Boy sentenced for stabbings near school
Birmingham bin dispute 'nearing an end'
Best friends killed in pub bombings found 'side by side'
Funeral date set for four children killed in fire
Attempted murder charge after man hit by van
School protests 'helping spread messages of division'
Updates from Friday 8 March 2019
Click Related Stories for updates from your area
Some of the early headlines in the Express and Star today are:
A 16-year-old girl has been arrested after another aged 14 was hurt in the neck, said police who described it as a cut injury.
Officers were called to Attoxhall Road, in the Wyken area of Coventry, just before 18:30.
The older girl was arrested on suspicion of wounding and taken into police custody, said the West Midlands force.
The injured girl was taken to hospital with "relatively minor" injuries, said the ambulance service.
It’s understood the victim and suspect are known to each other.
The EFL says Coventry's plan to remain at the Wasps-owned Ricoh Arena in 2019-20 must be finalised in April.
Read MoreA man who died in a motorcycle crash in the Peak District has been named as Staffordshire firefighter Alex Taylor.
The 31-year old, from Penkridge, Stafford, was off duty when his motorcycle was involved in a crash with two vehicles on Tuesday morning.
Image source, Derbyshire PoliceHe was riding towards Buxton on the A515 near Newhaven and died at the scene, police said.
Mr Taylor had worked for the fire service since 2010 and was based at Tamworth after previously being based at fire stations in Leek, Hanley and Penkridge.
Staffordshire Fire Service said it was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss".
An investigation into the crash is under way.
Two schoolgirls have criticised a housing developer for the "devastating impact" its use of hedgerow netting is having on wildlife.
Taylor Wimpey attached netting to a hedge lining a 270-home development in Warwickshire to stop birds from nesting but did so before plans were passed.
Image source, Family photoKyra Barboutis and Sophie Smith, who run hedgehog rescue centres, said the hibernating animals would be trapped.
Taylor Wimpey said it would now build tunnels enabling them to escape.
The National Lottery has today confirmed its £5.2m contribution to City of Culture in Coventry.
The city is also bidding for an extra £3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The organisation running the UK City of Culture project says the funding ensures there will be a lasting legacy to the city.
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
After a dry start there will be a few showers later with highs of 8C (46F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Thursday.
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
Some areas are waiting over 20 minutes for a 999 response to arrive in life-threatening cases. What can be done?
Read MoreThe PM faces criticism over the issue - as Sajid Javid says police funding concerns should be heard.
Read More
Andy Giddings
BBC News
We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Plans for four gyspy and traveller pitches near Evesham are going before councillors this week, and despite concerns from the town council, the recommendation from officers is that they should be approved.
Two of the pitches at Little Orchard Caravan Site in Red Lane, Hampton, have already been built and have families living on them, but planning officers said they were in favour because they addressed a need for gypsy and traveller sites in the area.
Image source, GoogleAnother gypsy and traveller site at Lower Moor is applying for an extra three pitches, bringing the total there to 12.
A couple who want to buy Port Vale say they won't meet the asking price of £5.25m set down by the owner, Norman Smurthwaite.
He is also demanding Carol and Kevin Shanahan pay all the money up front, substantially more than their previous offer of £3.9m with only £500,000 up front.
Image source, Carol ShanahanThe Shanahans made two bids for the club, with the most recent on 1 March and Mrs Price said the current price was "too much for Port Vale football club in its current state".
The previous bid, in February, was slightly higher, with more money up front, but they reduced it because of the club's league position.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare
Five town centres in the West Midlands are going to get nearly £20m spent on them to try and reinvigorate them.
The cash is coming from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and the region's mayor, Andy Street, says it'll be used to buy derelict buildings and land and turn them into housing, shops or offices.
Image source, GoogleThe five town centres are:
The WMCA is now creating a task force to decide how best to spend the cash.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Fans of Stoke City need to be patient with their new manager Nathan Jones, according to striker Benik Afobe.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Potters forward scored for the first time in nearly two months on Saturday as they beat Nottingham Forest to end their six-game winless run.
Nathan Jones was appointed in January from current League One leaders Luton Town but has struggled to turn Stoke's season around, with just two wins since he started.
Quote MessageWhen you come halfway through a season it's always tough, whoever you are. You can be the best manager in the world but we've been losing, it's not been great for us, confidence has been low, it's tough when he's been winning all season and we've been losing."
Benik Afobe, Stoke City striker
Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin
An increased risk of health problems in part of Solihull could be tackled through a major redevelopment of the area, a report has claimed.
The borough council's admitted the poor condition of the current Kingshurst Parade doesn't encourage health living.
Image source, Solihull Borough CouncilPublic health officials told councillors last night that life expectancy was several years lower than the borough average for both genders, due to issues such as smoking and obesity.
People living in the area have an increased likelihood of contracting cancer, heart disease, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease and liver disease, the meeting was told.
As a result, the local authority's looking at make improvements such as encouraging physical activity and building a shopping precinct that promotes healthier eating.
A four-week consultation's under way on draft plans for the Kingshurst Parade project and the scheme's set to go back to the council's cabinet this summer.
The boy suffered burns to his face and arms in the "monstrous" attack in a Worcester shop.
Read More
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A sculptor says he wants to create a new memorial to the World Cup-winning England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.
Image source, PAThe funeral of Banks, who died last month aged 81, took place on Monday in Stoke-on-Trent.
Now, Andy Edwards, who created the Gordon Banks statue (pictured) now standing at Stoke City's stadium, says he wants to create another.
He's told BBC Radio Stoke he wants it to be a lasting memorial to the art of goalkeeping and have it installed at Wembley Stadium.
Quote MessageWe've certainly got the ability and resource within our local area to produce something world class as a tribute to Gordon, which I think is no less than he deserves. I think the outpouring and coming together of people from the wider area proved that on Monday."
Andy Edwards, Sculptor
The mother of a three-year-old boy who was left scarred by an acid attack organised by his father, has said she was still "shocked" that people involved could do it to "a defenceless child".
"It has been extremely hard to accept that my three-year-old child has been attacked in such a way and that his father was behind this."
"How will I explain this to my son?" She added.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceThe father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and five other men were found guilty after a six-week trial of plotting to spray sulphuric acid on the boy with intent to harm and have all been jailed.
The mother, who also isn't being identified, to protect the identity of the child, thanked the emergency services, doctors and staff at the store in Worcester, where the attack happened.
She said: "I am happy to say my son is ok, he is a happy child, but he will be scarred for life and will need continual support as a result of this incident."
Seven people have been arrested, external after a man was reportedly hit by a truck which left him with life-changing injuries.
Image source, GooglePolice were called to Paradise Lane, Slade Heath, Wolverhampton, on Monday and found the man.
They say he'd been hit by a white pick-up truck shortly after his own white van had been stolen.
Three men and three women, all from Walsall, have been arrested with one of them since being released under investigation.
