Updates from Monday 21 October to Sunday 27 October
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
There'll be more rain tonight in the West Midlands, here's how the start of the weekend is looking:
Rebecca Wood
You can keep up-to-date by heading to the BBC Weather website for a latest forecast for your area.
BBC Three
A drag performer's said appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race on BBC Three gave her the motivation to finally tell her parents about her sexuality and being a drag queen.
Image source, BBC Three/World of Wonder"It felt like enough of a milestone," Sum Ting Wong says. "If I didn't go on the show, I honestly feel like I might have kept this from them for the rest of my life."
The drag performer, from Birmingham, explains the pressures of coming from a Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant family: "I am the first child and it was almost like I was the flagship of the family. I never thought I could be anything other than the model child."
During the show, the performer revealed her parents still didn't know about her sexuality or career - even though she's in her 30s.
"I still love my mum and dad but I just keep this side of my life away from them," she said in episode two. "They still think I work as a marketing exec at some company in London. They don't know I'm gay. And they don't know that I live with my partner of five years."
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare
Scrutiny committee members on Birmingham City Council have agreed to call in plans to demolish the Perry Barr fly-over, following an outpouring of objections against the scheme.
The fly-over is expected to make way for a dual carriageway at ground level, cycle path and improved public transport services in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Image source, GoogleMore than 15,000 people have signed petitions against the plans, while 81% of respondents to the council’s own public consultation said they disagreed with them.
Council leader Ian Ward has previously blamed the cabinet group's ability to sell the benefits of the scheme.
The decision today by the Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee means the plans will go back for debate in cabinet.
Image source, BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
BBC Radio Shropshire Sport
The New Saints are looking for their third win in a row in the Welsh Premier League tonight.
They host Bala, the side just below them in the table, and the last time the two sides met, Bala won 3-1.
TNS could go back to the top if they win and league-leaders Connah's Quay Nomad's suffer a shock defeat to struggling Aberystwyth.
But defeat to Bala would see them drop out of the top four.
Quote MessageIt's going to be close until we put a run together, like we're trying to do at the moment."
Scott Ruscoe, TNS manager
June Jones was found dead wrapped in a rug in the bath of her West Bromwich flat on New Year's Eve.
Read MoreThe family of a West Bromwich woman who was murdered by her ex-partner have said "justice has been done" after he was given a life sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court today.
Michael Foran, who is 33-year-old, will serve a minimum of 17 years after admitting killing June Jones, who was also known as Katie.
Her family said: "We now as a family hope to move on now justice has been done and Katie can finally rest in peace."
Image source, Family photo"We as a family know that the guilty plea will never bring Katie back to us or justify the long term suffering he inflicted upon her and subsequently us. We will always miss Katie and will know she will be forever in our hearts."
Her body was found in a bath at her home on New Year's Eve and police arrested Foran after finding him begging in Liverpool city centre on 5 January.
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Wasps are without back row Jack Willis for tomorrow's Premiership match at Gloucester, but hooker Tommy Taylor (pictured) will return after an illness.
Willis has suffered a cut knee in training and Nizam Carr replaces him in the team, while centre Juan de Jongh and second row Thibaut Flament also start.
Image source, Getty ImagesCaptain Dan Robson will make his 100th appearance for Wasps, against his former club.
Allen Cook
BBC News
This feels like the story that has got people talking on social media, the emotional reaction from Isabelle Finn when she found out she could get a life-extending drug.
Beth Finn, from Staffordshire, shared the video of the moment her 13-year-old daughter burst into tears after finding out cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi would be made available on the NHS in England.
Delight for cystic fibrosis teenager
On the BBC Midlands Facebook page, comments flowed in including from Karen Gaze: , external"That's what I happily pay my taxes for! So chuffed for her and all CF sufferers, it's such a horrible condition to live with."
Donna Rice posted, external: "So pleased for her! But why did it take so long? Our children shouldn't be crying because a life-extending drug is available to them! I hope this gives her many more happy years."
While Kim Frances Burns added:, external "What fantastic news, so happy for you and all the other CF sufferers. It’s finally here now, enjoy a better quality of life."
Tina Baxter typed, external: "Bless her, what wonderful news. How terrible that she's had to wait. Love the relationship between her and her cousin."
There's more on this story on Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30 and afterwards on iPlayer.
The fathers of children who disappeared along with their mother from their home in Telford last weekend have appealed for her to bring them back.
Matthew Vince, the father of nine-year-old Laylah and Amelie, who is seven, said: "We want you all home safe and well as soon as possible. Please make contact with the police so we know you are safe. I really miss Laylah and Amelie and am sure they miss me too.”
Image source, West Mercia PoliceKyle Birch, dad of one-year-old Kenzie, said: “Please make contact with the police, I need to know that you and Kenzie are safe. It’s been a week since I’ve seen my son.
"It’s not too late to put things right. Please come home.”
Emma Davies, who is 30, was last seen when she was dropped off at St Martin’s Drive in Priorslee with her children.
It’s not known whether she left in a vehicle on or on foot.
A man who tried to rob a McDonald's store in a clown mask has been jailed for five years.
Zachery Ryan, 41, of no fixed address, was given a further three years on licence after admitting one charge of robbery.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceWest Midlands Police said he jumped over the counter at the restaurant on the Alvis Retail Park in Coventry in August and pointed an eight-inch blade into the stomach of one of the staff and demanded cash takings.
Unfortunately for him, two police officers had stopped there for a coffee just moments earlier and they tasered him.
The member of staff didn't want to be identified, but said it was a miracle.
He added: "One moment I was being threatened at knifepoint and the next, the guy was on the floor and in handcuffs. I thought 'wow where did you guys come from?'"
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says Sgt Nathan Legend acted "beyond what was necessary".
Read MoreWorcester Warriors have made three changes to their starting line up for tomorrow afternoon's Gallagher Premiership trip to Northampton Saints - all in the pack.
Sam Lewis, Ethan Waller and Michael Fatialofa (pictured) all come into the side.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Warriors will be captained by Ryan Mills as Marco Mama misses out due to a head injury sustained in training.
BBC Midlands Today
The 13th annual Movie, Video and Screen Awards returns to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham this weekend.
The event on Sunday celebrates the achievements of people of colour , externalin the film and television industry.
Organisers say the work of diverse actors, writers and film-makers needs to be recognised.
Quote MessageIt also gives us an opportunity to welcome back home many of the talent that you see on television that are actually from this region and we get to showcase the best of what this region has to offer."
Dean Alexander, Festival director
A promise to end mobile phone black spots has been welcomed by traders in Bridgnorth.
Sally Themans from the Love Bridgnorth group said: "People have got their own businesses and actually this is holding them back at the moment."
She has a local business herself and explained, "it means we can't be as efficient as we'd like to be when we're always chasing a signal, always having to ring people back."
The UK's four main mobile phone companies have agreed to invest in new and existing phone masts they would all share under the proposal, which the government hopes will be formalised early next year.
Allen Cook
BBC News
China is the reason for Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) return to profitability, according to the car maker's own figures.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhile total world retail sales dipped slightly in the three months to September, the Coventry-based firm said they rose "sharply" in China, up nearly a quarter on the year before.
As well as profits going up, revenues have also increased to £6.1bn, an 8% rise on 2018.
JLR's also revealed which models have done well over the three months, with sales of the Range Rover Evoque (pictured) up 54.6% and a 17.5% increase for the Range Rover Sport.
It's not all been plain sailing for the company this year as it shut down production for a week in April and plans to do so again next month, due to uncertainties around Brexit.
The move will affect thousands of staff at Castle Bromwich, Solihull and Wolverhampton.
A police custody sergeant has been found guilty of assaulting a suspect who was detained by officers.
Image source, GoogleSgt Nathan Legend, of West Midlands Police, was charged amid concerns over the use of force against the man at the force's Perry Barr custody unit.
The 31-year-old, from Wolverhampton, was found guilty of two charges of assault by beating at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
He was given a community order and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.
The Prince of Wales will be visiting Ross-on-Wye next month, to officially launch the Gilpin Festival, external.
It will mark 250 years since the Reverend William Gilpin visited the town on a cruise along the River Wye.
The tourist guide he wrote led to the creation of the UK's first package holiday.
Image source, Getty ImagesHerefordshire Council said it would be a celebration of philanthropy and tourism and said Prince Charles would be in the town on 5 November to meet "local voluntary and philanthropic organisations, as well as environmental groups".
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
Nearly 200 schools in the West Midlands have been holding demonstrations today to highlight pressures on their budgets.
The campaign group Save Our Schools says the region has lost nearly £560m in real terms since 2015.
But the Department for Education says it is investing an additional £14bn in schools over the next three years, calling it the biggest funding boost in a decade.
It includes an extra £175m for West Midlands schools.
Quote MessageWe've got schools that have got holes in the roof where the water's coming in, children haven't got the essential resources they need in the classroom and we're not set to see any difference in that and no change to that."
Kate Taylor, Save Our Schools West Midlands
The leaves are falling everywhere in the West Midlands this autumn, at least from the look of the many photos we're getting from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These three are from users Margrose in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Mrs Baggins in Bromyard, Herefordshire and Mark the Spark in Brierley Hill, Dudley:
Image source, Margrose
Image source, Mrs Baggins
Image source, Mark the Spark
Staffordshire Live
The Staffordshire Live website's headlines today include:
