Joanne Gallacher
Political reporter, BBC Shropshire

Plans to increase the amount of money the leader of Shropshire Council receives have been called "out of line" by a member of his Conservative Group.

If the authority's Independent Remuneration Panel's advice is taken, Peter Nutting would get nearly £6,000 extra - taking his earnings up to more than £40,000.

The reason behind the increase is said to be because his workload has increased.

Image source, Thinkstock

The panel, external, which is made up of five people not associated with the authority, met throughout last year to speak to various councillors from all parties before making the proposals.

The plans are due to be discussed at a full cabinet meeting tomorrow., external

Coventry City Council has confirmed that the former Woodlands Academy site could be brought back into use as a school.

The authority has set aside £19m for education in its latest budget.

Officials are looking into whether the former academy, which closed to pupils in July 2016, could be re-purposed as a site for children with special educational needs.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa missed the chance to move into second place in the Championship after drawing 1-1 with Preston North End at Villa Park.

Villa were a goal down until the 66th minute, when substitute Lewis Grabban equalised with his first goal for the club from the penalty spot.

Sun Sun Wong is thought to have earned more than £400,000 over a two-year period.

Michael Trueman, 19, a student at Birmingham City University, died from the effects of taking drugs at the Rainbow Venues, Digbeth, a coroner has concluded.

Mr Trueman's aunt Lisa Hall said the family's lives have been "torn apart".

The owners of Coventry City are being urged to "get a social conscience" by a local MP, amid uncertainty about the club's long-term home.

Last week the Sky Blues struck a deal with the Ricoh's owners, rugby club Wasps, to play next season's games at the arena.

Image source, Getty Images

As MPs debated the club's situation in Westminster this morning, Colleen Fletcher, Labour MP for Coventry North East, said a long-term solution has to be found, while Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said it wouldn't be right for the Government to intervene.

She urged the club's owners and the Football Association to work towards finding a long-term solution.

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A meals on wheels service for elderly people in Herefordshire is being reviewed, a charity says, as it has become harder to sustain.

More than 80 people across the county are signed up for the scheme which is run by the Royal Voluntary Service and provides hot meals in their homes.

Image source, RVS

The charity says a decision is expected to be made in the near future.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the top stories featuring on the Shropshire Star website today:

• Four terriers stolen from Shropshire gardens, external in two days
• Security guard hired to protect Shrewsbury animal sculptures, external
• Pensioner died after falling down cellar stairs at care home, external near Oswestry

Three men are charged following an investigation into child sexual exploitation in Telford.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, Maggie Deacon/PA

Crossbencher Baroness Meacher asks the government to issue a special licence under section 30 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to enable the family of Alfie Dingley to import cannabis-based medication to treat his epilepsy.

The Home Office denied the family's request for a licence as the drug is illegal in the UK.

Alfie was taken to the Netherlands to take a cannabis-based medication in September. It reduced the number of seizures he had, said his family.

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford says she has a "huge amount of sympathy" for Alfie and his family and ministers will consider every option, including a special licence.

Birmingham's Dominick Cunningham and Alice Kinsella have both made the gymnastics squad for the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Dominick, 22, has competed at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011, earning himself three gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

While Alice, 16, will be making her Commonwealth Games debut, having won silver at the British Championships last year.

They will compete in the artistic gymnastics competition in Australia from 5 to 9 April.

Image source, UK Parliament

A Labour MP has been left "badly shaken up" and bruised after he was mugged on his way home from Parliament on Tuesday night.

Adrian Bailey, 72, member for West Bromwich West, was near his home in Southwark, south London, when he was attacked by "up to six" hooded assailants at around 10pm.

One of the group jumped on his back before being fought off but another attacked Mr Bailey from behind, a statement from the MP said.

A third person blocked his exit with a bike, before Mr Bailey shouted for help to someone he thought was a passer-by.

They turned out to be a fourth attacker and the MP suffered "a number of blows" and was hit over the head with a "large milk container" during the struggle.

Mr Bailey handed over his phone and wallet before the attackers made off and he made his way home to call the police.

Despite some "bumps and bruises", he did not require hospital treatment.

Iain Farrimond stabbed his wife in a murder-suicide attempt believing she would not cope if he died.

A paramedic is bitten the same day his colleagues are verbally abused over parking their ambulance.

We told you earlier about Birmingham City's 5-0 hammering at the hands of Brentford.

Now Blues keeper David Stockdale has tweeted an apology saying he is "always honest" and that his performance "wasn't good enough".

Manager Steve Cotterill said it was a "painful night".

Kate Jennings
BBC Radio Jersey, Reporter

An inquest in Jersey has not been able to say how a 61-year-old man died after he went out on his boat on Christmas day in 2014.

Roy Paul Deeming was confirmed dead after divers found two of his bones on two separate occasions last year near Belcroute bay.

Image source, States of Jersey Police

Mr Deeming was last seen by his friend on Christmas Eve 2014, when he was said to be subdued, having recently separated from his girlfriend.

The inquest heard no-one close to him had any reason to believe he wanted to take his own life.

It was typical of him to go out on his boat, called Desiree, and he often lived on the vessel, especially in the summer.

Mr Deeming - who was born in Birmingham - was described as an "unconventional character".

The inquest was told weights from a neighboring boat were taken on to the Desiree, which had a scuff on it - suggesting one of the weights had gone overboard.

But the Deputy Viscount, Advocate Mark Harris, left it as an open conclusion, as the cause of death "could not be ascertained".

Coventry Telegraph

Here are some of the stories the Coventry Telegraph is covering today:

• Food and Drink Festival to continue as firms back the bid for another five years, external
• This is what happened when Prince William visited Warwickshire, external
• Murder investigation launched after triple stabbing as one man dies, external

Nick Watson
Sunday Politics Midlands

Latest figures released today show unemployment in the West Midlands has fallen by 2,000.

However, we still have the highest rate of unemployment in the UK.

There are now a total of 153,000 people out of work in the region – which is 5.4% of the working population.

The figures cover the period from October-December 2017.

Nationally, the number of people out of work has risen for the first time in two years, up 88,000

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

The inquest into the death of Micheal Trueman heard evidence from friends who said Michael went "missing" for about 20 minutes while at the Rainbow Venues in Digbeth.

When he came back, friends told Birmingham Coroner's Court, he was sweaty, swaying and appeared disorientated.

He later told his friends he had taken MDMA, a class A, psychoactive drug, the hearing was told.

Image source, Family handout

He was taken to a medical tent where trained medics found his pulse was racing and his temperature and breathing increased. He was taken to hospital where he died the next day.

The coroner concluded it was a drugs-related death.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

West Midlands Ambulance Service shared on social media , externala letter they had been sent by a patient in Erdington, Birmingham, thanking them for their "kind" and "knowledgeable" care.

The letter said paramedics Simon Wong and Sonia Nowaz were a "credit" to the profession.

It comes as support poured in the for the service over the weekend after an abusive note was left on an ambulance dealing with a 999 call in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.