Updates from Monday 16 April to Sunday 22 April
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Sophie Madden
BBC News
A reopening date has been given for a community chip shop that was forced to close weeks after going into business.
Chelmund's Fish and Chips opened in Chelmsley Wood as a social enterprise back in March.
But it had to close its doors a fortnight, external later after losing its manager.
But it has now hired a replacement and will be back in business next week.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson
A taxi driver worked in Birmingham despite the fact he was jailed for human trafficking three years ago.
He is one of several cabbies who have been barred for criminal activities.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was convicted in November 2015 in Belgium, but the offence was only revealed to Birmingham City Council following a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in February this year.
They stripped his licence within 24 hours.
He is one of a number of taxi drivers to have been barred by the city council in recent months, including another man who showed images of people burning alive to children with special needs.
Head of licensing, Emma Rohomon, said the trafficker obtained his city licence before his conviction.
Allen Cook
BBC News
A bird of prey needed rescuing today after getting stuck in a tree during a school visit. , external
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceThe Harris Hawk had been taken by its owner to a visit a school on Schoolhouse Lane, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire this morning when it got trapped in branches.
The fire service says they cut away a few branches to free him and reunited the unhurt bird with its owner.
Marcus Beale was found guilty of gross misconduct after top secret documents were stolen from his car.
Read MoreCarpool karaoke stars Ted McDermott and his son Simon release a book about dementia struggle.
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Phil Maiden
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A charity, which shut a dogs centre after staff suspected a dog might have had a serious viral infection, says there are no other suspected cases.
Image source, GoogleThe Dogs Trust said yesterday that one of the dogs at its Evesham Rehoming site, external might have canine distemper.
The disease can be serious, contagious and has no cure, external.
They're still waiting to get test results back but the charity reckons the site will partially reopen tomorrow and is asking visitors not to bring their own dogs.
The Burton Mail's covering these stories today:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Aled Thomas
People in Worcester are going to be asked which parts of the riverside through the city are worth protecting.
The city council's drawn up a review of the landscape along the River Severn, highlighting the good and bad points of each area.
They include the "negative impact" of electricity pylons in Northwick and the "significant contribution" of the swan sanctuary, as well as looking at the impact of flooding.
The authority's planning committee will be asked tomorrow, external to take the report to a public consultation later this year, to get views on what needs conserving for the future.
A man has been hit by a car as he attempted to confront suspected burglars in Exhall, Warwickshire.
Image source, GoogleThe 54-year-old came out of his house to challenge two people who he believed had broken into his neighbour's house on Narrowboat Close, police said.
He was then hit by their car, causing serious leg injuries and underwent emergency surgery.
Officers investigating the collision at 10:23 yesterday are appealing for witnesses.
George has a rare form of childhood dementia called Batten Disease.
Read MoreThe fireworks factory owner told paramedics he would "go to prison" for the blaze, the court heard.
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The police watchdog says there's no evidence a police chase in Staffordshire caused a fatal crash.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceLiam Sidhu, 21, died when his Vaxuahll Corsa hit a Honda Civic head on on the A53 near Baldwin's Gate not far from Newcastle-Under-Lyme in July 2016.
West Mercia Police were pursuing the car following reports of criminal activity in Shropshire and Audlem, Cheshire.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct says Mr Sidhu's car was doing in excess of 70mph with its headlights off and the actions of the officers were appropriate., external
BBC Politics
Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP Ruth Smeeth has been praised by Prime Minister Theresa May for her "incredible bravery" in speaking out about anti-Semitic threats.
Image source, UK ParliamentYesterday, there were standing ovations for both Ms Smeeth and fellow Labour MP Luciana Berger after they spoke passionately about their own experiences.
The Stoke North MP said British Jews had a right to participate in public life as equals and would not be "bullied".
Today at Prime Minister's Questions, Theresa May commended the pair for their "incredible bravery in being willing to stand up and set out [the abuse]".
Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester
A man is warning against using an outdoor mailbox after his identity was stolen.
Bob Millinship, from Hanbury, Worcestershire, says a fraudster used letters from his credit card provider to apply for new cards from 11 separate firms.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe told BBC Hereford and Worcester that the culprit used his mailbox to get his details.
West Mercia Police say officers are investigating three incidents of attempted identity theft in the Hanbury area.
Quote MessageWhat this chap was doing was he was lifting the top flap up and he'd got a pair of long tongs, like you might use in a kitchen for picking stuff out of a frying pan, but what he was doing was going through the top flap, reaching in to find some mail and pulling it out."
Bob Millinship, Victim of identity theft
The Coventry Telegraph is covering these stories, among others, today:
BBC Newsbeat
Stoke City's Jack Butland (pictured second left) has had some welcome backing ahead of the World Cup - from some Sunday league goalies.
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are expected to be just three goalkeepers in England's squad for Russia and there are currently four on he shortlist: Butland, Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope.
Newsbeat decided to get the view of Sunday league goalies and they all had the Potters' stopper in the squad!
BBC Business News
Funeral business Dignity has warned that trading will be volatile this year after it reduced and simplified the cost of its funerals.
Image source, Getty ImagesBut the Sutton Coldfield-based firm added that full-year results will be ahead of market expectations.
The number of deaths in 2018 is expected to fall by 0.2% this year according to Office of National Statistics figures.
However revenue in the first quarter climbed to £95m, from £93m the previous year as the number of deaths in the first seven weeks of 2018 were about 7% higher than 2017.
BBC Two
Shrewsbury's going to be on BBC Two tonight as the ongoing series Britain in Bloom focuses on the town.
Chris Bavin has been speaking to the Bloomers in the area who have been taking part in the annual floral competition for 37 years.
Backed by the council, this gold-winning team have a big budget and plant a staggering 300,000 flowers every year in their town.
You can see the pressure they're under, the diverse projects they've involved with and their chances of winning, on BBC Two from 18:30.
Alfie Dingley's family want him to use cannabis oil, which is illegal in the UK, to treat his epilepsy.
Read MoreAssistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale has been sacked by West Midlands Police for failing to safeguard top secret documents.
The decision to dismiss the counter-terrorism officer without notice after classified files were stolen from the boot of his car was confirmed at a special case hearing at the force's headquarters in Birmingham.
Ordering that the 54-year-old be dismissed for gross misconduct, Chief Constable Dave Thompson told the hearing: "The conduct in this case is a serious criminal conviction for improperly caring for documents.
"I agree (with a previous disciplinary panel decision) that the misconduct in this case is serious and is very likely to undermine public confidence in policing."
Beale, who is due to retire next week, pleaded guilty last year to an offence under the Official Secrets Act but had argued that he should receive a final written warning.
