In the papers: Dramatic fire rescue for familypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Here are some of the stories making headlines today for Staffordshire and Cheshire newspapers:
Summary
Live updates from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 February
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In the papers: Dramatic fire rescue for familypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
One in eight secondaries 'below standard'published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Secondary school tables just published show one in eight in England is below government standards.
Read MoreWoman who died after canal ordeal namedpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Marianne Weaver, 63, had been living on a narrow boat, police said.
Read MoreCouncil tax increase cut back to 3.99% in Birminghampublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMPlans to raise council tax by almost 5% in Birmingham have been scaled back.
Image source, GoogleThe city council says it's reduced the planned increase to 3.99% after consulting on its plans, external.
The authority's also announced it's scrapping, external proposed increases to burial and cremation fees and will no longer go ahead with the idea of charging for library book reservations.
The council's budget, which still includes £53m more of cuts, will now go in front of its cabinet tomorrow and then full council on 27 February.
Wasps' Eastmond faces double chargepublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Wasps' Kyle Eastmond faces a disciplinary panel after being cited, then sent off inside two minutes against Harlequins.
Read MoreAnti-drug plans backed as 'robust and timely'published at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
BBC News EnglandA charity which helps addicts has supported proposals aimed at cutting drug-related crime in the West Midlands.
Image source, Getty ImagesPolice and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has released a "bold" new report in an attempt to reduce crime and deaths.
They include giving heroin prescriptions for those addicted to the drug who have not responded to other treatments.
Quote MessageThe recommendations outlined in this report are a thorough, robust and timely contribution in the area of problematic drug use."
Prun Bijral, Medical director of Change, Grow, Live charity
Canal death woman's name revealedpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeThe name of a woman whose body was pulled from a canal near Stafford has been revealed by police., external
Image source, GooglePolice say she was Marianne Weaver, 63, and they are not treating her death as suspicious.
She was found near the junction of the Trent and Mersey Canal and Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal on 6 February and later died in hospital.
Gritters on the way as freezing temperatures continuepublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
With the cold temperatures to stay, councils say gritting will continue on the roads.
Telford & Wrekin Council says there is still some salt on its routes, but there are plans to top this up through the afternoon.
With a chance of snow and sleet overnight, the authority says it will send gritters out again overnight if the network needs more.
Shropshire Council also says it will send teams out on the roads tonight, particularly in the north east of the county.
Staffordshire County Council's gritting fleet has also been out overnight and will be on the roads again today as necessary.
Image source, Telford & Wrekin CouncilExercise plan to help former soldiers with PTSDpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Russell Truran
Journalist, BBC WMA special health and fitness programme aimed at helping former soldiers battle post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being launched.
The Cannock-based organisation Help A Squaddie , externalhas teamed up with Rugeley Leisure Centre to try to keep ex-servicemen and women fit and active.
The pilot scheme will last for 12 weeks and those behind it say they hope the exercise will also help to combat the effects of PTSD.
Quote MessageWe know from our referral background the benefits of exercise and sport, not just the physical benefits and your health improving, getting stronger but the mental health issues as well and coming out and meeting other people in the social environment."
George Gaye, Rugeley Leisure Centre
Five bailed in 'child sex' investigationpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
A sixth man held on suspicion of drugs possession with intent to supply is released under investigation.
Read MoreAttacker's jail term increased after police appealpublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
A robber who punched a 72-year-old man and fractured his eye socket has been given a longer sentence by the Court of Appeal.
Kenny Field hit the man more than 20 times in an unprovoked attack in Redhill Road, West Heath, Birmingham on 19 January 2016.
It was the same morning he smashed a window of a house in nearby Forrell Grove in West Heath, stealing a torch. He was identified by CCTV footage.
Field, 31, of Crambourne Close, Rubery, was convicted of robbery and criminal damage at Birmingham Crown Court.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceHe was also found to be in breach of a restraining order and sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment in November last year.
But West Midlands Police offices appealed against the ’unduly lenient’ sentence, and it was increased to eight years and six months at the London court on Tuesday.
Thousands of Carillion jobs savedpublished at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
BBC Business NewsThousands more former Carillion workers have seen their jobs saved since the collapse of the construction giant, according to the body in charge of liquidating the business.
The Wolverhampton-based company went bust in January.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Official Receiver said it has saved the jobs of a further 4,418 former staff by transferring "prison facilities management and defence bases catering and cleaning contracts to new providers".
But it added 59 workers would lose their jobs later this week.
Some 6,668 jobs have now been saved and 989 jobs lost following the collapse.
Murder charge father rushed to hospitalpublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
William Billingham was due in court charged with murdering his eight-year-old daughter Mylee.
Read MorePrep work starts on £80m tower blockpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsWork's started today on constructing an £80m tower block in Birmingham.
Developers say the 26-storey high 103 Colmore Row, on the site of the former NatWest Tower, would be the city's tallest office tower at 346ft (105.5m) and the highest new office building under construction outside London.
Image source, Rockspring/SterlingThey say they've picked BAM as the contractor for the building and they are starting site surveys today.
Main work's due to start in June with the tower being completed in 2020.
'Arguable breaches' in MoD range deathspublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
A coroner says there were "arguable breaches of the state's obligations" in the training exercise.
Read MoreDrugs warning after deaths of two menpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Police say they are investigating whether the deaths of two men could be linked to an illegal psychoactive substance.
Police were called to an address in King Edward Road in Rugby at 18:40 GMT yesterday.
Two men, both in their 20s, were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers say they are investigating the unexplained deaths and their link to a drug.
The force has released images of the packaging of the drug that they suspect could be involved and say they want raise awareness of the dangers to anyone else who may be using it.
Image source, West Mercia PolicePost mortem examinations and toxicology tests are to take place.
The force has urged anyone who knows anything about the packaging, or its origins, to come forward.
Dogs doing well after summer house rescuepublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Three puppies are doing well, despite their dramatic arrival.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to help a long-haired dachshund when she got stuck beneath a summer house, in Crockwell Street in Long Compton near Shipston-on-Stour, and was going into labour.
Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue ServiceFirefighters had to work carefully to bring her to safety and she gave birth to her puppies soon after the rescue on 25 January.
The fire and rescue service says the three puppies, one girl and two boys, are doing well.
Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue ServiceIn the papers: Ejector seat firm to be sentencedpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Here are some of the headlines from the Coventry Telegraph website today:
- Red Arrows pilot death: Ejector seat firm to be sentenced, external
- Driver who led police on high-speed chase, external said he had been "hypnotised" by Grand Theft Auto
- Dionne Clark killers set to be sentenced today, external
Artist's Queen painting to be in exhibitionpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
A Malvern-based artist will have his work featured in a major exhibition after painting the Queen for one of her charities.
Michael Noakes was commissioned to do the painting , externalas a gift to the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.
Image source, Michael NoakesThe picture will feature at the Mall Galleries in May.
Mr Noakes has painted the Queen a number of times, and first met her in the 1970s.
Police consider giving drug addicts heroin to cut crimepublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 12 February 2018
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WMThe West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is considering prescribing heroin to addicts , externalafter revealing that crimes related to drugs cost the region £1.4bn a year.
Image source, Getty ImagesDavid Jamieson says he wants to cut the number of deaths connected to drugs in the area, saying every three days someone in the West Midlands dies from poisoned drugs.
He says prescribing heroin to addicts who haven't responded to other treatment will stop people stealing to fund their habit.
Among the other proposals the PCC is also considering are city centre drugs testing and drug consumption rooms to give addicts access to clean equipment.
Mr Jamieson says he hopes to bring in many of the proposals before his term in office finishes in 2020.
