Around the web: Ecstasy importer jailedpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Stoke-on-Trent Live
A few of the early headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:
Summary
Updates from Monday 19 April to Sunday 25 April
Around the web: Ecstasy importer jailedpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Racecourse ready for first event in 18 monthspublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
BBC Radio Hereford and WorcesterWorcester's racecourse will hold its first meeting on Friday since October 2019.
Flooding followed by the Covid-19 pandemic stopped races and Friday's first meeting will take place behind closed doors due to current restrictions.
Executive director Rebecca Davies said they are also preparing for their first event with spectators in May if the lockdown easing plan continues on schedule.
"I think people have really missed coming here for 18 months and we are looking forward to putting the pieces of the jigsaw together and making sure that when they do return they have a great time," she said.
Post Office scandal: Postmasters await Appeal Court rulingpublished at 09:41 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
BBC Business NewsA group of 42 sub-postmasters and postmistresses will learn later whether convictions for stealing money will be quashed amid a Post Office IT scandal.
Image source, Karen WilsonThey were convicted, with some imprisoned, after the Post Office installed the Horizon computer system in branches.
The system was flawed and postmasters and postmistresses have spent years trying to clear their names.
The group include several from the West Midlands including Julian Wilson who owned and ran the Astwood Bank village post office branch in Worcestershire.
He was convicted following a Post Office prosecution in 2008 and died of cancer in 2016, but his widow Karen has been fighting to clear his name. Judges at the Court of Appeal will deliver their ruling later.
Plea to relocate parts of the Home Office to Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
The government's being urged to relocate parts of the Home Office to Stoke-on-Trent.
Ministers have pledged to move more departments out of Whitehall as part of their so-called "levelling up" programme.
The Conservative MP for Stoke North, Jonathan Gullis, told the Commons that it was a perfect location, especially with Home Secretary Priti Patel having gone to Keele University.
He said: "Stoke-on-Trent is one of the fastest growing economies and one of the top places [for] jobs growth in England.
"So will my right honourable friend agree with me there could be no better second home for the Home Office than in Stoke-on-Trent under the Places... for Growth programme, bringing high-skilled and well-paid jobs for the Stoke-on-Trent talent pool?"
Image source, ReutersLeader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) promised to raise the matter with the home secretary.
Quote MessageThe government is committed to ensuring that the administration of government is less London-centric and to locate more civil service roles and public bodies outside London and into the regions and nations of the United Kingdom. So I think my honourable friend should keep on campaigning and I will pass his message on to fellow ministers and particularly to the home secretary."
Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons
Around the web: Criticism for teaching strike at schoolpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
The Express and Star has these headlines today:
Memorial plaque washes up on beach 140 miles awaypublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
A memorial plaque lost in Storm Dennis is found in Somerset by a litter picker a year later.
Read MoreWeather: Dry, sunny and mildpublished at 08:41 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
The dry weather continues today with plenty of sunshine mixed with some cloudy patches this afternoon. Feeling mild with light winds and a high of 18C (64F).
Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Moose on the LooseImage caption, This morning in Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire
Staying dry into tonight with clear skies. Low: 3C (37F).
You can get a latest forecast at any time for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.
Vaccine uptake low in two key wardspublished at 08:20 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceCoronavirus vaccination uptake remains low in two key Coventry wards.
Foleshill and St Michael's have been highlighted by director of public health Liz Gaulton as the two wards where Covid-19 vaccination rates are the lowest.
Image source, coronavirus.data.gov.ukShe told a health board this week: "We are working hard across the system to address that."
Official figures from NHS England up to 11 April show vaccination rates remain consistently low in all age groups in Foleshill and St Michael's.
In the over 80s, overall 90.81% in Coventry have had a vaccine, but in Foleshill East that figure is 74.82%, 73.60% in Foleshill West and 73.83% in Hillfields.
Across those aged 50-54, 77.32% in Coventry have had a jab, compared with just 54.35% in Foleshill East, 55.83% in Foleshill West and 55.53% in Hillfields.
A map above reflects Covid cases in Coventry, with darker areas showing higher numbers, as of 16 April.
Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Allen Cook
BBC NewsWelcome to our live service for Friday.
We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.
We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external
Election 2021: What about parish councils?published at 07:01 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Jackie Weaver put them in the international spotlight, but what do parish councils actually do?
Read MoreYoung goalie's leg amputated after cancer diagnosispublished at 06:33 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Ashton, 12, has been "phenomenal" and is determined to get back playing sport again.
Read MoreMum felt trapped in MS lockdown 'prison'published at 06:23 British Summer Time 23 April 2021
Mounira Khelil, 49, says she found it difficult to get support after receiving her diagnosis.
Read MoreMother sought after newborn baby found in parkpublished at 22:05 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
The baby boy was found wrapped in a blanket by a passer-by in Kings Norton and taken to hospital.
Read MoreFour for Stone as Bears stifle Essexpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
Warwickshire pacemen Olly Stone and Oliver Hannon-Dalby take four wickets each to help bowl out red-ball kings Essex for 295 at Edgbaston.
Read MoreLibby ton helps Pears to dominate Nottspublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
Jake Libby hits his second century of the summer against former club Nottinghamshire as Worcestershire take control.
Read MoreOur live service for Thursdaypublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
That's the end of our live service for Thursday.
We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with the latest news, sport, weather and travel from the West Midlands.
Until then, keep an eye on this page for breaking news and updates.
Speedway team bosses applaud supporters after break-inpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
Bosses at the Birmingham Brummies speedway team say they have been "blown away" by the "overwhelming" response from supporters, following a break-in.
Image source, GoogleIn the first 24 hours a third of their £15,000 goal had been donated, after Perry Barr stadium was broken into in the early hours of Monday and items of essential equipment were either set alight or stolen, the Brummies said.
A GoFundMe page was set up on Tuesday to help bosses raise funds.The first scheduled home meeting in the Championship is on 2 June.
Co-owner Peter Mason said it was not just "the terrific Birmingham faithful" - they had had "donations from supporters across the UK" and "we can't thank them enough".
Around the web: Villagers raise concerns over renovationpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
Here are some of the stories on the Worcester News website:
Jaguar Land Rover suspends output due to parts shortagepublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
BBC Business NewsJaguar Land Rover (JLR) is shutting its two main car factories temporarily due to a shortage of computer chips.
Image source, PA MediaThe difficulties at Britain's biggest carmaker echo similar problems at other manufacturers, including Ford, who have been hit by a global shortage of chips.
JLR said there would be a "limited period" of closure at its Halewood and Castle Bromwich sites from Monday.
A mixture of strong demand and Covid shutdowns at chipmakers has also hit phone, TV and video games companies.
Around the web: Long-term future secured for hospicepublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 22 April 2021
From the Express and Star:
