Express And Star
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 09:02:18 +0000Face mask rules in England from today
From July 19 face masks are not required by law, but a number of places including supermarket chains such as Tesco and Aldi, as well as hospitals and train operators, are still insisting on them
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 09:00:23 +0000Supermarket rules from Monday
Rules covering face masks, social distancing and cleaning at stores including Tesco, Aldi and Asda as remaining Covid restrictions in England are scrapped
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:30:15 +0000Reminder of Ironman 70.3 road closures
The Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire events returns to the county on Sunday – and residents are being reminded to check for road closures.
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:28:14 +0000Sub-machine gun and shotguns seized by police
A sub-machine gun is one of the weapons seized by police during a raid on a house in Birmingham.
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:26:10 +000071410163
The PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were contacted by Test and Trace but will take part in a daily testing pilot rather than self-isolate.
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:13:10 +000071403586
The Health Secretary said he is only suffering mild symptoms of the disease.
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:08:09 +000071407567
There were ugly scenes at Wembley as England took on Italy in the final of the competition.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 14:44:09 +0000Stalker police officer sent riot van to woman's home
A West Mercia Police officer who harassed a woman and sent a riot van to her home after she ended their affair has pleaded guilty to stalking.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 13:42:11 +000071403069
A man has been taken to hospital after falling from a bridge onto the M6, police have said.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 13:40:19 +000071403484
People have flocked to beauty spots across the Black Country and Staffordshire to make the most of the sunny weather as a heatwave sets in.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 12:49:09 +0000Appeal for witnesses of crash that killed car driver
A police appeal has been launched for witnesses to come forward after a fatal crash between a car and an ambulance in Wednesfield.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 11:05:15 +0000Plans for 130 homes on former police station site backed
Plans for a 130 homes at the site of a former Walsall police station have been backed despite questions around the privacy of neighbouring schoolchildren.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:22:21 +0000HS2 quarry plans are backed despite objections
Controversial plans have been passed for a new quarry in rural Staffordshire to supply the HS2 project with concrete – despite objections from hundreds of residents and community leaders.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:21:18 +0000£45,000 of electric bikes stolen in raid
Nine electric motorbikes worth around £45,000 have been stolen from a bike shop which specialises in electric bikes in Cannock.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:13:20 +0000Controversial Walsall traveller site backed
A traveller transit site hailed as a "massive step" has been backed by Walsall’s planning committee – but could still be challenged by the Government.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 09:08:14 +000071375874
Major businesses may need to follow the example of Jaguar Land Rover to solve the problem of losing workers 'pinged' by the NHS Covid app.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 09:00:11 +0000Labour suspends recently elected Sandwell councillor
Sandwell's Labour group has been plunged deeper into turmoil after another councillor was suspended by the party.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 08:49:00 +000071402348
A councillor has called for assurances that £650,000 given by a developer set to build hundreds of homes in Norton Canes will only be spent in that area.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 06:53:00 +0000Kidderminster Chess Club thriving after 176 years
Lockdowns have brought a boost in interest in the game of chess as people flocked to take part in online tournaments during restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:12:00 +0000Church ready for first fundraising event in two years
A Black Country church is set to put on its first public fundraising event in more than two years.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:05:00 +0000Plans for new open prison scrapped
Plans for a new open prison on the site of a former munitions factory near Wolverhampton have been shelved by the Ministry of Justice, it can be revealed.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:04:30 +0000Ministers unfurl plan for
giant flag in city centre
Minsters are planning to erect a giant Union Flag in Wolverhampton city centre to mark the opening of a new government office.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:04:00 +0000Couple set to be one of first to tie knot
A West Midlands couple who had to postpone their wedding for a year due to Covid are set to be one of the first to tie the knot without restrictions on Freedom Day.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:03:30 +0000Brothers' starring role in Grand's return
Many a heart was a set a fluttering this week, as as Strictly and Love Island stars, brothers AJ and Curtis Pritchard, dropped in at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:03:25 +0000Curtain up for new-look theatre
Stafford's new-look theatre is ready to welcome the public back after a year of closure as Freedom Day approaches.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:03:10 +000071316154
Pubs and restaurants fear growing staff shortage problems with the end of most coronavirus restrictions – and many small businesses believe they are being lifted too soon.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:03:00 +000071364268
Finding an apprenticeship opportunity is as competitive as getting a place at Oxford University, a Walsall-based national firm says.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:02:30 +0000'Strain every sinew' to keep green belt
A senior minister has hit back at claims that sky high government housing targets are forcing councils into green belt development.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:01:00 +0000'Better recording' claim on hate crime
Police chiefs say the reason the West Midlands force recorded the second highest number of racially and religiously aggravated offences in the country is because of better recording of such incidents.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:00:03 +0000MP backing £20m Learning Quarter bid
A Wolverhampton MP has backed a bid for £20 million of Government cash to build a new Learning Quarter in the city centre.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:00:02 +000071339634
Nearly two-thirds of working mothers in the West Midlands with primary school age children do not have sufficient childcare for the six-week school summer holidays, according to a new survey published by the Trades Union Congress.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:00:02 +000071349894
The majority of legal restrictions to minimise the spread of coronavirus around the workplace come to an end on Monday, but an employment expert has warned employers that they need to remain cautious.
Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:00:01 +000071003405
A mother-of-three who returned to education after two decades is celebrating a double boost to her confidence and career after taking on a mid-life apprenticeship.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 17:39:27 +0000Helicopter rolls onto its side at Wolverhampton Airport
A pilot has had a lucky escape after his helicopter ended up on its side at Wolverhampton Airport.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 17:06:42 +000071395210
A Black Country factory has been left in ruins after a huge fire ripped through its main building.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:19:00 +000071397377
It's taken four attempts but intrepid adventurer Alan Peace has completed his 1,000km South West Coast Walk for Cancer Research UK after three previous setbacks.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:15:23 +0000Sword murderer locked up for life for Darlaston stabbing
A sword murderer has been jailed for life with a minimum period of almost 24 years for killing a 21-year-old man outside a bar in the Black Country.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:13:39 +000071396464
"My heart has been broken by the loss of Shane and my heart will always be broken until I see him again in heaven."
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:07:10 +0000Planned closure of M6 Junction 10 postponed once again
The planned closure of the M6 at Walsall this weekend has been postponed once again just hours ahead of work starting.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:51:23 +0000Staffordshire man charged with racially abusing Rio Ferdinand
A Staffordshire man has been charged with racially abusing Rio Ferdinand when fans returned to Molineux for the first in over a year.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:29:40 +0000How young man was left to die after being stabbed with sword
It was a brutal attack on a young man who was fatally stabbed with a sword and left to die on a residential street.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:21:00 +000071394504
Dudley Council is continuing its booking system for the tip over the summer months – with restrictions set to lift on Monday.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:20:00 +000071393916
A walk-in vaccine centre will take place in Cannock on Sunday.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:23:15 +0000Funding boost for West Midlands Metro
The West Midlands Metro is to be handed a share of £56 million of Government funding to help services run normally as coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:22:11 +0000Man in court over pub car incident
A Stourbridge man has denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving after a car was allegedly driven at a group of people outside a pub in the town.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:11:20 +0000Isolating pupils attended funfair, says head
A Wolverhampton primary school says it is having to cancel leavers' assemblies after pupils who were supposed to be isolating went out and passed Covid on to others at an inflatable fun fair.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:54:11 +0000Man charged with four attempted murders
A man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after a car was driven at a group of people outside a Black Country pub.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:49:18 +000071385695
Consumer group Which? warned it can be ‘incredibly difficult’ for anyone told to self-isolate to get their money back.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:49:14 +000071385666
In the last five weeks, 154 outbreaks have occurred in England.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:49:10 +000071379760
The Office for National Statistics analysed responses from 3,824 people after the Government announced its Step 4 plans.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:47:19 +000071388278
Downing Street said the low-strength Bluetooth used by the app is unlikely to be strong enough.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:47:15 +000071386592
In the latest data, all areas of England have seen a rise, with people in the North East the most likely of any region to test positive.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:42:10 +0000One further Covid death in region's hospitals
One new coronavirus death has been confirmed in the region's hospitals – in the latest figures released by NHS England.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:09:16 +0000Masks to stay at Sandwell hospitals
Rules around wearing masks and social distancing will remain in place at hospitals after 'Freedom Day' on Monday, bosses at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have announced.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:02:26 +0000Train passengers warned of cancellations
Train passengers in the West Midlands have been warned of short-notice cancellations due to increasing numbers of staff being told to self-isolate.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:30:21 +0000Quad bike rider killed in A41 crash
A quad biker has died after a crash with a car on a busy road in the West Midlands.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:00:16 +000071346158
The world's oldest toy shop has opened a branch in the Black Country.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:28:14 +0000County lines drug dealers jailed
Two county lines drug dealers have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 14 years in prison.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:40:00 +000071375891
Community leaders have revealed that they plan to continue wearing face masks in indoor public spaces when rules are relaxed next week.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:16:24 +0000Opinion mixed on planned bid for city status
The announcement of the bid for Dudley to become a city has been met with mixed responses from people living in and around the borough.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:06:14 +0000Chief exec to stand down at crisis council
The chief executive of crisis-ridden Sandwell Council is set to stand down, the Express & Star understands.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:02:10 +000071376795
Medics have called for a rethink on the month-long delay between ‘freedom day’ and quarantine rules being eased for the double-jabbed.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:48:10 +0000Hate crimes soar by nearly a quarter
Racially and religiously aggravated offences rose by nearly a quarter in the West Midlands last year as hundreds more incidents were reported.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:47:16 +000071373346
The Conservatives have picked up another seat from Labour in Sandwell after winning the Tividale by-election.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:47:10 +000071373745
A body of a man – believed to be missing 20-year-old Phoenix Everill – has been found in Staffordshire.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:36:18 +0000Danger fears over drivers ignoring signs
Drivers in Sutton Coldfield are putting lives at risk by turning right at a turn left-only junction, a concerned resident has said.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:29:10 +0000Minister gives backing to city bid
A Government minister has thrown his weight behind Dudley's bid to become a city.
Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:27:26 +0000New nature trail at school
Pupils and staff at a Dudley school can now enjoy nature, relax and keep fit, thanks to a nature trail and sensory garden created by 70 volunteers which was part-funded by a wealth management company.