Girl, 11, hit by car seriously hurt
Shots fired on Birmingham street
Telford, Birmingham and Wolverhampton councils to supply free school meals over half-term
Covid-19: Coventry and Stoke prepare to enter tier two
Boy returns to school after months of pioneering cancer treatment
E-scooter trial 'could detect drunk riders'
Updates from Friday 23 October
Three teenagers have been arrested after a man was attacked in Hereford.
Image source, GoogleThe victim, in his 20s, was left with serious injuries after the assault on Saturday evening in High Town, West Mercia Police said.
The teenagers, two aged 16 and a 15-year-old, all from the city, have been arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail.
BBC Radio Stoke
Calls for a short lockdown or "circuit-breaker" in England to curb the rising rate of coronavirus have left one council leader "very nervous" at the idea.
Image source, ReutersLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer wants one for two to three weeks and documents have revealed government scientific advisers called for such action last month.
But Abi Brown, Conservative leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the city had managed to avoid a national lockdown in September and local firms were starting to show signs of recovery
"Stoke-on-Trent is recovering remarkably well and therefore to go to a circuit breaker would cause potentially irreparable damage to our local economy," she said.
Coventry Live
The Coventry Live headlines today include:
We've had a flurry of wildlife-themed photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
Here are three, from users Anna L in Stourbridge, Dudley, SteveC in Warwick and Step Counter in Bodenham, Herefordshire:
Image source, Anna L
Image source, SteveC
Image source, Step CounterBBC Radio Stoke
A pottery firm said getting £246,000 from the government arts funding comes at a "vital time" as it copes with the impact of Covid-19.
Image source, GoogleMoorcroft, which began as a studio in 1897 in Stoke-on-Trent, has its visitor centre and museum open to the public, but suspended factory tours due to pandemic restrictions.
Managing director Elise Adams said the money from the Cultural Recovery Fund was a welcome boost for the next few months.
"It comes at a vital time for us as historically our boost in tourism and our busiest period of the year usually commences in spring time every year so this helps support us during the winter months."
Stoke-on-Trent Live
A few of the stories making the headlines on Stoke-on-Trent Live:
BBC Radio Stoke
Parts of Staffordshire have been warned they could face tougher Covid-19 restrictions as cases rise sharply.
Image source, PA MediaEvery borough in the county has seen an increase in cases, with East Staffordshire in particular seeing the infection rate nearly double in a week from 64.3 per 100,000 to 116.9.
The whole county is currently in Tier 1, but the county council said , externalit expected the government to bring in tougher measures unless the rate slows or reduces.
The local authority's director of health, Dr Richard Harling, said it expected some areas of Staffordshire to be moved to tier two this week.
"We were considered by the government for escalation to higher alert this week gone and I expect we will be considered again this week coming," he said.
Wolves winger Adama Traore is close to agreeing a new long-term contract with the Premier League club.
Read More
BBC Radio CWR
Delays to decisions about coronavirus restrictions over financial support are creating confusion, according to the mayor of the West Midlands.
Image source, ReutersGreater Manchester leaders want better support before agreeing to a move to the top tier of rules, which would force some businesses to close.
The communities secretary Robert Jenrick said he hoped he could reach an agreement with the region's MPs "in the next day or two".
The West Midlands' Conservative mayor, Andy Street, said the process needed to be standardised.
"We can't have, when there is a health crisis, everywhere negotiating separately," he said.
"There should be a standard formula - the government wanted simplification and it should be provided, otherwise decisions which need to be taken are held up."
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
Businesses in Herefordshire near the Welsh border have said they are worried they will lose out financially from a national lockdown across Wales.
Image source, PA MediaA decision is due to be announced later on Monday about a two or three-week "fire-break" to slow down the Covid-19 virus.
Firms working in towns and villages in Herefordshire near the border said there was already confusion about the different rules in England and Wales.
Lucy Gardner runs the village shop Woods of Whitchurch: "I'm a couple of miles from Monmouth so what does that mean for us?
"I go in and out of Monmouth every day, my bank is in Monmouth - what does that mean for me?
"Can I go to my bank, can they come here? No they can't, so the impact financially is going to be massive."
Sonya Cary runs a care hub in Pontrilas which provides a lunch club and delivers prescriptions and food to people on both sides of the border.
"I'm hoping that our social bubble will continue to remain strong here and I do foresee us having Christmas Day lunch here unless government forces us to say... we don't know what is going to happen, but we are positive."
Birmingham Live
The Birmingham Live website is covering these stories today:
A woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge, police say.
Read MoreBBC Radio CWR
Two schools have closed from today for a fortnight after Covid-19 outbreaks at both sites.
Image source, GoogleAvon Valley School, Rugby, (pictured), external and North Leamington School,, external said on their websites their positive cases involved staff and students.
They said they would reopen on 2 November and all students should self-isolate for the 14 days.
Children will be taught online and the schools said anyone who struggled to access the work should contact them.
The Express and Star is covering these stories today:
BBC Sport
Ross Barkley dedicated his winning goal to Aston Villa's medical staff as Dean Smith's side maintained their 100% start to the season by edging victory at Leicester.
Image source, ReutersThe game looked set to be the first goalless match of the campaign, but Barkley finished incisively into the bottom corner to give Villa all three points and send them second in the Premier League.
Barkley joined Villa on loan from Chelsea in the summer and has been impressive for the West Midlands club, with the goal his second in as many games.
However, he revealed that a knee problem had left him in doubt for Sunday's game.
"I was 50-50 in the week and our club doctor did a really good job getting me right," he said.
"He said I would end up scoring the goal and I did, so I dedicated the goal to him."
Sophie Madden
BBC News
The home secretary is to consider the case for a public inquiry into the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings.
The blasts at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on the night of 21 November killed 21 people and injured 220.
Their families have long called for a public inquiry into what happened.
Priti Patel said she "recognised the desire to see those responsible brought to justice".
Fresh inquests last year ruled the victims were unlawfully killed, but did not establish who was responsible.
Mainly dry with lots of hazy sunny spells for the first half of the day before turning cloudier. Breezy with a high of 14C/57F
Image source, BBC Weather Watcher CarolThis morning in Wolston, Warwickshire
The cloud will quickly thicken tonight with a band of showers expected to move over the area in the first part of the night before becoming drier later. Low: 10C/50F.
You can get a latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Welcome to the start of our live service for Monday.
We'll be bringing you all the latest updates for the West Midlands.
You can let us know about stories in your area via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.
