Summary

  • Updates from Monday 26 May to Sunday 31 May

  1. 'Unclear' if campaigner wanted to diepublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Jonathan Bailey - known as Baz - had particularly spoken out about the use of the drug monkey dust.

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  2. Covid vaccination rate hits 94% in over 50spublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    About 94% of everyone aged 50 and over have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose in the Midlands, according to the latest official figures.

    The figures are based on estimated populations, so are open to a margin of error.

    Vaccine dose graph

    Data from the Office of National Statistics show that 59% of people aged between 16 and 80 have also received their first dose.

    The area with the highest rate of vaccinations in the West Midlands is the Malvern Hills and the lowest is Birmingham with 79%.

    The figures show the rates from 8 December 2020 to 28 March 2021.

  3. Man followed and murdered woman on night outpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Azam Mangori, 24, is found guilty of Lorraine Cox's "deeply disturbing" murder.

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  4. City of Culture 'signature' event movedpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Coventry Moves, a "dawn until dusk" show, will take place on 5 June - but 15 May launch date stays.

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  5. European Artistic Gymnastics team announcedpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Three gymnasts from the West Midlands have been selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships in Basel, Switzerland later this month.

    Parallel bars world champion in 2019 Joe Fraser and Joshua Nathan - both from Birmingham have been picked for the men's line up.

    Media caption,

    Joe Fraser GB gymnast wins World Championships gold on parallel bars

    In the women's team 2019 European beam champion Alice Kensella from the Park Wrekin gymnastics club in Shropshire will compete in the championships.

    The competition will represent an opportunity for gymnasts to qualify for additional places for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

  6. Weather: Cloud dampens week's sunshinepublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    The unseasonable warmth of the past couple of days comes to an end today, being replaced with a lot of cloud this morning.

    It's going to feel much colder with temperatures staying in single figures, although some sunshine is expected later.

    West Midlands Thursday weather
  7. Families face 'horrendous' autism diagnosis waitspublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Parents say having to wait up to three years for an assessment "lets down children".

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  8. 'I thought I'd never walk, now I'm dancing'published at 11:30 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Mick Hazeldene spent weeks on a ventilator at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after contracting Covid.

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  9. Bet365 boss earns £469m in a single yearpublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Denise Coates earned more than the bosses of every FTSE 100 company combined last year.

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  10. Man killed in crash 'brought happiness and joy'published at 10:26 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Passenger Arjun Singh Gandham, 19, died in a collision with a parked car in Rushall.

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  11. Two county church members receive Maundy Moneypublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Two church members from Worcestershire have received Maundy Money from the Queen in recognition of their "exemplary Christian service to church and community over many years".

    Owing to the coronavirus epidemic, there was not a service in person this year and instead recipients received their money through the post, The Church of England (C of E) said.

    The money is distributed by the Queen every Maundy Thursday and is traditionally given to the same number of men and women as the monarch’s age.

    Ruth WintleImage source, Diocese of Worcester

    The Revd Canon Ruth Wintle, 89, a member of St Thomas, Crown East in the Worcestershire West Rural Team, was one of the first women in the Diocese of Worcester to be ordained, "first Deacon in 1987 then Priest in 1994".

    Kevin DownImage source, Diocese of Worcester

    Kevin Down, 82, a member of St George's Roman Catholic church in Worcester, "has made a significant contribution to ecumenical relations" in the city for more than 30 years, the C of E said.

    He said: "We moved to Worcester in 1980 and I have been involved with St George’s Church and our ecumenism work ever since - it’s vital that Christians seek to work in unity."

  12. What's the weather got in store?published at 08:30 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    It will be a dry and cloudy day with some brighter spells and highs of up to 13°C (50 to 55°F).

    Weather map
  13. 'My photos rethink the reality of prison life'published at 07:20 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    Edgar Martins' images, inspired by life in HMP Birmingham, aim to challenge conceptions of prison.

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  14. Late surge in Easter traffic predictedpublished at 06:13 British Summer Time 1 April 2021

    About 5.6 million people are thought to be planning trips by car in the UK over the weekend.

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  15. Crowds gather to watch pair boxingpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    People gathered to watch two people boxing at the playing fields near Cannon Hill Park.

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  16. Jury unable to reach verdict in PC rape trialpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    PC Michael Darbyshire, 55, was accused of rape and five counts of sexual assault against two women.

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  17. New chief executive announced for city councilpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Deborah Cadman will be Birmingham City Council's acting chief executive for the next year.

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  18. Care home 'must take action' after woman's deathpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Coroner David Reid previously concluded neglect contributed to Rachel Johnston's death in 2018.

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  19. 'Don't blow it' warning over sunshine gatheringspublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Two parks close as people gather in open spaces in England to enjoy March's hottest day in 50 years.

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  20. Woman jailed after killing boy, 13, in hit-and-runpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Mahwish Rani was stopped about a mile away by members of the public, West Midlands Police say.

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