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Here are some of the top stories on the Dudley news website today:
BBC News Travel
West Midlands Railway says signalling issues are continuing to cause delays and alterations to Cross City and Birmingham to Hereford services this evening.
It is also arranging for buses to take passengers between Longbridge and Redditch, Longbridge and Bromsgrove.
BBC Midlands Today
A public inquiry has been hearing evidence from former pupils of two Catholic-run schools in Worcestershire who claim they were subjected to a catalogue of beatings and serious sexual assaults by nuns, priests and teachers.
The allegations span 40 years from the 1950s to the 1980s and concern St Josephs, based at Croome Court, and Besford Court.
Ex-pupils we've spoken to say the abuse they suffered has blighted their lives and their efforts to seek justice and recompense have been thwarted.
Facebook
The news that Birmingham, Coventry and Shropshire are getting 5G broadband next year has been getting a few comments on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external, and most of them aren't very positive.
Pam Field wrote: "I'd like just one **** G. Let's serve the whole country with a decent signal first."
And David Howie had a similar thought, writing: "Would be nice if we even some good 3G in Herefordshire lots of not spots."
Rich Wilson had a different concern, writing: "A lot of scare stories going around about the affect of 5G on wildlife and humans."
And Jon Rafferty commented: "That's all well but at what cost mobile networks are expensive enough as it is."
Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire
Plans have been submitted for an £18m overhead power line stretching about 13 miles across north Shropshire.
SP Energy Networks wants to build it between Oswestry and Wem and says the extra capacity is needed for new homes, businesses and a forecast increase in the use of electric vehicles.
Image source, SP Energy NetworksThe 132,000-volt line would be on wooden poles rather than pylons and, if approved, its construction could start in two years' time, with completion by the summer of 2022.
Two masked men have used an axe to smash open the door of a mobile phone shop in Crewe, police say.
Officers said the pair were able to get into the EE store on Earle Street just before 07:00 yesterday and got away with mobile phone accessories.
Image source, GoogleNo-one was in the shop at the time, but Cheshire Police said the street would have been busy.
Here are three of the headlines from the Express and Star today:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Children's services, residential care, disability and dementia support are all in line for budget reductions as Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, external seeks to save £4.6m next year.
Image source, GoogleCouncillors at the borough’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee will meet tomorrow night to discuss the savings which are being put forward as part of a medium-term financial plan covering the next three years.
The plans do not include figures for job losses, but do reveal the authority has put aside £500,000 for redundancy costs.
The council has already agreed to a 4.49% hike in council tax from April next year which will mean a £65 increase for band D households before additional charges by the police and fire authorities are included.
The savings are in addition to that rise and are expected to reduce the council’s spending to £238.4m during 2018-19.
They included changes to Tipton Road children’s home, which will now offer services to children with complex needs alongside youngsters with disabilities, saving £468,000 a year.
BBC WM Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesMatt Doherty of Wolves has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad due to the facial injury he sustained near the end of Sunday's match against Arsenal.
He saw a specialist for treatment yesterday and will now return home, missing the international matches against Northern Ireland and Denmark.
John Bray
BBC News
A drop-in centre is offering young people the chance to develop their musical talents.
Aptitude in Coventry provides free, weekly sessions to help them write and record songs.
The centre is supported by BBC Children in Need - a charity which West Midlands people buoyed by £5m last year.
Children in Need helps musical youth in Coventry
The BBC Children in Need rickshaw challenge will have to speed up if it's going to reach Ironbridge in time for the One Show tonight.
The fundraisers have been cycling up from Malvern today, but are up to two hours behind schedule as things stand.
They've just arrived at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire and will be heading on, past Bridgnorth and then through Broseley and Jackfield.
Olivia Morley
Journalist, BBC WM
Drivers caught speeding outside a school in Oldbury yesterday faced difficult questions from children in a "kids court".
Image source, GoogleNine drivers were caught breaking the 30mph limit outside Bristnall Hall Academy and all opted to face a grilling from the year-eight pupils rather than be fined.
The initiative involved Sandwell Council, external, in partnership with police, the fire service and the school.
Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire
One thousand young carers in Telford could be missing out on vital support, according to the local authority.
A report from Telford & Wrekin Council, external says there are more than 1,500 under 24s looking after ill or disabled relatives.
The Telford Carers Centre is currently in contact with about 600 people, providing one-to-one support, advice, and respite activities.
But a report before a Telford and Wrekin Council committee shows many others aren't accessing the service.
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A 22-year-old woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by a Worcester nightclub owner has denied being an “attention seeker” and told a jury she was force-fed cocaine while being attacked.
The alleged victim said 52-year-old Darren Pinches, who owns Bushwhackers nightclub in the city, took her to a "private office" inside the venue before the door was locked.
Image source, GoogleAppearing at Warwickshire Justice Centre, she said she was sexually assaulted after being forced to snort the drug and told the jury she was "calling out for someone to help".
Mr Pinches, of Bromyard Road, denies four charges of possessing a class A drug, supplying cocaine to two other women, and sexual assault.
The trial continues.
Rail passengers are being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys ahead of the opening of Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market tomorrow.
Last year a record 231,000 people used Birmingham New Street station on the first Saturday after the market opened.
West Midlands Railway, external and London Northwestern Railway, external are advising customers to prepare for trains and stations to be busier than usual until the market closes 23 December.
Commercial director for the two train operators Andy Camp said: "Trains and stations will be busier than usual over the next five weeks, so there may be queuing systems in place at Birmingham Snow Hill and other stations".
A 999 call made by a drunk man suggesting he was being threatened by someone with a gun, external turned out to be a false alarm, police say.
Officers, including an armed response team, attended an incident in Tipton, but there was no evidence to suggest any truth in the claim, West Midlands Police said.
Separately, a man in Sheldon who reported an armed kidnap was taken for a mental health assessment, after it was found to be a "false and malicious call".
West Midlands Police force incident manager Ch Insp Andy Keast said last night was a "snap-shot of the kind of incidents our armed officers attend".
He said as well as "detaining people we suspect are dangerous and involved in armed criminality" time was also taken up with "false alarms and bogus calls".
More than 200 families seek answers about their maternity care amid a review into baby deaths.
Read MorePolice have released images of two teenagers they are keen to speak to who may have vital information about a shooting in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands force, external says.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceOfficers were called to Lowe Street just before 16:40 on 1 April, following reports of two firearms discharges.
Shots were fired at a blue BMW by a group of up to four hooded men. Shots were fired back from the car before the group ran off down Dunstall Road in the Whitmore Reans area.
There were no reported injuries. A 21-year old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, but was later released with no further action.
Officers are keen to speak to anyone with information on the attack.
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke City midfielder Sam Clucas says when the team start to click they have the ability to go "on a really good run and fire up the table".
He said that despite a disappointing start to the season, which has seen them stuck in the middle of the Championship table, there are plenty of games left and they remain just six points off the play-offs.
Image source, Getty ImagesClucas completed 90 minutes for the Under 21s in the Football League Trophy last night after nearly six months out injured.
Quote MessageThere's a lot of potential in the team. When you look at the team that we've got, everyone's thinking we should be up there, which I think we probably should. We've certainly got the quality."
Sam Clucas, Stoke City midfielder
Birmingham Live
Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Birmingham Live website this lunchtime:
