Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Live updates from Monday 27 August to Sunday 1 September

Live Reporting

EFL Cup: Stoke face Leeds rematch days after thrashingpublished at 09:44 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC Sport
Stoke City face Leeds United in the EFL Cup this evening, just three days after being beaten 3-0 by Leeds in the Championship.
Image source, Getty Images
Other games in the cup tonight involving our local teams will see Premier League Aston Villa travel to League Two Crewe Alexandra.
League One Coventry City also face Premier League opposition in Watford while fellow League One team Burton Albion host League Two side Morecambe.
Baby meerkats make first zoo appearancepublished at 09:29 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Two baby meerkats are being shown off by Dudley Zoo.
Image source, Dudley Zoo
They were born about four weeks ago in an underground burrow, the zoo says, external, and made their first public appearance in the past few days.
It adds that keepers won't know their sex until the pups are about eight weeks old.
Image source, Dudley Zoo
M6 crash: All lanes reopen after crashpublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC News Travel
There are still long queues on the M6 near Birmingham after a crash between J7 for Great Barr and J6 for Spaghetti Junction.
Two lanes were shut but Highways England said both have reopened just after 09:05., external
Image source, Highways England
Ministers and bosses knew HS2 was over budgetpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
The public were not given the full picture about the true cost of the high-speed railway, documents show.
Read More
From the papers: Long delays after M6 crashpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Birmingham Live
The Birmingham Live website's headlines today include:
Library challenge brings poet to West Midlandspublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC Midlands Today
A poet who's set himself the challenge this summer to join a library in every local authority across the UK is heading to four in the West Midlands today to become a member.
Joseph Coelho has to visit 209 to complete his task, external and is doing it as he says he wants to encourage more people to join and use their local libraries. , external
His visits today include Pershore library in Worcestershire, Audley in Staffordshire, Southwater in Telford and Albrighton in Shropshire.
Dogs winched up from steep drop on Cannock Chasepublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Two dogs which got stuck down a steep drop on Cannock Chase were winched out by a firefighter.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
They were with a woman who managed to climb out, the fire service said,, external but they had to rescue the animals.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
Assault allegation at care home probed by policepublished at 08:15 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A police investigation is under way into an allegation of an assault at a care home in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Police confirmed a 28-year old man was interviewed under caution over allegations of assault on a woman in her 80s.
The Care Quality Commission said it's 'closely monitoring' the Cherry Trees Care Home in Alcester.
The organisation which runs the home, Barchester Healthcare, said it is supporting police.
From the papers: More tax for councilspublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Express and Star
From the Express and Star:
- Rise in council tax income for West Midlands councils, external
- Driver flees after crashing into cars and lamppost in Oldbury, external
- Wolverhampton mother thanks her seaside rescuers, external
HS2 was over budget years agopublished at 07:45 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Tom Burridge
Transport correspondent, BBC News
The government and HS2 knew the new high speed railway was over budget and probably behind schedule years ago, documents seen by the BBC show.
Image source, Siemens/PA
Crucially, the documents were written in 2016, before MPs had signed-off the first phase of the project.
It is evidence that both the public and Parliament were not given the full picture about the true cost.
The Department for Transport said: "Like all major, complex projects delivery plans evolve over time."
In total, the railway was supposed to cost £55.7bn.
The new Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, is due to provide Parliament with a full update on the project next week.
Fewer rail services through Shrewsburypublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
There's fewer services on the line to Shrewsbury due to a points failure at Wellington, West Midlands Railway says.
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Delays after M6 crashpublished at 07:30 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC News Travel
Drivers are being delayed by up to half-an-hour on the M6 near Birmingham after several vehicles were involved in a crash.
The collision happened just before 07:00 on the southbound carriageway between J7 and J6, Spaghetti Junction, Highways England said., external
Two lanes have been shut and there's six miles of congestion.
Dan Evans advances in US Openpublished at 07:23 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
BBC Sport
Dan Evans came through a tricky encounter to reach the second round of the US Open.
Image source, PA Media
The 29-year-old from Birmingham progressed with a 6-4 6-3 2-6 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino.
He started comfortably, going two sets up against the world number 57, but was broken twice to lose the third set.
"I haven't felt comfortable, I was frustrated - I didn't like how I was hitting the ball or serving, I was pretty angry, I wasn't great out there," he said in a courtside interview.
"I was fine physically. It was more mental, going through service games - my own games - which I was struggling with."
Evans will take on French 25th seed Lucas Pouille next.
An umbrella may be needed...published at 07:12 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
There's a risk today of some heavy and thundery showers, here's the full forecast for the day ahead:
Media caption,
Alex Hamilton
You can keep up-to-date with the latest weather where you are by heading to the BBC Weather website at any other time.
Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:00 British Summer Time 27 August 2019
Allen Cook
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 of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external