Updates from 29 January to 4 February 2018
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Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale have completed the signing of West Bromwich Albion defender Kyle Howkins, external on loan for the rest of the season.
The 21-year-old is a product of the academy system at The Hawthorns and spent most of last season on loan at Mansfield.
Image source, Getty Images
Allen Cook
BBC News
Here are some of the top stories on local newspaper websites in Staffordshire today:
BBC Sport
Daniel Sturridge (pictured) could make his West Brom debut in the side's trip to Manchester City this evening, after signing on loan this week from Liverpool.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 28-year-old has scored 74 Premier League goals in 114 starts and has also netted 27 times in cup competitions, but only started five games this season.
Fellow new recruit Ali Gabr is unlikely to be involved for the Baggies.
While Jonny Evans and Hal Robson-Kanu are nursing hamstring problems and will be assessed, along with several others.
An online appeal's been set up to help the daughter of a woman who was shot dead.
It's been started by staff at the Lawley Dental Practice, where victim Cheryl Hooper, 51, from Newport worked.
Ms Hooper was found inside a car at Farmers Gate, Newport, Shropshire, on Friday night.
Image source, GoogleThe practice says it's hoping to raise £30,000 to support her teenage daughter in the years to come.
Detectives are still waiting to question a man who is in hospital with gunshot wounds, in connection with the shooting.
Allotments could remain at a site which is currently being offered to developers for housing, the church has said.
The Diocese of Coventry is considering selling the land at Wellesbourne and said it is exploring a number of options.
The land has been used as allotments for more than 100 years and the diocese said it would discuss the possibility of allotments remaining, with increased security, when it meets representatives of the Allotment Association in the coming weeks.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition opposing the sale.
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent
The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police is calling on the public to do more to make their communities safer.
Dave Thompson has been speaking two years after taking on one of the biggest police jobs in the country.
In that time, violent crime has risen , externaland job losses have made the force the smallest in its history.
Quote MessageWe'd never ask the public to do a professional police officer's job but that's not what we're seeking. I think if people could be our eyes and ears and help us on the less demanding tasks that they can do to support the community, that's exactly what we want."
Dave Thompson, Chief Constable, West Midlands Police
A file with evidence regarding a crash in which a 14-year-old girl was killed has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Holly Brown was on a school minibus when it collided with a refuse lorry on the A38 Kingsbury Road in Castle Vale, Birmingham.
The teenager, from Branston and a pupil at John Taylor High School in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Holly was part of a 21-strong party going on an art trip on 7 July when the crash happened.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceAfter examining the evidence, the CPS can decide whether any criminal prosecutions should be made.
Image source, The scene of the accidentThe Dudley News has these stories on its website today:
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town have just announced the signing of Abo Eisa, a midfielder from Wealdstone FC.
And at the same time they've said they've released midfielder Louis Dodds.
A man who knocked down and killed near the West Midlands Safari park on Monday has been named as 36-year-old Kirk Busby from Kidderminster.
West Mercia Police have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the incident on the A456.
He has been released while inquiries continue.
Sophie Madden
BBC News
A relative of one of the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings says it's disappointing that a coroner's decided to ask for permission to appeal against a High Court ruling.
Image source, Getty ImagesTwo judges last week concluded coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC was wrong when he decided new inquests would not name suspects of the 1974 bombings.
Julie Hambleton's sister Maxine was killed in the attack along with 20 other people.
Quote MessageIt is disappointing to say the least. All this just adds more delay and anxiety especially regarding legal aid. We are in a situation where we are forced to go out on the streets and beg to be able to fund the legal process to get truth, justice and accountability for one of the biggest unsolved mass murder of the 20th Century.”
Julie Hambleton, Sister of pub bombing victim
Jo Tidman
BBC News
A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a youth and a man charged with the murder and manslaughter of a budding male model.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceJudge Patrick Thomas QC told the jury James Brindley, 26, had been stabbed once in the heart in Aldridge, near Walsall in June.
The 17-year-old and 21-year-old Aaron Kharod are both charged with murder and manslaughter - both deny the charges.
Andy Giddings
BBC News
The drinks-maker Britvic has announced it's creating about 80 jobs at its factory in Rugby.
The company says it's part of a £100m investment at the site, which will see the installation of three new can production lines.
Image source, GoogleThe site currently employs 176 people and the new jobs will include technical operators, engineers and team leaders.
Quote MessageRugby has been a home to Britvic for more than 30 years. The site has undergone significant change in that time; from the 80s when we manually produced drinks, through to the 90s when we moved to full automation, to our position today as the proud owners of some of the fastest can lines in Europe."
Clive Hooper, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Britvic
Two big developments are going to be built in a Warwickshire town.
Dennis Harvey, leader of Nuneaton Borough Council, was responding to a question from the town's Conservative MP, Marcus Jones, who asked what had happened to £200,000 the authority had promised to spend on town centres two years ago.
Mr Harvey said he had planned to make the announcement next week and accused Mr Jones of making the comments because he is "afraid of where the Tories are in the opinion polls".
Quote MessageWe're having a huge development in Nuneaton town centre, two in fact, at either end of the town."
Councillor Dennis Harvey, Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Football supporter Rick Edwards wants every club to have a defibrillator after fellow fans saved his life.
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Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A hospital is looking to recruit nurses and other staff for a new £2.4m psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU)., external
Image source, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS TrustManagers say the PICU unit, in Stoke-on-Trent, is expected to be ready by April and will mean patients will no longer have to travel to Stafford or further to get specialist treatment.
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust says the new unit will have six beds.
A Ludlow hotel which had to close last year after woman died following a Legionnaires' outbreak has been put up for sale for £2.65m.
Agents Christie & Co said the current owners of The Feathers, who have been running the business for 16 years, are looking to retire.
Image source, GoogleElaine Brown, 69, from Liverpool, died in August 2017 after a stay at the hotel, which was closed to allow an overhaul of the plumbing to take place.
Her death came months after another guest contracted the disease.
Quote MessageThe Feathers is widely regarded as ‘the most handsome inn in the world’ and is a fantastic opportunity for an owner operator to purchase their own piece of history in one of England’s prime market towns."
Charles Jones, Christie & Co
These are some of the headlines from the Worcester News today:
Families of the 21 victims of the Birmingham pub bombings want suspects to be named in new inquests.
Read MoreUnion Unison says the cuts at Babcock are "callous" and are not worth the savings.
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