Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent

A court has been hearing details of the individuals killed in the Birmingham pub bombings.

Inquests reopened on Monday into the deaths of 21 people killed in the 1974 bombings.

It was the chance for the families themselves to talk about their memories - the things that they remember most about their loved ones from more than 40 years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

They died after bombs planted by the IRA ripped through the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on 21 November 1974.

Image source, Family handout

The court first heard about John Rowlands, who was 47, who, his family said, was a great practical joker who spent his weekends fishing.

A statement from his son, John, read out in court said: "No one will be able to estimate the loss of our father to us.

"Without his sense of humour and advice, and his mischievous nature, we lost a great friend as well as a dad."

Pauline Taylor-French has lived in the UK legally with her two daughters since fleeing Jamaica.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Shrewsbury's shopping centres could be re-invented, to include a cinema, restaurants and gym.

Shropshire Council Leader Peter Nutting suggested the Darwin Shopping Centre could become the town centre's main retail hub, with nearby Pride Hill Centre becoming an entertainment venue.

The local authority paid £51m for the two centres, plus the Riverside shopping centre, in January last year and says they brought in £2.4m revenue in the first 12 months.

Mr Nutting added the council had been in talks with a hotel chain interested in the sites.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke manager Nathan Jones says his side need to stop letting their opponents back into games.

They led their last two games, but came away with a pair of 1-1 draws after conceding second-half equalisers to Aston Villa and bottom-side Ipswich Town.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke have only won one of their last 10 Championship matches and will host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Jessica Labhart
BBC News

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the back and chest in a Birmingham park, an inquest has heard.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Abdullah Muhammad was found in Sara Park, Small Heath, at about 20:00 on 20 February and died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found that the student, of Lindale Avenue, Hodgehill, died as a result of an assault.

The inquest was adjourned by Birmingham area coroner Emma Brown until the outcome of the criminal investigation.

BBC Business News

A probe into the auditing of collapsed construction giant Carillion has been extended back to 2013 by the UK accounting watchdog.

Image source, PA

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC)'s inquiry is into the preparation, approval and auditing of the Wolverhampton firm. The FRC is already looking into KPMG's audit of Carillion for the years 2014 to 2017.

The FRC has already said its original investigations will continue "well into 2019".

It launched investigations in January and March last year into KPMG's audits of Carillion, as well as the conduct of two former finance directors, Richard Adam and Zafar Khan.

The FRC is looking into the financial performance of Carillion's major contracts across the construction and services divisions, and whether management and KPMG ensured this was appropriately reported in its financial statements.

Keira Ball was nine years old when she died in a car accident. But her donated organs saved the lives of four people, including Max Johnson from Cheshire, who received her heart.

He told the BBC he was "ready to die" and thought he'd had his last hug with parents, before news came of the donated organ.

New legislation named Max and Keira's Law is set set to clear its final hurdle in Parliament.

A Worcestershire MP who has threatened to rebel if the prime minister takes Britain towards a no-deal Brexit, says she won't support calls for a second referendum.

The Conservative MP for Stourbridge, Margot James, and two other ministers, Richard Harrington and Claire Perry, said they would resign unless the PM agreed to take no-deal off the table, and there are suggestions that more MPs are prepared to follow suit.

Labour has said it is prepared to back another EU referendum to prevent a "damaging Tory Brexit", but Mrs James said that was going too far.

Plans to change the rules on organ donation consent in England are set to clear their final hurdle in Parliament.

The new legislation was a private member's bill, introduced by Coventry North West MP, Geoffrey Robinson.

Image source, Family handout

The legislation will be known as Max and Keira's Law after a boy who received a heart transplant and the girl who donated it.

Under the new system, which comes into effect next year, consent will be presumed unless people have opted out.

The Labour MP tweeted , externalit was a "proud moment in Parliament and what politics can be in a time of such division".

Pro and anti-fox hunting campaigners in Cheshire have told a public meeting that the law needs strengthening.

Image source, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

It follows calls for a change in the Hunting Act amid claims that Cheshire Police was failing to crack down on illegal hunting despite the ban.

There has only been one prosecution for hunting in Cheshire since 2004.

Cheshire Hunt Saboteurs say loopholes make prosecutions "almost impossible" while the Countryside Alliance wants more protection for landowners.

Image source, jimfeng

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale midfielder David Worrall says their games against their fellow strugglers in League Two will be "huge" in their battle to avoid relegation.

They face bottom-side Notts County at the weekend, and then the team above them, Yeovil, on 12 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Both Yeovil and Morecambe have started picking up wins in recent weeks, dropping Port Vale to 22nd in the table - just three points outside the relegation zone.

BBC News Travel

A section of the M6 in Staffordshire has reopened after a swan was rescued from the southbound carriageway.

Highways England said it affected traffic on the motorway between junction 12 at Gailey to 11 at Shareshill, for about half an hour.

Cheshire Police say enforcing the law is a priority despite claims of foxes being killed illegally.

A Nuneaton hospital has been told to improve emergency services including waiting time targets in surgical care and mandatory staff training.

Image source, George Eliot Hospital

The Care Quality Commission rated the trust that runs George Eliot Hospital as "requiring improvement" overall after its latest inspection in November.

Inspectors raised concerns about a number of issues, including appropriate staffing for its urgent and emergency care service.

Chief inspector of hospitals Professor Ted Baker said: “Inspectors found a number of improvements had been made at George Eliot Hospitals NHS Trust since the last inspection, but more work was needed."

The hospital said it welcomed the report,, external highlighting some of the examples of outstanding practice singled out by the CQC, including its end of life care service which was upgraded from "inadequate" in 2018 to "good".

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three of the top stories from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Disgruntled gas engineer stole tools from employer, external
• £300,000 haul of heroin and crack cocaine found hidden in wood, external
• Popular high school unveils its new headteacher, external

The arrest of a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder, following the death of a 17-year-old in Birmingham is a "significant step forward" in the investigation, said police.

The teenager is being questioned over Hazrat Umar's death in Bordesley Green on Monday.

Det Ch Sup Mark Payne described the stabbing, the third in the city in nearly two weeks, as a "senseless act" and issued a plea for parents to have "heart-to-heart" conversations with children "in an attempt to steer them away from knives".

“Knife crime and violence is not an issue we can tackle on our own," he said. "We need help from partners, parents, schools and the wider community to tackle this growing issue."

Worcester Warriors prop Gareth Milasinovich is leaving Sixways to join Ulster Rugby.

Image source, Getty Images

The South African-born player will go to the Pro-14 side at the end of the season to pursue his ambition of playing for Ireland

He qualifies through his grandfather, who is a former Ulster player.

BBC News Travel

A road in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, remains closed due to an earlier crash.

Adelaide Road is closed between the junction of Archery and York Roads, to Avenue Road.

Abdullah Muhammad died after an assault in a Birmingham park, a post mortem examination finds.

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a 17-year-old boy in Birmingham.

Police were called to Norwood Road in Bordesley Green at about 14:00 on Monday and found 17-year-old Hazrat Umar with serious stab injures. He died at the scene.

A 16-year-old from Birmingham remains in police custody for questioning as part of the investigation, said West Midlands Police.