Updates from Monday 30 September to Sunday 6 October
Here are some of the headlines today:
Jess Phillips says she has seen a "massive recent increase" in abuse after a heated Commons debate.
Read MorePC Christopher Burnham was left in a critical condition when he was struck by a car in Coventry.
Read MoreA loss of power to overhead electric wires is causing rail disruption between Birmingham New Street and Coventry.
Disruption is expected until 12:45, says National Rail.
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Flood warnings and alerts have been issued across the West Midlands.
The warnings include:
These are the current flood alerts:
Works lasting more than three months start in Ironbridge today, closing a number of roads.
The programme by Severn Trent is part of a £3m upgrade scheme to improve the waste network, it says.
A number of roads will be affected until January.
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A man has appeared in court accused of the attempted murder of a police officer who was seriously hurt when he was hit by a car.
At Coventry Magistrates' Court, Tekle Lennox, 37, of no fixed address, indicated to the court he intended to plead not guilty. He was remanded in custody.
A 48-year-old police officer was left in a critical condition after suffering a fractured skull and a shattered knee when struck on Holbrook Lane, Radford, Coventry, last Wednesday.
The flood barriers are being deployed in Shrewsbury as water levels on the River Severn begin to rise.
The measures mean the Frankwell car park is closed, with drivers being asked to use other sites or the park-and-ride service.
There are flood warnings for the river Vyrnwy in the north of the county, and flood alerts for the Severn and its tributaries.
The pub hosted 432 Nigels - aged seven months to 80 - and featured the specially-brewed "Nig-ale".
Read MoreThe West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says criminals will be "the only winners" as the alliance between the Warwickshire and West Mercia forces comes to an end.
There had already been criticism over West Mercia Police's decision to dissolve the partnership, set to go through in October.
HM Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, said there was "no certainty" how Warwickshire would provide services without the support of West Mercia."
Now David Jamieson, PCC for the neighbouring West Midlands force, has offered to act as a mediator between the pair, citing "real concerns" over the change.
BBC Business News
Fashion retailer Forever 21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe company - which has stores in Birmingham, London and Liverpool - said it planned to "exit most international locations in Asia and Europe" but would continue to operate in Mexico and Latin America.
It expects to close up to 350 stores worldwide, a spokesperson says, including as many as 178 US stores.
Forever 21 sells inexpensive, trendy clothes and accessories, and competes against brands such as Zara and H&M.
BBC Inside Out West Midlands unlocks the secrets of the now empty shell of Witley Court.
Read More
Birmingham Live
From Birmingham Live:
Cath Mackie
BBC News
Some passengers were unable to get on a West Midlands Railway train to Birmingham earlier - it was half the normal size.
The service - due to leave Droitwich, Worcestershire, at 08:02 - had gone from four to two carriages, and was delayed by the sheer volume of passengers on board.
Those who couldn't cram in had to wait for a later train.
A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: “We apologise to passengers whose trains were busier than usual this morning. A number of train faults meant some services were formed of fewer carriages than usual."
He added £700m was being invested in rolling stock which he said would increase capacity by 25% and create space for an extra 50,000 passengers travelling to and from Birmingham.”
In May, West Midlands Railway announced a major timetable overhaul, including additional services with extra capacity. But not all passengers have reacted positively to their experience.
Jess Phillips MP says police have been called to her home three times over the weekend.
Talking to BBC Breakfast earlier, the Labour member for Birmingham Yardley said she'd seen a "massive increase" in personal abuse since a heated Commons debate last week.
On Friday, a man was charged in connection with a disturbance at her constituency office the day before.
Ms Phillips has been a high-profile critic of Commons language in recent days. On Thursday, she used the chamber to ask an urgent question on the topic, urging the prime minister to apologise over terms she said risked inflaming "hatred and division".
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"Since last Wednesday of last week I've had hundreds of violent messages and abusive emails," she told the programme, adding that direct threats were among the content.
She said: "I've had to have the police called out on three separate occasions in the last 48 hours."
BBC News Travel
Traffic is being held on the M5 in Worcestershire after a crash.
Queues are building from both northbound and southbound exit slip roads at J8.
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Residents had to leave their flats after a severe fire broke out last night.
It's believed the fire was started accidentally on the ground floor and six flats were affected, said the fire service.
About 20 firefighters from Longton and Newcastle were called to the flats in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, just before 22:00.
Smoke alarms alerted the residents and enabled residents to escape without harm, said Staffordshire Fire Service.
West Midlands fire crews are among those helping to research the dangers of exposure to certain chemicals.
'I'm proud that I did it, looking back it shortened my life'
Scientific research has found firefighters are at risk of getting cancer because of contaminated clothing and equipment.
For the first time, the UK's chief fire officer has acknowledged the high rate of cancer among his colleagues.
You can read more about the story here.
Some of the Express and Star headlines include:
Low level flood barriers are being put up at Frankwell car park in Shrewsbury.
A flood alert has been issued for the River Severn along with flood warnings, external for the River Vyrnwy at Maesbrook and Melverley.
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