Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

Plans have been revealed for a £300m upgrade of Birmingham International railway station.

Image source, Urban Growth Company

The platforms serving the airport and National Exhibition Centre first opened in 1976.

The Urban Growth Company, a group set up by Solihull Council to lead on infrastructure investment, said it wanted to revamp the station to be ready for HS2., external

As well as the high-speed rail project, it said it also wanted it to be a hub to connect with trams, buses, taxis, bicycles and more to places like Birmingham Airport and Birmingham Business Park.

With a design now agreed, work is expected to start after the city's Commonwealth Games in 2022 and finish by 2026.

The victim was stabbed to death at a Birmingham city centre hotel on Tuesday.

Teenager Jude Bellingham is the target of racist abuse on social media after an emotional final game for Birmingham City.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Swimmers are being asked , externalto arrive "beach ready" if they want to swim at Walsall's council-run leisure centres when they reopen on Monday.

Image source, Walsall Leisure

Indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities were told they could reopen from 25 July by the government as lockdown eases across England.

Walsall Council said, external its four centres at Oak Park, Bloxwich, Darlaston and Gala Baths had been prepared for social distancing, but people would have to book in advance.

Swimming will be allowed in double-width lanes and gym equipment has been moved further apart while one-way systems will be signposted.

Image source, Walsall Leisure

Hundreds more students could be trained at Birmingham City University under a £5m expansion plan.

Image source, Google

The university said , externalit had bought a property for £2.2m on Harborne Road, near its City South Campus, which it's going to spend £2.8m transforming.

Once the makeover is carried out, officials said it would provide additional teaching and training space for more than 1,000 health and education students.

A car driver's heart had to be restarted by paramedics after he crashed into a lamppost this morning.

Image source, Google

The collision was on Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, and the ambulance service said , externalhe was found in a critical condition.

Once treated by the ambulance crew, he was taken to the Royal Derby Hospital.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've seen some showers today, and there's a lot more cloud around.

These photos were taken by BBC Weather Watchers in Oswestry and Forton today.

Image source, Oswestry

Image source, Staffordshire

Defender Colin Daniel takes a pay cut to sign a new one-year deal at League One side Burton Albion.

Germany and Lyon's experienced goalkeeper Lisa Weiss joins newly-promoted Aston Villa Women.

BBC Sport

Birmingham City have taken the unusual step of retiring the number 22 shirt worn by teenager Jude Bellingham this season.

He has been with the club since the age of seven and is leaving to join Borussia Dortmund.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City said: "His caring, humble and engaging off-the-field demeanour has also made him such an impressive role model."

The club said it was retiring the number 22, because it "has become synonymous with Jude" and the move is to "remember one of our own and to inspire others".

Walsall midfielder Danny Guthrie signs a new contract to keep him with the League Two club.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A packaging company that wants to take on 90 more staff has said it's "exasperated" by the lack of interest.

Modern Packaging in Pershore makes packaging for supermarket food and the pharmaceutical industry and has been under new management since February.

The jobs on offer over the next five years range in pay from £10 an hour to £50,000 a year.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin

A temporary mortuary at Birmingham Airport will remain in place until at least the end of March 2021, it has been confirmed.

Image source, PA Media

Work started on the facility, where up to 1,500 bodies can be stored, on 27 March to cope with rising coronavirus-related deaths.

West Midlands Police confirmed there were no plans to dismantle it this year with fears of a potential second wave of the virus expected this winter.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Bridges will be repaired and potholes prevented with £7.5m from the government, a council's said., external

The money's coming to Sandwell and the local authority said it would be split between three schemes.

The bulk of the cash, nearly £5m, will go on essential repairs to Dudley Street Bridge and Scott Bridge in Newton Road, Great Barr.

The council said it'll use more than £2m to fix roads and footpaths to try and stop potholes forming and make them safer and smoother.

The rest will go on emergency measures to temporarily widen pavements, bring in one-way systems and introduce pop-up cycleways to try and get more people walking and cycling.

Birmingham Live

The Birmingham Live website is covering these stories today:

• Road sealed off after woman seriously hurt in crash, external
• Seven parts of West Midlands where coronavirus is rising, external
• Albion fans defy coronavirus plea to stage Premier League promotion party, external

A woman has been the victim of a "brutal and brazen" sexual attack in Worcester, police have said., external

Image source, Google

West Mercia Police said the assault was on Grosmont Avenue last night and was seen by a member of the public who came to the victim's aid, forcing the attacker to flee.

Shortly afterwards, officers arrested a man in his 40s, from Worcester, on suspicion of attempted rape.

Once in custody, they further arrested him on suspicion of trespass to commit a sexual offence relating to a case on 15 July at a house in Blakefield Road in the city.

Attingham Park in Shropshire opened late for Bill Skidmore's family ritual during important games.

BBC Radio Stoke

The Covid-19 pandemic could leave Cheshire East Council with a shortfall of nearly £70m for this financial year.

The local authority said, external its latest forecast for the impact of coronavirus predicts £42m in extra expenditure in areas such as adult social care and personal protective equipment.

On top of that, it said it was facing a loss of income during the lockdown of £27.8m from council tax, business rates, closed car parks and registration of births and marriages.

The government has given it £22.4m in emergency funding. Council Leader Sam Corcoran said it was not enough and that it would lobby for more.

"We have received repeated assurances from government that councils will be fully compensated for costs incurred in the fight against Covid but we are yet to see the promise meet the forecasts," he said.

A motorcyclist has been badly injured in a crash with a car in Birmingham.

Image source, Google

The man was riding the bike near the McDonalds on Chester Road, Erdington, when it happened last night, the ambulance service said. , external

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries while the car driver was checked over and discharged at the scene.

Coventry's Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is set to reopen in 11 days, but some of the site will be closed to visitors.

It said it was redeveloping some of the gallery, to prepare for Coventry becoming UK City of Culture next year.

Image source, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

The What’s In Store Gallery, Elements Gallery, Art Since 1900 Gallery, Godiva Gallery and Sculpture Gallerywill all remain closed and the main gallery won't open until October.

The museum hopes to be fully open again in January.