Updates from Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October
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A Birmingham Islamic faith school's policy of segregating boys from girls is unlawful sex discrimination, Court of Appeal judges have ruled.
These are some of the stories featured on the Shropshire Star website today:
BBC WM Sport
New boss of Birmingham City, Steve Cotterill, is in a motivational mood as he prepares to take charge of his first game tonight at home to Cardiff.
They could have record signing Jota (pictured) and striker Che Adams back for tonight's game at St Andrew's.
Birmingham have won just one of their past 11 league meetings with Cardiff, a 1-0 victory at St Andrew's in December 2015.
Image source, EmpicsQuote MessageThe only thing they will get off me at the touch-line is encouragement and to stick at it. If predominately we're doing the right thing, it will come right for us."
Steve Cotterill, Manager
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Wasps begin their attempt to qualify from the group stages of the European Cup for a fourth season in a row when they take on Ulster in Belfast tonight.
Dai Young has made seven changes to the team that started in the defeat at Saracens, with backs Christian Wade, Jimmy Gopperth and Dan Robson returning.
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Quote MessageUlster have a quality squad, with threats throughout, so you have to be at your best if you are to get a result there. I'm sure they will have ordered some rain in again as well - I don't think I've ever been there on a Friday night when it hasn't been bucketing down."
Dai Young, Wasps Director of Rugby
BBC WM
A ruling on whether a Birmingham Islamic faith school's policy of segregating boys from girls amounts to unlawful sex discrimination is to be given by Court of Appeal judges later.
Three judges in London will announce their decision in a test case which is being seen as raising fundamental questions over pupils being taught "British values".
A High Court judge ruled in November last year that Ofsted inspectors were wrong to penalise the mixed-sex Al-Hijrah school in Bordesley Green on the basis of an "erroneous" view that segregation amounted to unlawful discrimination.
Get Inspired
Get Inspired
It's the Great Birmingham Run this Sunday and one man who will be lacing his trainers and taking part is Stuart Warner, a teacher from the city.
Watch, listen and take inspiration from Stuart's amazing story on how he transformed his life.
If you missed out on Birmingham, you can still find out about running clubs and resources near you with our Get Inspired guide, or check out the Couch to 5K app, here.
'If I can do it, anyone can' - teacher's Couch to 5K story
Plans to introduce red lines on some Stoke-on-Trent streets next week, to ban all vehicles from stopping, are worrying some local traders.
The lines are being painted on stretches of Marsh Street, Trinity Street, York Street and Eturia Road, and stopping on them for any reason will incur a fine of up to £70.
Image source, GoogleSome businesses say it will make deliveries difficult and they are asking Stoke-on-Trent City Council for permission to make drop-offs in other places.
The authority said the markings were designed to reduce congestion and improve safety.
Quote MessageThere's not much parking in the area as it is. Most of my customers know what they want, so it's just a case of pulling up outside the shop. I believe, truly, it will affect our business."
Brandon Da Silva, Trader
Army veterans are planning to demonstrate against a military charity's plans to scale back its services in Shropshire today.
Combat Stress says some jobs could be lost, as it looks to stop providing residential care at its Audley Court site in Newport.
Image source, Combat StressThe charity's Chief Executive Sue Freeth says it wants to offer an outpatient service in the new year.
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A clinical trial is starting at Coventry's University Hospital that could help some cancer patients live longer.
Advanced pancreatic cancer mainly affects people over 75 and is difficult to treat.
This new trial has delayed tumour growth in some patients, external.
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
This week, partygoers from Birmingham University packed into a Greggs in the city for a three-hour rave take-over.
Around 50 students were treated to free pasties, donuts and alcohol while a DJ played tunes and inflatable pizzas surfed over the crowd.
We know, where was our invite?!
Image source, GreggsThe club night was the idea of third year student Nikki Gardner, 21, who contacted the company asking if she could host a party to mark the start of the new term.
"I used to get a Greggs every morning or lunch when I was working in town and one day I just thought wouldn't it be amazing to have a party in here," Gardner told BBC Three.
"I came back for the new uni term and wanted to celebrate being back, so I just thought I'd ask them."
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Gardner was given an hour-long slot to play her favourite tunes behind the decks as students stuffed themselves with steak bakes.
"The party was awesome," she added.
Here are some of the stories the Coventry Telegraph is covering:
A consultation ends today, external on plans to build a new link road between the M54, M6 and M6 Toll.
Highways England says the current direct link on the A460 through Featherstone and Shareshill suffers "significant congestion and high accident rates".
It says a new route would "relieve traffic congestion on the A460, A449 and A5, providing more reliable journey times".
Highways England said the new road would also help grow the local economies in Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Cannock and Tamworth.
Three alternative routes have been proposed, external, bypassing Featherstone and Shareshill, and it's the last chance to have your say, external.
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online
While most people are just happy today is Friday, some people fear this day as it is of course Friday 13th.
But where did we get the idea that it's a date when bad things happen?
Friday 13th: Why is it unlucky?
Friday and the number 13 were unlucky in their own right, says Steve Roud, author of The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland.
"Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence," he says.
"This religious belief spilled over into a general dislike of starting anything - or doing anything important - on a Friday."
Around the 1690s, an urban legend began circulating that it was unlucky to have 13 people around a table or in a group, he says.
Mrs Lagram says theories behind "unlucky 13" include the number of people present at the Last Supper or the number of witches to make a coven.
Air pollution has reached dangerous levels in 12 areas of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
More parts of Worcester could be officially flagged up for breaching legal limits.
Image source, GRAHAMDThe worst place is the Horsefair in Kidderminster, with Holmer Road and Belmont Road in Hereford also making the list.
South Street in Leominster Now London Road, Foregate Street, The Tything and The Butts in Worcester are due to be added to the list because they're in breach of EU pollution limits.
BBC Midlands Today
The search is on to find this year's BBC Midlands Sports Unsung Hero.
Last year’s winner was 83-year-old David Finney (pictured below) who has been been coaching swimmers in Redditch for more than 40 years.
The award has been widened this year to include physical activities like dance and yoga.
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke City's assistant manager Mark Bowen says they're capable of pulling off a shock result at Manchester City tomorrow.
Pep Guardiola's team have scored 22 goals in seven league games and are undefeated in all competitions so far this season.
Bowen told BBC Radio Stoke they have to go to the Etihad in a positive frame of mind.
Quote MessageYou have to have the mentality that you can get something out of the game and creating problems and you try and put that in mind, but at the same time you've got to get your team in shape defensively."
Any score predictions? Read what BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson thinks will be the outcome of the game here.
Here are some of the stories the Birmingham Mail is covering:
Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
There needs to be a "massive" investment in public transport in the West Midlands, says the region's mayor Andy Street.
Mr Street argues that investment in transport and communications could help cure the UK's sluggish growth in productivity.
"If you improve your mobile broadband speeds, you improve the productivity of your business. If you reduce congestion you improve productivity." he said.
A dance teacher based in Dudley is the latest professional to take on the judges of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
Partnered for the show with actor and comedian Brian Conley, Amy Dowden is currently the British Latin American Champion.
Originally from Wales, the 26-year-old teaches dance to community groups and school children from across the Black Country.
Quote MessageWhen I was told I had the job, I just burst into tears, it still doesn't actually feel real, I'm still pinching myself."
Amy Dowden, Professional dancer
BBC Midlands Today
A large rural estate in Shropshire has been repeatedly targeted by poachers.
Dozens of deer and hares have been taken from the estate, which lies between Shrewsbury and Telford, in the last few months.
The wild deer have been hunted by dogs or shot with rifles.
Police say the number taken suggests they have a commercial outlet to sell venison to. Crops have also been damaged by the poachers driving through them.
