Around the web: Latest infection rate revealed for citypublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Stoke-on-Trent Live
The Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these headlines today:
Summary
Updates from Monday 29 June to Sunday 5 July
Around the web: Latest infection rate revealed for citypublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Strongman Eddie Hall says it's unfair gyms can't reopenpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
BBC Radio StokeFormer World's Strongest Man Eddie Hall is calling on the government to allow gyms to reopen.
In an open letter to MPs, external, the strongman, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, says it's unfair pubs can open again from next weekend, but not gyms.
He says as well as the physical heath benefits, being able to exercise would help with people's mental health.
"I've suffered massively with mental health and depression throughout my whole life, especially when I was a young teenager and my only outlet was the gym.
"It was the only place I could go to vent my anger, my frustrations and I'd walk out a different person."
The government has said it is hoping to let fitness centres reopen in mid-July.
Rail operator adds services as 'demand increases'published at 16:15 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Timetable changes include extra peak-time services between Worcester and Birmingham New Street.
Read MoreMan jailed for 'savage' killing of support workerpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Belinda Rose was a "special" woman who had spent her career helping the vulnerable, a judge says.
Read MoreTeen charged after assaultpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA teenager's been charged after an attack in Newcastle-under-Lyme which left a man in intensive care.
The assault happened in Victoria Street, Chesterton, on Thursday evening, Staffordshire Police said., external
The 16-year-old boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
Worcester wing Nanai signs new contractpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Worcester wing Melani Nanai signs a new contract with the Premiership club until at least 2023.
Read MoreHistoric bell to be repaired after virus delaypublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
The bell was brought down and sat inside a 15th Century church during lockdown.
Read MoreBarn fire destroys 250 tonnes of haypublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsPeople living near a barn fire are being warned to keep their doors and windows shut as there's still a lot of smoke coming from the blaze.
Image source, @HaymillsfireFire crews were called to Kenilworth Road, Knowle, near Solihull, on Sunday evening and found 250 tonnes of hay on fire. , external
West Midlands Fire Service says crews were still damping down the blaze at 13:30 BST on Monday and would stay at the site for several more hours., external
Portraits celebrate NHS workers during pandemicpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Photographer Rankin photographed 12 people whose jobs have been critical during the pandemic.
Read MoreMuseums delay reopening for extra safety measurespublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom DavisTwo of Coventry’s biggest museums are delaying their reopening dates to put in extra safety measures.
Image source, GoogleMuseums have been closed since mid-March but Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week announced they could reopen from July.
Both Coventry Transport Museum and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum have announced they will delay their opening to put safety measures in place.
The transport museum will reopen on 20 July while the Herbert will reopen on 3 August, operator Culture Trust said.
Theatre director calls for 'clearer' reopening roadmappublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
BBC ShropshireThe government's been urged to come up with a better roadmap for the return of live theatre as one artistic director has said money is "draining out of our bank account".
Image source, Getty ImagesIain Reddihough, from Theatre on the Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, told BBC Shropshire the latest advice from ministers "seems to be a roadmap without any directions".
The government's five-step plan did not come with dates or monetary help attached.
Mr Reddihough said the theatre wanted to reopen in September but doing so with a smaller audience due to social distancing would not bring in enough money to cover the costs of a performance.
"We do need clearer guidelines from the government, we do need some help from the government in terms of not only advice but maybe also financially to enable us to stage performances with reduced audiences."
Public donate 150 handmade masks to hospitalpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
A hospital's had more than 150 handmade face masks donated, external after appealing last week for help.
Image source, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustWorcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said on Thursday , externalall visitors had to wear face coverings due to the pandemic.
Donated face masks will not replace personal protective equipment used by staff, a spokesperson added.
Around the web: Calls for civic halls costs inquirypublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Some of today's Express and Star headlines include:
- Call for inquiry as Civic halls cost set to surge past £40 million, external
- Police to speak to YouTubers after large gathering in Birmingham city centre, external
- Jobs lost as estate agents Andrew Grant shuts down branches, external
Woman 'grabbed by the throat' in carjackingpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
CCTV footage has been released , externalby officers investigating a carjacking in Birmingham in which a woman was grabbed by the throat by men demanding her keys.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe attack happened in Highbury park, just off Shutlock Lane in Moseley, on 22 June at about 16:15 BST.
The two men drove away in a black Range Rover Discovery after the woman was pushed to the ground by the men.
Fortunately the woman was not seriously injured but was shaken by the incident, said West Midlands Police.
Hundreds of fans crowd Bullring to see YouTuberpublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Hundreds of people gathered at Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre to see a popular YouTube star on Sunday.
Image source, Twitter/@imjustbrumCrowds turned out to see Jayden Gray, who is known for his Canking channel, which has almost 270,000 subscribers.
Image source, Twitter/@imjustbrumThe Youtuber told BBC WM the event had been organised after "I kind of figured quarantine was coming to an end".
When challenged about where he had heard about lockdown measures being relaxed, he said: "If I'm being honest I heard it from myself so I completely made that up.
"I just felt like I needed to do something for the community."
Three people were arrested after the event which had been "organised via social media", police said.
"Officers will be making further inquiries with the event organisers," the West Midlands force added.
Ellie Goulding 'can't imagine now performing on stage'published at 13:26 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Ellie Goulding says she can't imagine going back on stage in front of large crowds after spending lockdown with her husband.
Image source, PA MediaThe pop star, who is originally from Kington, Herefordshire, is due to release her fourth album next month and tour the UK in 2021.
She told BBC Breakfast watching her performance at Glastonbury had left her shocked at the size of the audience.
"I can't believe I did that in front of all those people. I think I am going to have to build up all that courage," she added.
"I have spent a lot of time by myself and I think I am going to have to build that back up again, whenever I do go back on tour."
Saturday opening for pubs 'total madness'published at 13:12 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
The government's decision to open pubs, cafes and restaurants on a Saturday has been described as "total madness" by the West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC).
Image source, Getty ImagesPrime Minister Boris Johnson said on 23 June they would be able to reopen on 4 July.
Labour PCC David Jamieson said the government should have "opened a little bit earlier this week or perhaps leave it until next Monday".
"Publicans have been telling them this - and the police, if we'd been asked, [would say] a similar thing as well."
He told the BBC he feared people's "pent-up feeling" after three months of lockdown would "explode out on to the streets".
"I'm afraid it's going to be a real challenge for everybody," he added.
Toddler has surgery after cyclists knocked her downpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA toddler needed surgery after being knocked to the ground by two cyclists.
The two-year-old girl was with her family walking their dog on a path in Donnington Wood, Telford, on Saturday afternoon when it happened, police said. , external
The force said the cyclists had ridden through at high speed, knocking her down and leaving her with serious facial injuries.
Around the web: Firms 'confused' as told to stay closedpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
The Shropshire Star is covering these stories today:
In pictures: Black Lives Matters protesters take the kneepublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 29 June 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
George MakinBlack Lives Matter protesters took the knee at the weekend in a demonstration on one the most infamous streets in Britain’s history of race relations.
Campaigners met in Marshall Street, Smethwick, on Sunday to mark an attempt in 1965 by the then local council to buy up homes to stop black and Asian people moving in.
Today, Marshall Street is a multicultural community but it hit the headlines in 1965 when American civil rights campaigner Malcolm X visited.
Protest organiser Doug Morgan said bigotry was still a stain on society, adding: “The point of an anti-racist movement is it wants to make itself no longer exist.
“When we say that Black Lives Matter, we are saying that everyone’s life must matter but that can’t happen if you are excluding part of the population.”
