Saido Berahino could be on the way to Stoke City
Stoke Central by-election expected on 23 February
Some Cheshire schools say they may drop to a four-day week due to funding cuts
Man knocked unconscious as two men steal his car in Cheshire
Updates from Friday 20 January 2017
Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporter
Rachael Heyhoe Flint was my friend for over 40 years.
She was a fantastic pioneer in what she did for women's cricket.
Over two decades she was a player and a captain for 12 years.
She was always at great pains to point out, you men, you're hopeless at the World Cup, you haven't won the World Cup yet, we won it in 1973.
It's so sad she's gone.
Lee Thomas
BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke-On-Trent Central's by-election could take place as soon as next month, according to the city's returning officer.
Labour's Tristram Hunt is standing down to take on the role of Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Image source, PAQuote MessageIt's just over a month until polling day. There's obviously a very quick turnaround and timetable. It's just over a week that candidates have to put in their nomination papers."
Fiona Ledden, Returning officer
Mourners from across the world of cricket, broadcasting, the Black Country and business have paid tribute to the late Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint OBE.
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Could Peter Crouch do his infamous robot dance on Saturday scores?
The club hints, external that he might just do it if he scores his 100th goals for Stoke City.
Image source, PA
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
A father-of-two charged with murdering his son and daughter has appeared before magistrates.
Saros Endris, eight, and his sister Leanor, aged six, died in hospital following a fire at their home in Hamstead, Birmingham in October last year.
Their dad, Endris Mohammed 46, was found in a burnt-out car on the A53 near Newcastle-under-Lyme.
He's also accused of attempting to murder his wife, Penil Teklehaimanot.
Magistrates in Walsall remanded him in custody and he's due appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday. He only spoke to confirm his name and address. No plea was entered.
Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands
The possibility that UKIP’s new leader Paul Nuttall could be unveiled on Saturday as their candidate in Stoke Central gives an added edge to what was already being billed as "the Brexit by-election", triggered by the resignation of the Labour MP Tristram Hunt.
Stoke recorded one of the UK’s biggest Brexit votes in the referendum, so UKIP will be hoping to go one better than the second place they managed there at the general election.
But the Conservatives were only narrowly behind so both parties will be vying for the Brexit vote.
For Labour, this will test whether or not its support for a Remain vote has driven a wedge between the party and their traditional "core" supporters.
Image source, BBC / PAUKIP is announcing its candidate at 11:00 on Saturday.
Leek Post and Times
BBC Radio Stoke
Proposals to introduce overnight charges at more car parks in Newcastle-under-Lyme look set to be approved later.
Under the proposals going before the cabinet this evening, drivers would have to pay to park overnight in 14 car parks across the town.
If approved, drivers would have to pay £1 to park between 20:00 and 08:00 seven days a week from April.
Image source, GoogleThe move is unlikely to go down well with local businesses who say parking is a priority when it comes to boosting trade.
They're just some of a range of new charges which are being introduced to help raise around £110,000.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council cabinet will meet at 19:00 to discuss that issue and more - see the full agenda online., external
A toilet block in Hanley that became a "magnet" for drugs and drink is being demolished today.
Stoke-On-Trent City Council says clearing the site of Crown Bank toilets will allow it to improve the look of the surrounding area, and boost footfall in the city centre.
Last year the council said it was replacing them with new, free, staffed ones in or near its indoor market as part of £10m improvements.
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Highways England has been criticised by the owner of a Staffordshire haulage company for, in his view, carrying out too many sets of roadworks in the same part of the county.
The bridge over the A500 at Talke is closed to traffic, external heading towards Newcastle-under-Lyme until the end of March - there's also work on the nearby Red Street diversion route.
Image source, GoogleBarry Proctor told BBC Radio Stoke that carrying out repairs on the diversion is adding to the problems and are disruptive.
Highways England says the lane and road closures are often for workers' safety and they thank drivers for their patience.
A father is charged with murdering his two young children who died after a house fire.
Read MoreOur BBC Weather Watchers upload great pictures along with updates on the latest forecasts from their parts of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
These two are from Staffordshire users Thornhill Watch in Hednesford and Cactus in Great Bridgeford.
Image source, Thornhill Watch
Image source, Cactus
Lee Blakeman
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Police are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was hit by a car in Silverdale this morning.
It happened on High Street just before 08:00. The 20-year-old was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Also, a woman was taken to hospital after she was hit by a car in Goldenhill, external. The 60-year-old was hit on Heathside Lane and is said to have "minor injuries".
Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands
Could the UKIP leader be standing in the Stoke Central by-election, external? Speculation is mounting today about whether Paul Nuttall will stand.
Nuttall was elected leader of the UK Independence Party, replacing Nigel Farage, in November.
Read more about Tristram Hunt - the out-going Labour MP's announcement on my blog.
Image source, Reuters
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The top stories for Stoke and Staffordshire this lunchtime include:
D-Day veteran Roy Palfreyman has been handed France's highest honour , external– 72 years after helping to liberate the country during World War Two.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's manager Mark Hughes says the club's academy is starting to produce players who are good enough to push for a place in his first team.
Image source, Clint Hughes/Getty ImagesLast weekend two of the club's academy stars, Julian Ngoy (pictured) and Joel Taylor, were both named in the squad to face Sunderland, with Ngoy coming on in the closing minutes.
Quote MessageIt's been hard to bring the young ones through. I haven't got a problem with playing young players - if they're good enough, they play in my team. It's difficult though to be a Premier League player, you have to be exceptional in order to do it."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
Get Inspired
Get Inspired
Ever dreamed of lifting a trophy on the pitch at Wembley? Well, here's your chance.
BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FA People's Cup, a free five-a-side knockout competition that gives the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup.Watch as Radio 1Xtra DJ Nick Bright shows his (almost) silky ball skills, while explaining how you can get involved - and for all the information you need, read our Get Inspired guide.
FA People's Cup: keepy-uppy challenge with Radio 1Xtra's Nick Bright
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
New figures released to the BBC show the RSPCA has had just over 100 calls about organised illegal dog fights in Staffordshire over the last decade.
In the same period in Cheshire there were 79.
The maximum sentence for offenders is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, but campaigners want it to be raised to up to three years.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there were "strict laws in place" to deal with people who were not properly looking after animals.
