Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 18 February to Sunday 24 February 2019
Click Related Stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

Critically ill woman flies back from Mexicopublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
A woman who fell seriously ill in Mexico but found insurers would not pay her £200,000 medical bills has returned to the UK for more treatment.
Image source, Family handout
Maxine Howell, from West Bromwich, flew back in the early hours of Sunday and was taken to Sandwell Hospital.
She had been celebrating her 50th birthday in Cancun in January but was taken ill with pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Her daughter Aneke Pye, 32, said her mother was in a critical condition.
Tram services affected by incidentpublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
BBC News Travel
An incident on Bilston Road is affecting tram services into Wolverhampton, West Midlands Metro says.
Passes are being accepted on National Express service 79 from Wolverhampton to Priestfield, it said.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
In the papers: Police vow to tackle drugs gangspublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Express and Star
Some of the Express and Star's early headlines include:
- Police vow as three cannabis farms found a day, external
- Dudley showing £1bn masterplan to potential investors, external
- Hospital chiefs draw up plans for ‘no deal’ Brexit, external
Police criticise M6 traffic complaints after fatal crashpublished at 08:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Police investigating a fatal crash on the M6 have criticised people who complained about traffic hold-ups caused by the accident.
Daniel Johnson, 30, from Barlaston, died when he was hit by a lorry travelling southbound at about 03:00 on Thursday.
The road was closed for nine hours while the scene was investigated.
Staffordshire Police said it was "upsetting to hear complaints had been made".
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Boy due in court after fatal college stabbingpublished at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
A boy is due in court today after a student was fatally stabbed outside a Birmingham college.
The 16-year-old victim's life support system was switched off on Friday.
Image source, West Midlands Police
He was attacked at about 16:00 on Wednesday outside the Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College that he attended in Highgate, Birmingham.
A 17-year-old boy has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, police said.
The 16-year-old suspect is accused of attempted murder, two counts of wounding and one charge of possessing an offensive weapon, and was charged before the murder victim died.
In addition, police said he had been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon after a man was stabbed in the wrist in December.
Rail signalling cables stolenpublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
BBC News Travel
Due to the theft of signalling cables between Rugby and Milton Keynes trains are running at reduced speed on all lines, said Virgin Trains.
Disruption is expected to last until 12:30 with some services cancelled, delayed or diverted via Northampton, it said.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
'Largest river restoration' work beginspublished at 07:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Final preparations are taking place to begin the largest river restoration project in Europe.
The £20m scheme aims to reopen more than 150 miles of the River Severn, making it easier for endangered fish to reach their spawning grounds.
The Environment Agency wants to reintroduce shad to the river, said to be one of King Henry III's favourite fish.
Image source, Canal and River Trust
Many species vanished after weirs were installed as they prevented migration.
The project will also see England's only fish viewing gallery built at Diglis Weir in Worcester.
Fortnightly bin collections start as strikes loompublished at 07:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Bins in Birmingham will be collected fortnightly from today as workers prepare for further walk-outs.
Unite union members initially went on strike in June 2017 in a dispute over job losses - action that saw thousands of tonnes of rubbish piled up on streets.
Image source, Getty Images
Unite members have been working to rule since 29 December over a payment given to GMB members and are set to strike twice a week from Tuesday.
The city council is asking residents to put their rubbish and recycling out at the same time to try and avoid a backlog.
The Labour-run authority said a deal is still on offer to union members to end the dispute.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Man stabbed in city centrepublished at 07:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Officers are investigating a stabbing in Birmingham city centre that left a man seriously injured.
Emergency services were called to an area off Holliday Street just before 06:00 on Sunday, said West Midlands Police.
A man in his 20s is in hospital and remains in a serious but stable condition, the force said.
Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
After a cloudy start showers will move in from the west, with some longer periods of rain at times, and highs of 11C (52F).
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2019
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Monday.
We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.
We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external