Kavan Brissett was stabbed in the chest in a Sheffield alleyway a year ago.

Do you remember seeing Tommy Mullan? Aynuk and Ayli or Dolly Allen?

Memories of seeing Black Country comedians are being sought as part of a new arts project to celebrate the region's humour.

Image source, bbc

"Humour is an intrinsic part of the Black Country’s tradition," says organisers Creative Black Country, who hope by collecting as many funny stories of the region's comedy history as possible, they'll be able to find out what makes it so unique.

The project, 'Finding our funny roots', will be setting up in local libraries looking "for people to share their funny, daft, or silly tales"., external

All of the collected stories will go towards a new piece of work written, produced and performed by local spoken word artists.

We've heard some of the negative reactions to the announcement that a new provider will take over the West Coast train line, taking up the responsibility of getting West Midlands users moving, but what are the positives?

Image source, Getty Images

Firstly, there will be more services - by 2022 the Department for Transport says there will be an extra 260 services each week on the line, which goes from London Euston to Glasgow and runs through Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

Its also guaranteed more reliable free Wi-Fi on its trains, which will be completely refurbished and more eco-friendly, as well as better catering.

More localised improvements include a direct InterCity line for Walsall and first class passengers can enjoy a new lounge at Rugby station.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said the changes would make the line "fit for the 21st century".

Worcester News

Here's a look at the headlines in the Worcester News:

• Stourport man jailed for historical child sex offences, external
• Tributes paid to school head, Matthew Armstrong, who died suddenly, external
• Councillor calls for end to 'out-of-date' gamebird shooting on eve of open season, external

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

After plans to replace Kenilworth's lido with an indoor pool were branded "disappointing", Warwick District Council leader Andrew Day has defended the proposals.

Image source, Warwick District Council

Mr Day said an outdoor pool produces twice as much carbon dioxide as the proposed indoor replacement and that not enough people use it.

The decision to close the outdoor pool was made in January, but was put on hold following local elections in May.

A motorcyclist involved in a collision with a HGV in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday afternoon has died in hospital, police said.

Image source, Google

The rider, a man in his 50s, collided with the HGV outside the Michelin factory on Campbell Road.

The road remains closed while police investigations continue.

Staffordshire Police is appealing for witnesses and said the man's family is being supported by specialist officers.

Jay Singh-Sohal has been selected as the Conservative party candidate for the next West Midlands Police and Crime commissioner.

Mr Singh-Sohal, born in Handsworth, has a background in journalism and is a captain in the Army Reserves.

Labour is expected to announce their candidate for the role, currently occupied by the party's David Jamieson, next month.

Elections are due to take place in 2020.

Coventry Live

Here are some the main stories in the Coventry Telegraph today:

• Huge new double yellow lines plans approved across Coventry, external
• Devastated staff speak out after shock Nuneaton school closure, external
• Killer of Naomi Smith in fight for release from prison, external

Cauliflower growers in Evesham are among farmers across the country whose crops have been destroyed after heavy rainfall in June followed by July's heatwave.

Image source, Getty Images

The Brassica Growers Association said the shortages - also affecting broccoli, sprouts and cabbage - were "very concerning".

Cauliflower prices have soared and some suppliers have advised customers - including restaurants and hotels - to take cauliflowers off their menus until stocks recover.

Following the announcement that rail users in the West Midlands can expect a new provider on the West Coast line, not everyone is happy.

The RMT's general secretary, Mick Cash, described it as a "another political fix by a government whose privatised franchise model is collapsing around their ears" and warned it was "doomed to failure and sure to result in yet more rail chaos".

Labour's shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, criticised the government for "putting private profit before passengers and the public interest" and said it was a "gross error of judgement", particularly given FirstGroup's - one of the providers - "questions over its finances".

FirstGroup has been overhauling its business, seeking a buyer for its Greyhound buses in the US and is also looking at spinning off its UK bus division, First Bus.

Tim Harford
Presenter, 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy

If the postman knocked on your door in the city of Birmingham in the 1830s, with a three-page letter from London, he would let you read it only if you coughed up two shillings and threepence.

Image source, Getty Images

This didn't much impress Rowland Hill, a school master from Kidderminster, who took it upon himself to write detailed analysis and proposals for completely revamping the system.

Hill's solution was a bold two-step reform: senders, not recipients, would be asked to pay for postage and it would be cheap - one penny, regardless of distance.

By 1840, Britain had the Penny Post, and the number of sent letters more than doubled.

If you want to know more about how Hill changed the postal system, you can read our full-length feature.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder by police investigating the death of James Teer, who was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Erdington on Thursday.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Detectives said the arrest was a "major step forward" but the motive for the shooting was "still unclear".

A post-mortem examination found Mr Teer, 20, sustained a single gun shot wound and died at the scene on Goosemoor Lane at about 19:20 BST.

The suspect was arrested in Birmingham city centre on Tuesday afternoon and remains in custody for questioning.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Permission has been given to redevelop a former working men's club, near Coventry's Ricoh Arena, that has been attracting vandals and fly-tippers.

Developer Redleaf have been granted "flexible consent" to make use of the Rowley Green Working Men’s Club, on Burbages Lane, although it hasn't yet said what it plans to do with the 805 square metre site.

The planning permission will enable the developer to convert the site into a restaurant, drive-through venue or a pub, along with car parking.

Birmingham Live

Here are some of the main stories from the Birmingham Mail:

• Car wrapped in cling film and angry messages daubed on windscreens in parking fury, external
• Family 'threatened with a gun' after row over a pet cat, external
• Police arrest teen, 13, following brutal attack on 14-year-old girl in Ley Hill Park in Northfield, external

The Mythstories museum, external is leaving Wem and moving to a new home today.

It's relocating from the Morgan Library to the University Centre in Shrewsbury.

Image source, Google

The museum is devoted to myths and legends from Shropshire and around the world.

Dame Julie Walters has joined the campaign to raise £2m to save Walsall's Acorns Children's Hospice from closure.

Image source, Getty Images

The hospice is aiming to raise £2m to keep its Walsall centre open after funding issues put it at risk of closure earlier this year.

The Smethwick-born actress said she was "delighted to back the campaign to help safeguard the hospice’s future and hopes everyone in Birmingham and the Black Country will do their bit".

The charity's chief executive, Toby Porter, said staff were "so grateful" to Walters and so far just under £220,000 has been raised.

Express and Star

Headlines from the Express and Star:

• Mother of murdered Walsall schoolgirl, Mylee Billingham, calls for law change, external
• Waste bosses sentenced over 2000-ton rubbish mound in Dudley, external
• Calls for action made over 'dangerous' roads in Wolverhampton, external

A 22-year-old man has been charged with two counts of attempted wounding after he allegedly reversed his car into two police officers during a routine stop.

Lawrence Parchment-Walker, of St. Pauls Road, Smethwick, is accused of attempting to hurt the officers during the incident in Smethwick on Monday afternoon.

West Midlands Police said he also faces charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance and has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Walsall Magistrates Court today.

The successful bidder to operate the West Coast Main Line has been announced as a partnership between First and Trenitalia.

Image source, Getty Images

The rail providers have promised a number of improvements, including Walsall's first direct intercity services by 2022.

Plans also include an extra 263 services on the line each week and more environmentally friendly trains.

First Trenitalia replaces Virgin Trains, which was barred from bidding to keep the route, which connects London Euston to Glasgow Central.

BBC Shropshire

A giant bee has been created out of flowers grown at a Shropshire confetti farm.

Staff at Shropshire Petals, near Newport, said they planted the 17 square metre plot partly to celebrate their own efforts to become more sustainable, but also to raise awareness of declining bee populations.

Image source, Shropshire Petals

The bee, which was grown using wild flowers, will not be picked for confetti and will be left blooming to offer "a food source and pollen haven for the bees".