£2bn rail upgrade proposal for Midlandspublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Midlands Connect say it would mean direct services between some cities for the first time since 2004.
Read MoreSummary
Updates from Monday 24 June to Sunday 30 June
Click Related Stories to read updates from your part of the Midlands
£2bn rail upgrade proposal for Midlandspublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Police restraint contributed to man's deathpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Bodycam footage shows police restraining Darren Cumberbatch days before his death.
Read MoreRail plans: Shorter journey times and more seats pledgepublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
The £2bn plan to improve rail services in the Midlands, external will mean 85,000 more seats every day on services in to and out of Birmingham and 36 extra freight services a day, the group putting forward the proposals has said.
Midlands Connect says there will be one extra train an hour in each direction between Hereford and Birmingham, calling at Worcester.
Image source, Network RailMidlands Connect said the improvements would also cut the travel-time between Hereford and Birmingham from 85 to 65 minutes.
The plan also includes an extra commuter services into Birmingham and 20 trains an hour into Birmingham Moor Street, to take pressure off Birmingham New Street station.
And it promises to increase access to HS2 and its new Curzon Street station.
Worst animal cruelty cases to get higher jail termspublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC NewsCampaigners' attempts to protect swans in Telford comes on the same day as news that people found guilty of the worst cases of animal cruelty will face up to five years in prison under a new law proposed for England and Wales.
A Parliamentary bill from Environment Secretary Michael Gove raises the maximum term from six months.
It is understood the harshest sentences would be for offences like dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, or gross neglect of farm animals.
Swan attacks prompt CCTV bidpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
A fundraising appeal is being set up to pay for security cameras around a lake, because of attacks on swans.
Recently a swan has been killed and another left with a metal nut lodged in its beak after what local campaigners described as "the actions of mindless yobs" at Holmer Lake in Telford.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Friends of Holmer Lake group said it hadseen the number of attacks on wildlife increase over the past two years and that it would not "simply walk away".
As well as raising funds for CCTVm, the group said it would be starting regular patrols and working with local schools to "help bring attention to the importance of the protection of these majestic animals".
It is also advising the RSPCA not to return injured animals to the lake - because their safety can't be guaranteed.
Weather photos: Grey skies for Wednesday morningpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Definitely a grey start to Wednesday across the West Midlands, from the photos we've had so far from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These two are from users Keiths in Burton upon Trent, in Staffordshire, and Kevin Onion in Mainstone, Shropshire:
Image source, Keiths
Image source, Kevin OnionIn the papers: Petition prompts CCTV at crime hot spotpublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
The Dudley News has these stories today:
Search for quartet after car smashes into housepublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC NewsFour people are being hunted by police after a car crashed into a house in Sandwell this morning.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceIt happened just before 02:30 on Firs Lane, Smethwick, , externalwith West Midlands Police saying no-one inside the home was hurt.
They say four people were in the car and they're trying to find them.
GP surgery closure to affect thousandspublished at 10:46 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Shropshire health bosses said they have not found a new provider to run Whitehall Medical Practice.
Read More'Last-chance saloon' for new signing Powellpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City's new signing Nick Powell should be playing in the Premier League, the manager of his former club has said.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 25-year-old started off at Crewe Alexandra before being snapped up in 2012 by Manchester United.
However, that move didn't work out and he was picked up by Wigan Athletic in 2016 before the Potters signed him this week.
Quote MessageIf it's not his last-chance saloon, it's his penultimate chance. Whether Nick's happy to play top end of the Championship, I don't know. Maybe he is. For me, he should be in the Premier League every week and he's got to get there."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Labour candidate faces deselectionpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC ShropshireThe woman who was Labour's candidate for Shrewsbury at the last two general elections could be deselected at a meeting of party members tonight.
Dr Laura Davies has been criticised by some members of the party for not following the official party line on the reorganisation of Shropshire hospitals and for not living in the constituency - although she works at both the Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals.
Dr Davies reduced the majority of the Conservative Daniel Kawczynski to 6,627 at the 2017 election, with a 10.7% swing.
Neither the constituency party nor Dr Davies have commented.
In the papers: Anger over approval for 227 new homespublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Stoke-on-Trent LiveThe Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these headlines today:
Dog walker may hold key in unlocking mystery deathpublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Police in Droitwich are trying to find this dog walker, in the hope he could help with an investigation into the death of a man earlier this week.
They received a call on Monday morning and found the man, who was in his 80s, dead at his home on Vines Lane.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceWest Mercia Police has described it as a "tragic incident" and is treating the death as unexplained.
Homeowners escape injury as car crashes through wallpublished at 09:38 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA car's crashed into the side of a house in Sandwell overnight., external
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceWest Midlands Fire Service said two crews were called to Firs Lane, Smethwick, at 02:33.
They said no-one was hurt but the collision's left a large hole in the building.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceFamily call for police restraint training after deathpublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC Coventry & WarwickshireThe family of a man who died after being restrained by police is calling for officers to be better trained to prevent future deaths.
Image source, Family handoutAn inquest found the restraint used by Warwickshire Police, including the use of Tasers and batons, contributed to the death of Darren Cumberbatch nine days later.
He died of multiple organ failure in hospital in July 2017.
The force said it had noted the jury's verdict that it could have done more to de-escalate the situation and that some of the restraint used may have been excessive.
Quote MessageHopefully something good can come out of Darren's death and this will raise of awareness of needs of police officers to keep restraint to a minimum."
Carla Cumberbatch, Sister
'Primary school children should learn LGBT issues'published at 09:13 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC Midlands TodayChildren should leave primary school having learnt about LGBT relationships, the Education Secretary has said.
He was speaking after a debate on parental control in teaching, linked to the Equality Act 2010.
It comes after story books featuring different families, has caused protests outside schools in Birmingham since January.
Demonstrators argue that pupils are "too young" to learn about LGBT relationships, which they also say contradict Islam.
Education secretary Damian Hinds said primary school children should learn about the issue to prepare them , external"for life in modern Britain".
Cricket: Warwickshire face final day chase to beat Surreypublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC SportWarwickshire will need 142 runs today, with seven wickets still in hand, to beat Surrey in the County Championship.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Bears match with the county champions is evenly poised after they lost two wickets in the final session to end day three 148-3.
You can follow the final day's play on BBC local radio commentary or via the BBC Cricket website.
In the papers: GP surgery announces September closurepublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
The Shropshire Star's headlines today include:
Birmingham 'more affordable' to relocate topublished at 08:27 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
BBC Business NewsBirmingham's become a more affordable place for firms looking to relocate staff to the UK, according to a study.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe weak pound and low inflation has made the city more attractive, consultancy company Mercer has found, along with other places in the country like London, Aberdeen and Belfast.
In its list of the most costly cities to relocate to compared to last year, Birmingham fell seven places to 135.
"UK cities' fall in this year's ranking is mainly due to a strengthening of the US dollar against the pound," said Mercer's Kate Fitzpatrick.
Man charged over £100,000 jewellery burglariespublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 26 June 2019
A man has been charged in connection with a string of burglaries where jewellery valued at more than £100,000 was taken.
Between October and November last year, 18 properties in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside were targeted and jewellery - mostly Asian gold - was taken.
A 22-year-old man from Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, Northumbria Police said.
A spokesman said he is due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court next month.
