Updates from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 January
Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area
A woman found guilty of encouraging the suicide of a man she met online is set to be sentenced today.
Natasha Gordon, 44, of Paston in Peterborough, had denied encouraging or assisting in the death of Matthew Birkinshaw.
The 31-year-old postman, from Walsall, West Midlands, was found dead in his car at Rutland Water in December 2015.
She's due to be sentenced later at Leicester Crown Court.
The top stories in the Bimingham Mail:
BBC News Travel
Roads are closed in the Staffordshire Moorlands and South Cheshire due to heavy snow.
The A537 Cat and Fiddle in Macclesfield is closed along with the A53 Leek Road between the A54 Macclesfield Main Road and Brown Lane.
Image source, Flash Bar StoresCurrent view from Flash Bar Stores on the A53
More snow can be expected in the Moorlands area during the morning.
Theatre director John Barton, a co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), has died aged 89.
Image source, RSCWorking with the company since its beginnings in 1960, Barton directed more than 50 works - some adapted by him from the texts of Greek drama.
He was "a Shakespeare genius", RSC artistic director Gregory Doran said.
Actor Sir Patrick Stewart said "the names William Shakespeare and John Barton will be for me forever united".
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Icy stretches could cause problems on untreated roads in parts of the region.
A yellow warning for ice, external is in place for Staffordshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire until 10:00.
Image source, Met Office
BBC Business News
The first meeting of a task force aimed at supporting small businesses and workers affected by the Carillion crisis was described as "constructive".
Image source, Getty ImagesThe group, chaired by Business Secretary Greg Clark, met on Thursday.
It includes representatives from business, trade unions, construction trade associations and lenders.
Mr Clark said it aimed to give those affected the "information they need in this difficult time".
The Wolverhampton-based company went into liquidation earlier this week, threatening thousands of jobs and projects.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A cold and frosty start to a generally dry and bright day with some sunshine. Highs of 5C (41F)
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Friday.
We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.
We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external
The two brothers behind the idea have named the bar in memory of their mother Carol.
Read MorePhilip Ellis lost his labouring job when the construction giant collapsed.
Read MoreAlaeldien Ahmed denies murdering father-of-four Anthony Banting in a random attack.
Read MoreWest Brom manager Alan Pardew believes the rise in transfer fees show that football is "losing the plot".
Read MoreMidfielder Jordan Shipley signs a new contract with League Two side Coventry City, keeping him at the club until 2020.
Read MoreWe'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
Some of the headlining stories on the Coventry Telegraph website today are:
Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Controversial plans to build 50 holiday lodges in Malvern woodland have been rejected by councillors.
The Three Counties Agricultural Society put in an application to build the lodges and a reception building in Langdale Wood, external, opposite the Three Counties Showground.
Image source, GoogleThey said they would not be building on public land and believed the proposals would "enhance" the local ecology.
But the plans met with a backlash from protesters, external who said the wood was a wildlife hotspot that should be preserved.
Malvern Hills District Council's planning committee refused the plans last night.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Spare a thought for Staffordshire equestrian rider Sir Lee Pearson and his family after last night's high winds.
The 43-year-old's tweeted to say the gales have caused £6,000 of damage to dressage mirrors at his parent's arena in Cheddleton. , external
Image source, Getty ImagesPearson was flagbearer for Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where he added gold from the individual freestyle grade Ib and silver in dressage to his golds in Beijing and London.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Greece international is Paul Lambert's first signing after being appointed as Stoke manager on Monday.
"He's a really good left back and has lots of energy which we need," said Lambert at his news conference on Thursday.
Stafylidis, 24, joined the Bundesliga side in 2015 following a short loan spell at Fulham.
Among the stories on the Worcester News website today:
Allen Cook
BBC News
One of the co-founders of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has died, the theatre company announced today., external
Image source, Royal Shakespeare CompanyThe RSC says John Barton died earlier this morning. He was 89.
In 1960, he and Sir Peter Hall co-founded the RSC and he worked with the Stratford-upon-Avon-based company for the rest of his life.
The company's current artistic director, Gregory Doran, has paid tribute to him, calling him "simply one of the greatest influences in the acting of Shakespeare of the last century".
