolves boss Nuno is really pleased with his side's progress after beating Southampton 2-nil
• Grant Elliott says he isn't looking to change much as captain of the Birmingham Bears as they prepare for the T20 Blast quarter final with Surrey on Friday
• The former Baggies, Aston Villa and Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson says Wayne Rooney is retiring from the England team at the right time

Stourbridge News

Councillors in Wall Heath and Wordsley had been looking forward, external to a wonderful Christmas time this year after obtaining funding for permanent Yuletide trees to brighten up the villages.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

A Birmingham City Council report says it cannot afford to give in to bin workers and could have no choice but to move ahead with changes it originally proposed.

Today there's going to be a special cabinet meeting, external with a vote on a new report into the ongoing saga which says the council cannot afford.

It recommends to back the original plan that the binmen went on strike about in the first place eight weeks ago.

Last Wednesday the Unite union suspended it's action, praising council leader John Clancy for saying he would reconsider proposals to change pay grades.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Conciliation service Acas said the action had been suspended amid negotiations between Unite and the city council to bring the seven-week dispute to an end.

The day-to-day work of the West Midlands Ambulance Service is broadcast in a new series on BBC One tonight.

It starts this evening at 21:00 BST and features call handlers talking a woman through CPR for her husband, crews reacting to a street brawl and the search for a missing man.

Image source, bbc

Six men have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences in Aston this morning.

The men, aged between 17 and 19, are being questioned by West Midlands Police, external after they were stopped in a car on Aston Lane because they were believed to be in possession of a firearm.

Police say they received reports of "suspicious activity" on Pine Avenue, Smethwick, and later arrested the men at about 02:20 in Aston.

The arrests are part of an "ongoing crackdown to tackle gun crime in the city", says the force.

The mother of a teenager stabbed to death in Birmingham claims cuts in youth services are now being reflected in a rise in violent crime.

Alison Cope's son Joshua Ribera was a rising star in the music world before he was fatally stabbed four years ago.

Image source, bbc

Ms Cope now runs her own anti knife campaign working closely with West Midlands Police to "change the mindset of young people".

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Here's how your forecast is looking for today across the West Midlands.

You can also get the latest weather for your area at any other time by going to the BBC Weather website.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Good morning from the BBC WM newsroom.

A bright start to the day. I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country between now and 18:00.

If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach us on Facebook , externalor tweet @BBCWM, external.

Last year's runners-up Southampton exit the EFL Cup at the second round as Championship side Wolves secure a deserved victory at St Mary's.

Jurors hear Melvin James killed his sister and stabbed his mother then turned the knife on himself.

After closing without warning or explanation, bridal shop directors say they're 'broke'.

The feud between the Birmingham rivals has plagued the streets with murders, shootings and stabbings.

What is the history to the bloody rivalry between Birmingham's Johnson Crew and Burger Bar Boys?

That's it for live updates today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country.

Birmingham Mail

Police and council take action against gang members, external following spate of shootings in the city.

BBC WM Sport

The top sport stories for Birmingham and the Black Country that we're looking at this evening include:

• Wolves striker Joe Mason has joined Championship rivals Burton Albion on loan
• Villa gave senior debuts to two academy graduates in their 4-1 win over Wigan in their second round clash
• Albion, Villa and Wolves if they're successful on the south coast will find out their round three opponents when the Carabao Cup draw's made in Beijing at 04:15
• There are two speedway meetings this evening - Wolverhampton have a double-header away at Kings Lynn, while the Birmingham Brummies host top of the table Belle Vue

Miriam Connolly who part-owns the boutique which closed says women might not get their money back.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's not going to be especially warm tomorrow, but it should be dry, with some sunshine appearing from behind the clouds.

And we are forecast a dry and cloudy night.