Girls admit affray over student's death
Councillor admits call to hang PM
University calls for ban on essay-writing firms
Stabbed police dog back on the beat
Council criticised over death of elderly woman
Joseph Wright painting taken to Paris
School half-term dates brought into line
Portraits created out of rail tickets
Live updates for Thursday 27 September 2018
East Midlands Today
One of Derby Museum's most treasured paintings has been carefully transported to France to be exhibited in part of the Louvre.
Romeo and Juliet, by Derby artist Joseph Wright is being displayed as part of an exhibition about love in the Lens branch of the museum.
Image source, Joseph WrightDerbyshire fast bowler Will Davis joins County Championship Division Two rivals Leicestershire on a two-year deal.
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Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Vandals who ripped the heads off a World War One-themed scarecrow display in Mickleover have been branded "idiots" by one of its creators.
Steve Dewis spent hours building the two scarecrows with his neighbours and their grandchildren - only for the display to be vandalised yesterday evening.
Mr Dewis said he would be informing police about the damage, which he believes happened in the grounds of All Saint's Church at some point before 21:30.
Image source, Steve DewisHe said: "It is not so much the loss of the heads, it is about the total disrespect for the men who lost their lives and the veterans and members of the Mickleover community who pay their respects every time they pass the memorial.
"To have this happen to [a display] depicting a soldier and little girl in front of a war memorial is really quite disgusting."
Image source, Steve DewisGavin Bevis
BBC News
Half-term dates at schools in Leicester and Leicestershire are to be brought into line for the 2019/20 academic year, external.
The difference in half-term weeks had caused headaches for parents with children at both city and county council-run schools.
Both authorities decided to align the dates after a consultation found there was overwhelming support for the move.
Image source, ReutersSarah Russell, deputy city mayor for children, young people and schools, said: "We’ve listened to feedback from our consultation and we’ll be working closely with the county to make sure they align. Hopefully, this will reassure parents and allow them to plan ahead.
“It’s worth remembering, though, that academies are able to set their own term dates and don’t necessarily have to follow the patterns set by any local authority. It’s important that you check with your school.”
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Portraits of famous faces from the East Midlands, made out of old train tickets, have gone on display at railway stations across the region.
Artist Ed Chapman spent more than 280 hours creating the eight pictures from more than 3,000 used tickets.
The pictures include Robin Hood at Nottingham Station, Richard Attenborough in Leicester and John Hurt in Chesterfield.
Image source, East Midlands Trains
Image source, East Midlands TrainsGavin Bevis
BBC News
The vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham has joined up with 45 other university bosses to write to the education secretary calling for so-called essay mill companies to be banned.
Some students pay for bespoke, original assignments that cannot easily be detected by anti-plagiarism software.
The government said it was working to "bear down" on companies that offer the service and had not ruled out legislative changes.
A University of Nottingham spokesperson said: "Ultimately, the best way to tackle essay mills is to ban them, which is why our vice-chancellor has signed the open letter calling on government to legislate in this area."
East Midlands Today
NHS bosses are due to meet today to discuss plans to scrap funding for dozens of voluntary health organisations across Derbyshire.
The proposal has been put forward to help clinical commissioning groups in the county achieve savings of £50m.
The idea was discussed last month but a final decision was deferred.
Patients group Healthwatch Derbyshire has pleaded with health bosses to find savings elsewhere, saying the cuts would hurt the most vulnerable people in society.
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
It looks set to be another warm and sunny day.
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Thursday is upon us. I'll be here to bring you all the latest news, sport, travel and weather throughout the day, along with Nick Smith and Amy Woodfield.