Express and Star

A company which provides home care in Sandwell has been placed into special measures, external after failings were uncovered during an inspection prompted by the death of a resident.

Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM

Wolverhampton City Council is planning to spend £365,000 installing new bollards to protect against vehicle-based terror attacks.

Image source, Google

It wants to install the bollards and gates in locations including Queen Square and Molineux.

But a report due before councillors next week rules out increased protection of all crowded places - because it would cause significant disruption and cost millions of pounds.

The council said it was not acting on any specific threat, but rather recent national and international terror attacks such as the ones in Westminster and Barcelona.

BBC Sport

Essex have made a good start at Edgbaston with a wicket in each of Jamie Porter's first two overs.

He's still testing the Warwickshire batsmen but for now the very experienced pair of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell are keeping him out.

Trott has move to six not out with one boundary, but, like Bell, who is yet to get off the mark, he has been forced to be largely defensive.

Birmingham City Council's website has been down since yesterday afternoon after workers went through a cable.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

The incident happened as part of work on the major Paradise Circus redevelopment, which includes the site of the city's old Central Library.

The website was expected to be working again this afternoon and email was also affected by what happened, a council spokesman said.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa, external have lodged an appeal to have Henri Lansbury’s red card against Middlesbrough overturned.

Image source, Getty Images

The midfielder was sent off for a challenge on Marvin Johnson in the 64th minute of the game and faces a three-game ban.

A man has died after being shot in Birmingham.

Image source, Google Maps

The 34-year-old man was shot on Great Hampton Row, in Hockley, at about 21:30 on Wednesday.

The man, who has been identified but is not being named at this stage, was taken to hospital but died a short time later, West Midlands Police said.

Det Insp Harry Harrison, from West Midlands Police, external's force CID, said: "This is a shocking and cold blooded killing which has cost a man his life, we are working non-stop to find those responsible.

"A stretch of the road remains cordoned off as we search for clues in this fast-paced investigation."

BBC Radio Stoke

Work to build a brand new £1.2m library in Lichfield will start on Monday., external

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire County Council says it'll involve opening up the ground floor of St Mary's Church on Market Square to host both the library and the tourist information service.

It says the first floor will also house a permanent museum, exhibition and performance space.

A 92-year-old man has died and his wife, also in her 90s, is being treated in hospital after a house fire in Kings Heath, Birmingham.

Image source, Google

The fire service said the fire at the semi-detached property on Chesterwood Road seemed to have started accidentally in the kitchen.

The woman was rescued from the first floor of the house and is being treated for smoke inhalation. Her husband died at the scene, despite fire services arriving within three minutes of the first call at about 13:30 BST yesterday.

Smoke alarms were fitted in the house, but without batteries, the service said.

Express and Star

Nearly one in four shops in Walsall are closed, making it one of the worst affected town centres in the country according to a new report, external.

The Unite union goes to the High Court later in the latest stage of its battle with Birmingham City Council over bin workers' contracts.

Image source, Getty Images

It claims the council has broken the law by issuing redundancy notices to staff.

The 113 workers will either have to drop a pay grade or switch jobs within the authority, the union claims.

Workers resumed their strike on 1 September after a deal, which had seen the seven-week action suspended, fell apart.

Warwickshire resume on seven without loss, chasing 168 to make Essex bat again, on day three of their County Championship match at Edgbaston.

The visitors declared on 369 yesterday.

Image source, Getty Images

If Lancashire lose at Somerset, Essex will be crowned champions for the first time since 1992 with victory, with Warwickshire edging closer to relegation.

Play is due to begin at 10:30 and you can follow updates here.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a showery start for some there should be some brighter spells before the rain returns this afternoon.

We can expect top temperatures of about 17C (63F).

Victims of the rogue surgeon will be paid compensation from a new £37m fund, it was announced on Wednesday.

Good morning. We'll bring you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates from across Birmingham and the Black Country until 18:00.

National Action branded stickers were found at Aston University, police said.

Police say the 84-year-old woman was left with bruised arms after the attack in Birmingham.

The officer was filmed mocking Black Lives Matter at a house in Coventry.

A policeman is filmed telling a man: "You would be the first one I'd shoot if I had a gun."

Essex are on the verge of their first County Championship title since 1992 after a fine batting display against Warwickshire.

One victim told the FA's inquiry the ex-England manager advised him to "sweep it under the carpet".