Boy, 17, guilty of male model's murderpublished at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The teenager is unanimously convicted of killing James Brindley, who was knifed in the heart.
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Updates from 29 January to 4 February 2018
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Boy, 17, guilty of male model's murderpublished at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
'Tinge of disappointment' for Cotterillpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Birmingham manager Steve Cotterill says he has a "tinge of disappointment" at a lack of activity in the transfer window.
Read MoreIn the papers: Free parking return suggestedpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The Halesowen News is covering these stories today:
Lorry drivers urged to end 'stupidity' over bridge crashespublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsNetwork Rail has called for an end to the "entirely avoidable stupidity" of lorry drivers hitting bridges because they don't know how tall their vehicles are. , external
The plea comes after four crashes yesterday and today in England, two of them in the West Midlands.
Image source, Network RailThe first saw a lorry driver escape injury after hitting a bridge and overturning on Summer Road, Erdington, the firm said.
Trains were then disrupted in the Lichfield area yesterday after a lorry crashed into a railway bridge on St John's Street in the city.
In both cases Network Rail says the height of the bridges is clearly marked.
Quote MessageThere’s no excuse for this. Lorry drivers should know their vehicle's height and width - not guess and hope for the best."
Mark Killick, Chief operating officer, Network Rail
Oldbury M5 roadworks: Months of repairs still aheadpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Image source, Highways EnglandWork to repair part of the M5 in the West Midlands won't be fully completed until at least the spring of 2019, transport officials have admitted.
Junction 1 at Oldbury in the West Midlands is being resurfaced and waterproofed and Highways England have released photos showing the scale of the work.
They also say that while it will continue until this autumn, some minor work will keep going into the spring of next year.
Image source, Highways EnglandBlind woman hails taxi driver fine for refusing guide dogpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA blind campaigner from Staffordshire, who found some taxi drivers refused to pick her up with her guide dog, has welcomed the fine handed to a taxi driver for doing the same thing.
Zaheer Ahmed Sadiq, 40, of Upper Belgrave Road, Normacot, admitted breaching the Equality Act when he drove off in Longton in Stoke-on-Trent.
He'd refused to carry a registered blind woman in July because of her guide dog.
Denise Leigh from Audley, who is also registered as blind, was part of a BBC Radio Stoke undercover investigation in September which found four out of 13 taxi drivers wouldn't take her and her guide dog.
Quote MessageIt's great news, it's a step in the right direction. It will make it clear that they are in breach of the Equality Act every time they refuse an assistance dog."
Denise Leigh, Blind campaigner
Tigers secure deadline day signingpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
BBC SportIt wasn't just football clubs that had a transfer deadline last night - it was the last chance for British ice hockey clubs to sign players too.
Telford Tigers were the only West Midlands club to add a player at the 11th hour, bringing back Macauley Halford.
Image source, Steve BrodieThe forward left the team in September saying he was unhappy with his contract, but is back to play the final two months of the season.
Quote MessageWe all know how much upside Macauley has and I think playing with such a experienced and quality player in Scott McKenzie we’ll see how much of a big deal this re-signing actually is. I’m confident Scott will bring the best out of Macauley. I’m really excited to have Macauley back.”
Tom Watkins, Telford Tigers head coach
MP wants Brexit clarity for car industrypublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The Conservative MP for Rugby, Mark Pawsey, has told the House of Commons the car industry needs clarity over the government's Brexit plans.
He said uncertainty over the transition was affecting output and that it could have a knock-on effect for the wider West Midlands.
Mr Pawsey was speaking during a debate on Britain's exit from the EU.
Media caption, The Rugby MP says the car industry needs clarity over the government's Brexit plans.
'Lifeline' bus service facing choppublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Liz Copper
Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayPassengers using a bus service which runs through the Staffordshire Moorlands say they'll be left isolated if it ends because of cuts.
Funding for the Moorlands Connect service, external is due to finish in March.
Passengers have described it as a "lifeline" to the BBC as it runs through a number of villages, taking passengers to Leek, Ashbourne and Buxton.
Staffordshire County Council says it's "exploring options" for its future.
Teenager convicted of budding model's murderpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Breaking
Jo Tidman
BBC NewsA teenager's been found guilty of the murder of a budding male model.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceJames Brindley, 26, was stabbed once in the heart in Aldridge, near Walsall in June.
This afternoon, a jury found a 17-year-old, who cannot be named, guilty of his murder.
A second defendant, Aaron Kahrod, 21, of Walsall Road, Aldridge, was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter.
North West Air Ambulance adds car to fleetpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The North West Air Ambulance has added the first car to its fleet.
Image source, North West Air Ambulance CharityThe £65,000 vehicle has been kitted out for medical use and will be used by paramedics when weather or low light prevents helicopters from flying.
The charity is now looking to raise funds to purchase additional units, which it said would give its patients the best possible chance at survival.
In the papers: Scaffolding pole used to smash taxipublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
The Sentinel website has these stories today:
Kristian Thomas to help coach at Telford clubpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC ShropshireThe former Olympic medallist Kristian Thomas joins the coaching team at the Park Wrekin club in Telford from today.
He will be working on a part-time basis, with his first session at 15:30.
Image source, Getty ImagesThomas was a member of the British team that won the gold medal in the 2012 European Championships - and then an historic bronze medal in the London Olympics later that year.
Fire blazing for nearly 17 months to finally be put outpublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA fire which started in September 2016 and involved 1,000 tones of waste on farmland can now finally be put out.
The blaze began on Slitting Mill Road, Rugeley, and the fire service says a controlled burn had to take place since then over fears water supplies could be contaminated.
They say the fire has now burnt away enough waste that it can be safety put out without a risk to the water supply.
In February 2017, two men were permanently banned from moving materials from the site of the blaze after Staffordshire County Council said they'd "unlawfully" brought waste to the site.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceImage caption, Fire crews used soil to smother the fire
MP and baby make case for proxy votingpublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
As MPs started a debate about bringing in powers to allow MPs who are new parents on maternity or paternity leave to vote by proxy, Emma Reynolds was interviewed with her baby Theo.
The Wolverhampton MP told Daily Politics presenter Jo Coburn rights for the wider population had yet to be extended to those in Parliament.
Warriors shuffle the pack for Anglo-Welsh cup gamepublished at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & WorcesterWorcester Warriors have made 12 changes to the starting line-up for their final Anglo-Welsh Cup Pool game against Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow night.
Only Dean Hammond (pictured below), Tom Howe and Matt Cox keep their starting places as a young Warriors side chases victory in hope of reaching the competition’s semi-finals for the first time.
Image source, Getty ImagesAfolayan leaves Solihull for West Hampublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
West Ham sign 21-year-old forward Oladapo Afolayan from National League side Solihull Moors for an undisclosed fee.
Read MoreDeal agreed to sell city retail park for £57.5mpublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA retail park in Birmingham's being sold to an insurer for £57.5m.
Image source, GoogleHammerson PLC, the current owners of the Battery Retail Park, Selly Oak, say they've exchanged contracts for the sale to NFU Mutual.
Hammerson says the sale is part of their ongoing "disposal strategy" which has been going on since last year.
The firm, which owns the Bullring, agreed a deal in December worth £3.4bn to buy rival shopping centre owner Intu.
Barry Bennell defence offers no evidencepublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Barristers for the former football coach say they will not call any witnesses or offer any evidence.
Read MoreCost to build Midland Metropolitan Hospital 'could rise'published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThe cost of a new £350m hospital in Sandwell could rise after the collapse of construction firm Carillion, a report states.
The Wolverhampton-based company went into liquidation last month, throwing the future of many of the projects it was involved in into doubt.
Image source, HandoutOne of those is the Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Sandwell, which is around two-thirds built and has already had its opening delayed to 2019 due to construction problems.
Now, board papers for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, external say Carillion's collapse could mean a "significant delay" to the opening.
They also say that costs could now "exceed" Carillion's bid of £75m but say the government is backing the completion of the hospital as the "right strategy".
