In the papers: CCTV released in murder probepublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
A few of the stories making the headlines on the Worcester News website:
Summary
Updates from Monday 24 June to Sunday 30 June
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In the papers: CCTV released in murder probepublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Boris Johnson taking leadership bid to Shropshirepublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
BBC ShropshireTory leadership contender Boris Johnson (below, right) will be in Shropshire this weekend.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe'll meet Conservative Party members in Gobowen tonight before visting Ellesmere tomorrow to talk to veterans on Armed Forces Day.
Both Mr Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are vying for the leadership of the party and to be the next prime minister.
'Neighbour from hell' jailed and 'can never return home'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA man has been jailed and told he can never return to his hometown after admitting a 17 year campaign of hate against his neighbours, police say.
Image source, Cheshire PolicePeter Johnson, of Ivy Lane, Alsager, Cheshire, was sentenced to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of stalking involving serious alarm/distress.
Cheshire Police said the 58-year-old was arrested in 2002 on suspicion of assault but the case was later dropped., external
Johnson then went on what officers call a "campaign of psychological vigilante justice" against the five people who gave evidence .
Police say the abuse was almost daily and included making unfounded claims of terrorism and cannibalism against his neighbours.
Quote MessageThis neighbour from hell made his victims’ lives a misery, tormenting some of them on an almost daily basis. It is one of the worst cases of its kind that we have ever dealt with at Cheshire Constabulary."
PC Collette Cook, Cheshire Police
Town Hall's £650k 'obscene' revamp given green lightpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
The £650,000 revamp of a Dudley entertainment venue has been given the go-ahead.
Image source, GoogleConservative councillors voted through the plans to transform the bar and dining facilities at Dudley Town Hall, despite describing them as "obscene" when they were put forward by Labour earlier this year.
Council leader Patrick Harley has defended the move, saying he's now convinced the "vibrant visitor attraction" will eventually be a "good revenue stream" for the council.
"We're satisfied now that after making several changes and after scrutinising it several times and for several hours that the plans do stack up".
The scheme will also see the town's former museum brought back into use as a staff training facility.
Brain tumour survivor's beach litter campaignpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Helped by volunteers, Kiko Matthews has cleared away 2.1 tonnes of rubbish while cycling around the UK.
Read MoreCouncil chief executive 'on extended leave'published at 11:29 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Local Democracy Reporting Service
George MakinSandwell Council has confirmed its chief executive, Jan Britton, is on "extended leave".
Councillors and town hall staff were notified in an email on Wednesday which said: “In the interim David Stevens will take on the role of acting chief executive.”
The reason for the absence has not been revealed, but it follows a tough time at the local authority.
In 2018, the council’s looked after children’s service department was transferred to arms-length company Sandwell Children’s Trust – after the education watchdog Ofsted described the department as inadequate.
In recent years the authority has also been beset by a string of allegations of misconduct, bullying and infighting by councillors.
The authority’s council leader, Steve Eling, had his membership suspended by the Labour party in January, preventing him standing for re-election in May.
His replacement Steve Trow resigned with hours of the party taking all of the council’s 72 seats in the recent election.
He was replaced by Yvonne Davies who was elected leader after a controversial ballot marred by several councillors being excluded from the Labour Group only hours before the crucial vote.
Ms Davies said she would "concentrate on working to provide the best possible services to the public".
Community 'shocked' at Droitwich murderpublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
The murder of an 80-year-old man has shaken a community "not known for violence", police have said.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceDesmond Wooding was discovered stabbed to death in his own home in Vines Lane, Droitwich, Worcestershire, on Monday morning.
West Mercia Police said Mr Wooding was well known in the neighbourhood and regularly seen on his mobility scooter.
One neighbour who lives opposite Mr Wooding, Susan Ballinger, described him as a "lovely man" who "always spoke to everybody".
Quote MessageThis community's not known for violence or huge amount of crime reporting... there's nothing there that would cause us any concern of any pre-emptive activities that we could have done to predict this homicide."
Supt Damian Pettit, West Mercia Police
In the papers: Man jailed for railway attackpublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
The Shropshire Star's headlines today include:
University staff strike over pay and conditionspublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
University of Birmingham staff are taking strike action today in a row over pay and conditions.
Image source, Unison University of Birmingham BranchThe Unison union said it wanted to send a "powerful message" to the senior management that team workers will "no longer tolerate mismanagement and impositions of low pay, precarity, widening inequality and worsening working and learning conditions".
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End of twitter postIn a statement, the University of Birmingham said "it remains business as usual on campus for staff, students and visitors".
Quote MessageWe are disappointed that they have decided to take this action, particularly given that support staff were awarded (and paid) a 2% pay increase with effect from August 2018, which is exactly in line with the settlement for staff covered by national pay bargaining arrangements, where Unison has not taken industrial action."
University of Birmingham statement
Motorcyclist dies in crash with carpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
A man has died following a crash involving a car and motorbike in Birmingham on Thursday.
The motorcyclist died at the scene at the junction of Beacon Road and Wimperis Way in Pheasey shortly before 19:45, said the ambulance service.
The driver of the car was uninjured.
Music education 'a postcode lottery'published at 10:17 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
The principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Julian Lloyd Webber, has warned that further education in music is becoming a "postcode lottery".
Recent research by Birmingham City University found that about 20% of all A-level music entries come from fewer than 50 schools.
Mr Lloyd Webber says class sizes will prevent many from pursuing a music career.
Quote MessageThe situation now is that at a lot of schools there just isn't music. You can't expect any groups of society to be interested in something they have no access to."
Julian Lloyd Webber
M6 drivers 'face action' after filming crashpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC NewsDrivers who took photos and videos as they drove past a crash on the M6 will face action, police have said.
Image source, CMPGCentral Motorway Police Group (CMPG) said officers were called to the northbound motorway at around 21:00 last night between J13 and J14, near Stafford. , external
They said no-one was hurt in the crash but several drivers drove past recording on their phone and promised "they will be reported".
Your photos: Early sunshinepublished at 09:53 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
It's shaping up to be another gorgeous day on the weather front with blue skies and plenty of sunshine.
We've had these photos from our BBC Weather Watchers Terry Eyre in Leek, Staffordshire and Sayers in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire:
Image source, Sayers
Image source, Terry EyreIn the papers: Disabled son couldn't get to schoolpublished at 09:39 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Coventry LiveSome of the Coventry Live headlines today are:
Blues players celebrate making World Cup semispublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
England are celebrating making it through to the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup after 3-0 win over Norway.
Former Birmingham City forward Ellen White was once again on the score sheet to become the tournament's joint top scorer, with five goals.
Her ex teammate Lucy Staniforth was on the bench, along with the Blues' Karen Carney.
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End of twitter postQueues build after crashpublished at 09:18 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
BBC News TravelA crash has closed part of the A4028 London Road in Coventry.
There's queuing traffic close to the closure between the Abbey Park roundabout and Whitley Island.
Safety inspection delaying rail servicespublished at 09:06 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Trains between Rugby and Milton Keynes Central are being delayed or diverted due to a safety inspection.
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End of twitter postMurder probe police search for dog walkerpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
Desmond Wooding, 80, was found stabbed to death in his own home in Vines Lane, Droitwich.
Read MoreIn the papers: 'Children growing up in a war zone'published at 08:52 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
The chief constable of West Midlands Police, Dave Thompson, says that children are growing up in a "war zone", which leaves them with the same mental trauma as soldiers in combat.
He told the Daily Express, external, exposure to violence at home - and the "normalisation" of conflict on social media - creates a constant sense of hyper-alertness, which causes them to lash out.
What used to be fist fights are too often becoming knife fights, he added.
Image source, Daily ExpressAlton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments agrees £4.8bn offerpublished at 08:37 British Summer Time 28 June 2019
BBC Business NewsAlton Towers and Warwick Castle owner Merlin Entertainments has accepted a £4.8bn takeover offer for the firm.
Image source, Merlin EntertainmentA group of investors, led by the Danish billionaire family that controls toy firm Lego, has made the approach with other private investors.
Kirkbi Invest says it has the money and experience to "realise the company's potential to grow".
Merlin also owns the London Eye, Legoland and Madame Tussauds waxworks.
You can read more about the story here.
