Updates from Monday 25 February to Sunday 3 March 2019
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Three stories from the Shropshire Star today:
One PC was attacked twice in four days, suffering a head injury in one assault, says a police chief.
Read MoreIt was a frosty start for some around the West Midlands, as captured in Kidderminster by BBC Weather Watcher Spennells Pensioner.
Image source, Spennells PensionerThis misty scene in Burton-upon-Trent was taken by Keiths.
Image source, KeithsAnd this atmospheric sunrise was snapped by Rileyhev in Hereford.
Image source, RileyhevA court is set to hear pen portraits of the 21 people killed in the Birmingham pub bombings.
Two bombs planted by the IRA on 21 November 1974 ripped through the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs, killing 21 and injuring 182.
A jury was sworn in on Monday as the inquests reopened after a long fight by families.
Hearings will continue today and tomorrow with pen portraits of each of the victims, while on Thursday, the jurors will be taken to the former sites of the pubs.
BBC Sport
The New Saints are back to the top of the Welsh Premier League after a 3-0 win away to Caernarfon last night.
Kurtis Byrne, Jon Routledge and Greg Draper scored the goals and they leapfrogged Connah's Quay, who drew 1-1 with third-placed Barry Town.
But Connah's Quay could re-take the lead if they beat Bala Town this evening.
The top two then meet on 9 March.
Coventry Live
Some of today's Coventry Live headlines are:
It did not stop Natalie Pearson becoming what is thought to be the world's only teacher with her form of the condition.
Read MoreA cyclist has died after a crash involving a lorry in Warwickshire.
Paramedics were called to Newtown Road in Bedworth at about 13:40 on Monday, the ambulance service said.
The man was confirmed dead at the scene.
The lorry driver and a pedestrian were assessed at the scene but both discharged.
Some of the Express and Star headlines today are:
BBC News Travel
There's heavy congestion in Birmingham city centre as a blocked gully has closed the underpass at Holloway Circus.
Congestion is back to Bournbrook Fire Station traffic lights and all the way up the Bristol Road.
A diversion is sending all traffic around the Pagoda island.
Three miles of queuing traffic is being reported in the area.
Officers say they're speaking to witnesses and identifying CCTV after a teenager was stabbed to death in Birmingham on Wednesday.
It comes five days after 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was discovered fatally wounded near a park in Small Heath.
Another teenager, Mohammed Sidali, also 16, died in hospital on 15 February after being attacked outside a college in Highgate.
In a tweet, Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Ladywood, said she was "saddened" to hear about the death and was in contact with West Midlands Police.
"My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the young victim's family at this terrible time," she said.
A man has been shot in the leg in Coventry.
Image source, GooglePolice were called to reports of a shooting at a gym car park on Bishop Street, Coventry, shortly after 20:00 on Monday.
A 19-year-old man was taken to hospital with gunshot injuries to his leg, West Midlands Police said.
The motive for the shooting is not clear at this stage and inquiries are ongoing.
Any witnesses to the incident are being asked to come forward.
A new operator is to start running regular steam train services in the West Midlands.
Vintage Trains is one of a handful of companies to be given permission to run the locomotives on the West Coast mainline.
Their flagship engine, Clun Castle, has just finished it's major restoration since it last ran in 1988.
One of the men who helped build the locomotive in the 1950s will travel on the engine today as it runs from the depot at Tyseley in Birmingham, through the North Warwickshire line and back via Hatton and Dorridge.
A murder investigation has begun after the third fatal stabbing of a teen in Birmingham in almost two weeks.
Police were called to Norwood Road in Bordesley Green at about 14:00 on Monday and found the 17-year-old boy with serious injures. He died at the scene.
Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor in Greater Manchester who oversaw the Rochdale child sex abuse case, said the victim was one of his relatives.
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West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, described the death as "another tragic loss of young life on our streets".
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis
Proposals for a new housing development in Coventry could end up with almost an extra 1,000 homes than initially thought.
Image source, GoogleThe site, in Eastern Green, south of the A45, was earmarked for 2,250 houses in the city council's local plan, after it was removed from the greenbelt in December 2017.
Hallam Land Management has now submitted an outline planning application , externalfor up to 2,625 homes but their transport assessment states it could end up being 3,495 houses, external.
Highways England has called for clarification over concerns at the impact on roads while the local NHS trust says it's worried it will cope with the potential increase.
The council's told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the 2,250 allocation was always meant to be a "minimum" and it'll listen to all responses when making a decision.
A prison has been told it is not "providing a service fit for the 21st Century" for inmates or staff.
The "poor environment" at HMP Hewell, near Redditch in Worcestershire, is highlighted in the Independent Monitoring Board's (IMB) annual report.
Image source, GoogleDrug use is widespread, inmates have access to mobile phones and prisoners with disabilities are not catered for properly, the report said.
The Prisons Service said it was renovating facilities at the prison.
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
After a cold start with some mist or fog it should be a warm day with lots of bright sunshine and highs of 16C (61F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.
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 via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.
Ravita Pannu appeased her parents by working in law but gave it up to follow her make-up dream.
Read MoreDrug use at HMP Hewell is widespread and inmates have easy access to mobile phones, a report says.
Read More
