BBC Radio Nottingham

City council bosses in Nottingham will discuss budget plans later today which would see an increase in council tax.

If approved, the budget will see reductions in services, council tax increased by almost 3% next year and at least 27 job cuts.

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "There’s no other way around it, by law we have to balance the budget and if we’re not getting the money from government, the government is telling us to get it from council tax payers or cut public services."

The government says its new funding settlement gives councils a real-terms increase in core spending power for next year.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A 24-year-old man has been charged following reports of gunshots in Aspley last week.

The man, from Nottingham, was charged yesterday with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Police were called to reports of gunshots in Minver Crescent at 12:15 on Thursday.

The man is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court today.

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

YouTube personality LadBaby could be on course for the Christmas number one single.

The dad from Nottingham, real name Mark Hoyle, is known for his online parenting videos and has made a whimsical version of Starship's We Built This City.

The song, renamed We Built This City... on Sausage Rolls, was apparently released in tribute to his wife with proceeds going to foodbank charity the Trussell Trust.

In the official chart update on Radio One yesterday the track was in the number two spot - above Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande. With just a couple more days to go, Ava Max is leading the way for Christmas number one.

Hayley Compton
Reporter, BBC Radio Nottingham

Following a £4.5m investment, the new Accident and Emergency at Queen's Medical Centre is opening this morning.

Simon Colledge, an advanced clinical practitioner at the hospital, said: "It’s about a 50% increase in size so we’ve got room to accommodate the people who are bursting out of the seams at the moment."

The QMC's emergency department, which is the second busiest in the county, has increased from 20 treatment cubicles to 30. There will also now be a different entrance for children and adults.

The opening of the new facility comes with the hospital on the highest level of alert, with doctors saying there were "extreme amounts of demand" this weekend.

BBC Sport

Derby County were denied "the easiest penalty to give" in their goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, according to Rams boss Frank Lampard.

Referee Keith Stroud waved away appeals when home forward Tom Lawrence was challenged by Tendayi Darikwa after taking a touch and trying to move around the defender in the box.

Image source, PA

In a tense and physical East Midlands derby, the Rams were largely stifled by the Reds, while Joe Lolley went closest to winning it for Forest when his curling effort hit the bar late on.

The hard-fought draw at Pride Park lifted the Rams to fourth, and for a sixth successive season Derby find themselves in the play-off spots after 22 games.

Forest remain in seventh place, one point off Middlesbrough who occupy the final play-off place.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

An ex-councillor who posted on Facebook that Theresa May should be hanged "for treason" has lost his seat.

Richard Alderman was given a community order and curfew in October after admitting sending a menacing or grossly offensive message.

Image source, PA

Alderman made the six Facebook posts between April and July, when he was elected to Rutland County Council.

The council said he was automatically barred as he could not attend meetings for six months due to his curfew.

Council chairman Kenneth Bool, said: "Mr Alderman's conviction in September has meant that he is not able to honour those commitments to the people of Oakham South West or the wider Rutland community.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

We can expected a cloudy start to the day, with brief patches of sunshine in the morning.

It looks as if rain will sweep across the East Midlands later in the day but temperatures will be milder than they were yesterday.

Here's Rich with the weather.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Vehicles have been moved to the hard shoulder and all lanes have reopened.

Delays are expected back to junction 21 of the southbound carriage.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A lane on the M1 southbound just past junction 21 is blocked due to an accident.

Congestion is expected in the area.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Good morning. It's going to be myself, David Pittam, Gavin Bevis and Sandish Shoker bringing you today's news, sport, travel and weather for the East Midlands.