James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcestershire County Council says it must plug a financial gap of almost £23m next year and it's planning to raise its share of council tax by nearly 4%.

Bosses at the local authority say they are facing major financial pressures as demands for social care increase and it's getting less funding from central government., external

Austerity at the local authority now looks set to continue for another year, right up to 2022.

Next year's gap of £23m will be closed by a combination of council tax rises, cuts and efficiencies.

More than £14m of those savings were identified today and millions of pounds could have to be taken out of the council's reserves.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a convicted child killer not to be released from prison.

Image source, Mercury Press

David McGreavy was jailed in 1973 for murdering Paul Ralph, four, and his sisters, Dawn, two, and nine-month-old Samantha at their Worcester home.

This week, it emerged he has been cleared for release from prison after more than 45 years.

But the children's mother, Elsie Urry, has criticised the decision by Parole Board, accusing them of "not listening".

A petition's been set up online saying McGreavy should remain in jail and has already been signed by more than 4,500 people., external

About 55,000 records worth an estimated £500,000 were seized by police investigating the men.

If you use Facebook Messenger and are interested in news from the West Midlands, you can sign up for daily updates direct to your phone, external.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these stories today:

• Police continue investigation into London Road house robbery, external
• Council must step up and take the lead on Worcestershire's buses, scrutiny group says, external
• ‘St John's is becoming a ghost town' say Worcester residents, external

A woman who was pushing her child in a pram has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car whilst crossing the road in Aston this morning.

Image source, Google

Lichfield Road remains closed in both directions after the crash, which happened at about 10:50.

The five-month-old baby was uninjured but has been taken to hospital as a precaution, said West Midlands Police.

The driver of the car stopped at the scene and is assisting officers with their inquiries, the force said.

Worcester Warriors back row Matt Cox has signed a new two-year deal with the Premiership club.

One of Shrewsbury's shopping centres could be demolished within the next few months, if new plans are approved.

Image source, Google

A year ago, Shropshire Council agreed to buy the main three shopping centres in the town for £51m.

Next week its cabinet will examine a report on plans for the next two years, which include demolishing the existing Riverside Centre by 2020., external

It'll also be asked to approve an initial budget of £500,000 to carry out the next stage of work.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Eight people have been arrested and more than £30,000 of cash seized in police raids , externalaimed at disrupting the supply of the illegal synthetic drug monkey dust.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Earlier this year, emergency workers warned that use of the drug - which can put users in a violent, paranoid state with "superhuman strength" - is at epidemic levels in Staffordshire.

This morning, Staffordshire Police say they raided seven buildings in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and seized cash, suspected monkey dust and other drugs, as well as suspected stolen property.

They arrested five men and a woman on suspicion of drugs offences.

A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All eight are in custody.

A man who died after being struck by a car in Shirley on Sunday has been named as Patrick Forde by police.

Image source, Family handout

It's believed the 70-year-old was crossing Stratford Road, at the junction of Church Road, when he was hit by a silver VW Passat at about 17:00, said West Midlands Police. , external

His family said the "beloved husband, father and brother will be missed".

Officers are urging any witnesses to come forward.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Lawrence

Seven part-time jobs will be created at a Warwickshire special school after plans for a new building housing a classroom, office and music area in the grounds were given the green light.

An old timber-clad building will be demolished as part of the plans at Exhall Grange School, in Easter Way, Ash Green.

The work will also mean that six children, who currently attend St Edward’s School in Coleshill, will be able to move to the school.

The new building is expected to be in place by September.

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star:

• Shrewsbury’s Riverside shopping centre demolition planned for 2020, external
• BMW driver in A442 car chase crash is banned by judge, external
• Ellesmere bride-to-be on a mission to find size 15 shoes, external

BBC Sport

The Stoke-on-Trent-based firm Bet365 has joined some of Britain's biggest gambling companies in voluntarily agreeing to a "whistle-to-whistle" television advertising ban.

Image source, Getty Images

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which includes the company along with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, has struck a deal to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts.

It follows political pressure about the amount of betting advertising on TV.

More than 90 minutes of adverts were shown during the football World Cup and anti-gambling campaigners say sport's use of adverts "normalises" betting.

Bet365 is Stoke-on-Trent's largest private sector employer and owns Stoke City.

The firm's revenues grew by 25% in the year to the end of March and operating profit was up by 31%.

Police were called to reports of a vehicle being rammed and two men being chased by a gang.

Birmingham Live

Some of the top stories on the Birmingham Live site today are:

• Terrified resident 'hears crash and fight' as man stabbed to death, external
• Masked car thieves smash patio window and threaten family with baby, external
• Pub shut down for 'drugs, weapons and gangs' to become plush apartments, external

The full line-up of celebrities for this year's Strictly Come Dancing live tour has been announced.

Image source, Arena Birmingham

Competition favourite Stacey Dooley will take part along with Graeme Swann, Ashley Roberts, and Faye Tozer in the tour, which starts in Birmingham.

Tour host Ore Oduba will join the judging panel at Arena Birmingham from 18 to 21 January 2019.

BBC Sport

Swimming's international governing body says it will look to "improve and modernise" following criticism from Olympic champion Adam Peaty.

Image source, Getty Images

Uttoxeter-born Peaty is among a host of leading swimmers to have criticised Fina's governance over the past year.

"It feels like we're still in 1970," Peaty, 23, told BBC Sport.

But Fina responded on Wednesday to say it is planning to launch an "innovative" new competition in 2019 in order to attract "the best athletes".

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories today:

• Calls for people's say on how to invest proceeds from council farms sale, external
• Post Office in Kington closed due to O2 outage, external
• Roadside tribute to teen damaged overnight, external

Talks to avert more strikes by rail workers in a long running dispute over guards on trains have collapsed.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said more walkouts on Northern would now go ahead every Saturday in December.

Image source, PA

The RMT called the firm a "basket-case" franchise and a "disgrace", blaming it for the breakdown in talks.

Northern said "all options" would be "considered" over a second member of staff on its services.

Northern has warned passengers of major disruption during the next round of strikes - planned for 8, 15, 22 and 29 December - with "very few trains" running after 17:00 GMT on those days.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A woman and a child have been hit by a car in Birmingham, the ambulance service says.

They say they're currently giving them treatment on Lichfield Road, near the railway station in Aston.

According to National Express West Midlands, the road's been shut due to the crash., external