Summary

  • Updates from Monday 4 January to Sunday 10 January

  1. Is this the look of future-Brum?published at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Could the centre of Birmingham look like this by the year 2040?

    The city council has had these drawings created to show how rooftop gardens, avenues of trees, and skyscrapers covered in plants could create a "green oasis" in the future.

    This picture envisions future Digbeth.

    Green BirminghamImage source, Birmingham City Council

    The images have been drawn up as part of a consultation exercise, asking people how the city centre should be in the hope of stimulating discussion.

    Ian Macleod, acting director of inclusive growth at Birmingham City Council, said: “This marks the start of a continuous engagement process to transform central Birmingham into a green, prosperous and fair place."

    You can see the full range of images on the Birmingham City Council website., external

    City centreImage source, Birmingham City Council
    Lancaster GateImage source, Birmingham City Council
  2. 'I was alone when I learned I'd lost my baby'published at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Women reveal the "anxiety" caused by Covid rules that have seen them alone in hospital during pregnancy.

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  3. Six-month reprieve for EU cannabis medicine importpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    The government says it is seeking a permanent solution to the EU supply issue.

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  4. Calls for green light for climate group planpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A partnership could be set up in Herefordshire to tackle climate change.

    Members of the coalition-led council have suggested setting up a 60-person board which would include environmental experts, representatives from major carbon emitters, organisations that provide major services and community action groups.

    Herefordshire CouncilImage source, Google

    Conservative councillor Barry Durkin supports the idea but warns the authority mustn't give away too much decision-making power to "an unelected, unaccountable group".

  5. Wolves loan wing-back Giles to Rotherhampublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Wolves loan wing-back Ryan Giles to Championship side Rotherham United for the remainder of the season.

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  6. Police respond to reports of gunshotspublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Police officers have responded to reports of gunshots being fired in Birmingham this morning.

    West Midlands Police said it was called to Hunters Road, Handsworth, at about 08:25, and nobody was injured.

    Crime sceneImage source, @DESJADDOO
  7. Bin collections suspended because of icy conditionspublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    Coventry's bin collections have been suspended today because of the snowy and icy conditions.

    The city council has asked people to leave out their bins, with a plan to make the collections later in the week.

    Rubbish binImage source, Getty Images

    Green bin collections have been suspended for the whole week.

  8. Flood warnings as rivers remain highpublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    River levels in Worcestershire are falling, but there are still six Environment Agency flood warnings, external for the River Severn.

    It said the water was likely to remain high for a number of days.

    Elsewhere in the West Midlands, there are a number of flood alerts still in place.

    Flood mapImage source, Environment Agency
  9. Judas Priest frontman to appear at literary festivalpublished at 09:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    BBC Radio WM

    Rob Halford, lead singer of Walsall-based metal band Judas Priest, has been revealed as a headline act for Wolverhampton's Literature Festival line-up.

    It returns as an online event next month and he will be discussing his memoir ‘Confess’.

    Rob HalfordImage source, Getty Images

    Comedian Robin Ince and author Will Self have also been announced.

  10. Weather: Temperatures to remain just above freezingpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2021

    BBC Weather

    Temperatures will remain just above freezing for most of the day and are expected to reach no higher than 5C (41F).

    So that means the icy conditions will remain for another day, and we could have some light rain later this morning.

    BromyardImage source, Keith
  11. Group of 26 face fines over lockdown car meetpublished at 19:08 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    Some of those at event in Alton were not wearing masks and became "extremely defensive", police say.

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  12. Fatal mill blast 'like out of the movies'published at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    A trial has begun over the deaths of four people in the 2015 explosion in Cheshire.

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  13. Home floods for third time in 11 monthspublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    Each flood has meant new plumbing, white goods, kitchen replacements, plastering and redecoration.

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  14. Man jailed for schoolboy blackmail murderpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    Matthew Mason beat 15-year-old Alex Rodda to death to stop their sexual relationship being revealed.

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  15. Anger and 'heartbreak' over repeat flood 'tsunami'published at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    The authorities are facing questions over why defences failed again in an area of Bewdley.

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  16. Freezing temperatures to bring gritters back outpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    With more freezing temperatures forecast tonight, gritters will be back out in Birmingham.

    The council said, external it would be gritting from 19:00 and treating key footpaths from 04:00 on Tuesday.

    GrittersImage source, Birmingham City Council
  17. 'I heard gunshots... it was my boy'published at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    The mother of Keon Lincoln, 15, who was shot and stabbed, pleads for information about his death.

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  18. Millwall sign Birmingham's Kieftenbeldpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2021

    Millwall sign midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld from fellow Championship club Birmingham City on an 18-month contract.

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