Funeral staff 'spat at' by mourners
Aston Martin and Jaguar land Rover look to restart factories
Schools 'unlikely to reopen until after summer half-term'
Twitter introduces bans after attacks on 5G masts
Birmingham sees 42% drop in pollution
Midwives' volunteer army to the rescue
Updates from Thursday 23 April
The number of knife crimes in England and Wales was the highest on record last year, new figures show.
The West Midlands has one of the highest rates of knife crime in the country and saw the largest increase of all - 13%.
According to the Office for National Statistics, police recorded 45,627 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument for the year to December, a rise of 7%.
BBC News Technology
Twitter is to delete "unverified claims" that could lead directly to the destruction of critical infrastructure or cause widespread panic.
It changed its rules following a series of attacks on mobile phone towers in the UK, fuelled by the spread of false conspiracy theories on social media.
Police confirmed at least nine masts in the West Midlands had been damaged, some in arson attacks. They included one serving Birmingham's new Nightingale Hospital.
Image source, EPA / ReutersTwitter said it would not remove 5G and coronavirus misinformation, but would remove direct incitement to action and posts that could cause "widespread panic".
Twitter gave two examples of tweets that would violate its new policy:
Tributes to NHS workers have been painted on roads around Bridgnorth.
This is Broseley Road and Salop Street in the town.
Image source, LoveBridgnorth
Image source, LoveBridgnorth
BBC News Education
BBC News Family & Education
The earliest "realistic" point at which schools in England could start reopening would be 1 June, head teachers' leader Geoff Barton has said.
"We cannot see any realistic way that schools could be reopened to more pupils before the second half of the summer term," said the ASCL leader.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe added "planning would need to begin very soon" in order to meet a 1 June target.
Schools closed their doors to all except vulnerable children and those of key workers over a month ago.
Shakespeare's birthday celebrations will be held online today due to the continuing coronavirus lockdown.
The normal celebrations in the Bard's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, have been cancelled.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is holding a virtual celebration at 11:00.
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Sophie Madden
BBC News
The coronavirus pandemic means millions of Muslims living in the UK will be celebrating Ramadan differently this year.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast for 30 days during the hours of daylight. It marks the month the Koran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Image source, Talawat RahmanTalawat Rahman is living in Birmingham with his friend Shabir Ahmed, Shabir's parents, Rosemin and Shafiq, and their grandson, Abdul-Rahman. It means Talawat will be away from his parents and siblings during Ramadan and for the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
"One reason I decided to stay in Birmingham and didn't return to London after university was the community atmosphere here," he said.
"In Ramadan, thousands congregate to share their evening meals and build a family they didn't have before, it is a magical time. Going without that will be very different.
"On Eid day waking up and it just being another day, where the most exciting place I will be able go is to Tesco and back after a long 30 days fasting and reflection and prayer, is pretty sad."
You can read more on this story here.
A woman has been taken to hospital after ambulance crews were called to reports of a stabbing in Birmingham.
The woman was treated at the scene at the junction of the A4040 and B4139 in Erdington before being taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said the ambulance service.
The incident happened shortly after 09:15, it added.
Green waste collections are to restart in Dudley later this month, the council has said.
The service was suspended due to staffing issues during the coronavirus pandemic.
Collections will be reinstated from 27 April.
Image source, Dudley CouncilDudley Council also urged people who have been self-isolating to take special care with their waste to protect refuse collectors, external.
It said items such as tissues and disposable cleaning cloths should be double-bagged and where possible put aside for 72 hours before collections.
A tribute to NHS workers has been created on roundabout in Rugby, Warwickshire.
Image source, Rugby Borough CouncilThe borough council said as it was unable to plant the usual display at Evreux Way it had created the tribute to thank all NHS workers.
Children in the reception class at Shifnal Primary School have been cheering people up with this little video they made.
It was put together by the mother of one of the children, Sarah Benson, and has now been shared by British Transport Police.
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BBC CWR
The Coventry coronavirus testing centre at the Ricoh Arena is to be upgraded to be a regional hub.
It opened on Monday and will be one of 29 regional centres across the country - it's already testing NHS staff and key workers.
Image source, Getty ImagesA senior police officer's wife says she feared there "would be no homecoming" for her husband after he spent weeks in hospital with coronavirus.
Coronavirus: Hospital stay over for West Midlands Police officer
Ch Supt Phil Dolby, of West Midlands Police, was admitted to Worcester Royal Hospital on 29 March and later placed on a ventilator for 13 days.
On Tuesday, the 45-year-old father of three was discharged from hospital and returned home.
Mary Dolby said it showed anyone could be affected by the virus.
Luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin is to start reopening its factories from May.
Image source, ReutersThe company says it will resume operations at its St Athan facility, in South Wales, following guidelines from Public Health Wales to protect its workforce.
Its other car plant in Warwickshire will open at a later date.
Both sites have been closed since 25 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Phil Mackie
BBC News
Charities fear domestic abuse victims are unable to seek the help they need because they cannot escape their partners during lockdown.
West Midlands Police has made 400 domestic abuse arrests in the past fortnight but officers fear crimes may go unreported.
The BBC followed a team of specialist officers trying to deal with the problem.
Among those filmed was a man being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife and children.
Domestic abuse victims 'have no escape' during lockdown
Cath Mackie
BBC News
A team of midwives from the West Midlands has been overwhelmed by the response to a call for washable uniform bags for NHS staff.
About 4,000 bags have been made and donated so far by volunteers who are also making headbands for face masks.
Marian McNamee
BBC CWR
A woman says she's putting smiles on faces and raising morale during lockdown by wearing fancy dress on walks with her daughter.
Kitten Von Mew in the village of Bearley in Warwickshire is coming up with a new costume a day for their exercise.
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
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