Local Democracy Reporting Service

An extra £592,000 will be spent on protecting homes in Solihull from flooding, if councillors agree on new defence plans.

They will cover 50 properties around Nethercote Gardens and Colebrook Road, in Solihull Lodge, and another 24 at New Road and Park Avenue, in Solihull town centre.

Image source, Lucy Clark

Solihull Council said £37,000 would come from its own funds and the rest from grants.

David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

We've been getting quite a few questions about meeting in pubs and restaurants and cafes under the latest restrictions, external.

Marshall Telfer asked: "We live in Birmingham and would like to know if we can meet up with our daughter who lives in Halesowen, in a coffee shop."

And the answer is that if you live in a tier two area like Birmingham you can't meet another household in any indoor setting, unless you are covered by an exemption (see the ones listed earlier) like a support bubble.

Also, although Birminghan City Council advises against it, it would be ok to meet outdoors.

Andrea Green asked what happens if she goes into a pub in a high-risk area and someone she knows just happens to be there.

The short answer is that both of you and the venue could risk a fine if you're seen to be mixing.

You can be fined £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

The venue can be fined £10,000 and could also face closure.

A party-goer and a driver "out for a spin" are among others handed lockdown fines by magistrates.

A police operation targeting organised crime in Warwickshire has made eight arrests this morning.

Officers visited properties in Rugby, Daventry, Bishops Tachbrook and Lighthorne Heath and the seven men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Five were also arrested on suspicion of possessing firearms.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

The eight arrested ranged in age from 27 to 77 and are being interviewed by detectives.

Warwickshire Police said officers also recovered illegal drugs and cash.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from Stoke-on-Trent Live today:

• Massive 13-storey block of flats set to be built, external
• Prisoner dies after being found unconscious, external
• Huge change to be announced for intu Potteries shopping centre, external

BBC Midlands Today

The new coronavirus regulations come into force today, so we've been answering some of your questions about the latest changes.

Yvette got in touch to ask if two households from a medium (tier one) risk area could meet up in a high (tier two) risk area like Birmingham.

The simple answer is that you can't meet up indoors with people from outside your household in a tier two area.

But there are some exemptions.

It's OK to meet up outdoors, although Birmingham City Council has encouraged people not to.

And it's ok to meet up with people in your support bubble, if you are in one. Read more about support bubbles.

Image source, Getty Images

The government has also said it's ok to meet up in these situations:

• For work, volunteering to provide voluntary or charitable services
• For registered childcare, education or training
• For arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians
• For prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them
• For supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after school childcare), youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups
• For birth partners
• To see someone who is dying
• To provide emergency assistance, and to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm
• To fulfill a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service
• To provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable
• To facilitate a house move

BBC Sport

The Aston Villa chief executive, Christian Purslow, believes plans to reduce the size of the Premier League are "highly unlikely to get traction" within its clubs.

The proposals being put forward under Project Big Picture also include scrapping the League Cup - Premier League shareholders are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss them, along with finances in football.

Image source, Getty Images

The proposals are being led by Liverpool and Manchester United and also suggest the football league would get 25% of all future TV deals, which would be negotiated jointly, plus a £250m bail-out.

It would need 14 of the 20 current top-flight clubs to vote in favour and Purslow said: "The idea that somehow the Premier League does not already take a hugely important role in funding the whole of the pyramid is fantasy."

There's going to be more testing of students at Keele University, as part of steps to tackle an outbreak linked to 75 positive coronavirus cases.

Staffordshire County Council said about 400 students on and off campus have already been asked to take tests.

Image source, Google

A further 80 students without symptoms from two accommodation blocks will be encouraged to book a test.

More than 300 students have now been asked to self-isolate because they have tested positive or been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

Glasgow-born John Clayton is involved in efforts to control the crop-eating insects in East Africa.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing photos of last night's crescent moon, like this one, taken in Penkridge overnight.

Image source, Hazlenut

And they've also shared photos of the mist that was around this morning, including this one taken at Wolston in Warwickshire.

Image source, Emma Gillett

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star:

• Murder probe launched as man shot dead, external
• Arts venues in region have received lowest support, external
• MP calls for inquiry into delays to hospitals shake-up, external

The chancellor has been asked to give more coronavirus support to the West Midlands by the region's mayor, Andy Street.

He's written to Rishi Sunak to ask for "comprehensive and proportionate" support, to protect businesses that are "effectively unable to operate because of these restrictions".

Image source, WMCA

In his letter, he warned business closures could create a "domino effect" in the West Midlands economy.

And he asked the government to increase contributions to the job retention scheme in the hospitality sector, as well as more grants and tax breaks for the industry.

He also asked for funding for other sectors of the economy.

BBC News Travel

There are delays to trains going in and out of Birmingham's Snow Hill station, because a lorry has hit a railway bridge near Cradley Heath.

West Midlands Railway said trains were moving again, but the delays could "continue for a while".

The collision has also caused problems in the road between Stourbridge and Worcester.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Solihull Council could spend an extra £490,000 a year to support more staff working from home in the future.

It employs more than 2,000 staff and the majority have been working from home since March.

Image source, LDRS

The council's cabinet will be asked to agree the annual package and the money will be used to make sure all staff are provided with a laptop, mouse, keyboard and monitor to work at home if they want to.

They will also be offered chairs and desks if they need them.

Offices will be rearranged to allow some people to continue working there, if they prefer.

It's argued that the extra spending will save it money on printing, stationery and other expenses.

Three West Midlands MP rebelled against the government in a vote on regulations linked to the 22:00 curfew for pubs and restaurants in England.

But they did not inflict a defeat on Boris Johnson, with most Labour MPs abstaining in the vote.

The three were Harriet Baldwin, Craig Tracey and Gary Sambrook.

Image source, Google

The vote was also opposed by 23 Labour MPs, including former leader Jeremy Corbyn, 10 Liberal Democrat MPs, six DUP MPs and the only Green MP.

But they lost by 299 votes to 82 - giving the government a majority of 217.

University students self-isolating in the UK criticise the cost and quality of food parcels on campus.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

The University and College Union (UCU) has declared a formal trade dispute with the University of Birmingham over "serious health and safety concerns" after students returned to campus.

"Our members are increasingly alarmed at the rapidly rising number of infections amongst students," said branch president Dr David Bailey.

"Amongst students at the University, the rate of infection now equates to over 1,000 cases per 100,000 students, in just one week."

The areas with the highest rate of coronavirus infections in Birmingham are Selly Oak and Edgbaston - both areas have large numbers of student accommodation.

UCU is calling on the University to move all teaching online, except where it is "practically impossible", and restrict the number of staff and students on campus to "essential only".

The University said it was "extremely disappointed" with the action and accused the UCU of "persisting in unsubstantiated allegations and inaccurate statements".

"The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students is our priority," a university spokesperson said. "The University adheres to all government and Public Health England guidance."

A 16-month-old spaniel who was stolen in the Moseley area of Birmingham last week has been found.

Coco's owner's said she was snatched by a thief in the car park at Moseley Bog, just as she was starting out on her walk at the start of the month.

Image source, Family photo

West Midlands Police said there have been eight dogs reported stolen so far in 2020.

That compares with 18 in 2019, 34 in 2018 and 33 in 2017.

Part of the High Street in Tunstall will remain closed for some time today, because of damage caused by a burst water pipe.

At least six properties have been affected along with a stretch of the road between Williamson Street and Roundwell Street.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Severn Trent Water said it was investigating the leak.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Five months after it was bought by Herefordshire Council with 17 empty units, The Maylord Orchard shopping centre in Hereford is now almost full again.

The local authority purchased it in June for £4.5m and it said all but two will have new retailers within a few weeks.

Image source, Google

The shopping centre has 42 units and the council said offering rent discounts for local and startup businesses has led to a surge of interest.