Local News
HMRC letters begin landing on doormats containing £1,406 boost
HMRC, the Labour Party government's tax arm, has sent Child Benefit reminder letters from May 8 (Friday morning).
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Midland tenants raise safety concerns over 'hazardous' scaffolding
Residents claim scaffolding safety concerns have been ignored as slow repairs continue
Home blood tests launched in Birmingham as healthy life expectancy falls to just 57 years
Men in Birmingham live just 57.6 years in good health compared with 61.5 years nationally, while women live 57.2 years compared with 61.9 years across England
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Tributes paid to former Midland council leader dead at 82
Members of South Staffordshire District Council observed a minute's silence in memory of Roger Lees
Birmingham criminals jailed April 2026 including thug who pushed teen from tower
These are the most high-profile Birmingham court convictions and criminal sentences from April 2026
Rise in flasher incidents across West Midlands
West Midlands Police are investigating a rise in indecent exposure incidents, with 501 crimes recorded in 2025
Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall named among top 50 poorest places in England
Several towns and cities made the deprivation list
Olton Golf Club granted alcohol licence to sell to public
Solihull golf club granted new public licence to serve alcohol
Birmingham disqualified driver caught after friend's bus attack panic
Mohhammod Suleman received a 12-month community order and had his driving ban extended after being caught behind the wheel in Erdington while already disqualified for previous drug driving
Ofsted speaks out after returning to one of West Midlands' worst-rated schools
Inspectors were previously left shocked by standards of behaviour and attendance
10 things you can no longer do in Dudley
Dancing the night away in JBs is now a distant memory
Birmingham's quietest streets free from antisocial behaviour where residents sleep peacefully
These residents rarely have to suffer with problems on their streets
Woman mistook colon cancer symptoms for menopause
Natalie Hushin, 54, from Runcorn, Cheshire, was diagnosed with colon cancer after noticing blood in her stool — having initially put her bloating and stomach problems down to menopause symptoms
Major UK bank set to reportedly disappear from the high street after takeover
The changes would not be "immediate"
The 'other' Midland Kinahan gangster dubbed 'dangerous' and serving 20 years
Gary Vickery, 43 and from Solihull, was a key player in gang who thought they were 'untouchable' arm of feared Irish crime group
New rules to ban drivers in England from making everyday manoeuvre
It comes after years of campaigning around the issue
Bin strike deal pledges from every party that could run Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council has been left in limbo after voters backed a rainbow of parties and groups. This is what they all say about ending the bin strike
Midland 999 service names new boss with aim to 'save more lives than ever'
Glynn Luznyj is set to take up the role of chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in June, succeeding Rob Barber
Mum's nagging cold turned out to be devastating cancer
Deb Gascoyne, 51, from Hagley, has incurable cancer but is embarking on a fundraising cycle trip with the medical team who kept her alive
Jet2 passenger says flight was 'very uncomfortable' due to man sitting next to her
She questioned whether airlines should provide wider seats