Dave Smith said he celebrated the news he was Covid negative with a bottle of champagne.

A man found dead at his home in Walsall died from multiple stab wounds to his back and neck, an inquest has heard.

A row has broken out in Sutton Coldfield after plans to subsidise car parking were vetoed.

A 29-year-old man has been charged with possessing and sharing extremist material online.

Malta and the Balearic Islands are among a ‘handful’ of places being considered for quarantine-free trips, it has been reported.

A new Tesco store that has created more than 150 jobs at the former Waitrose site in Wolverhampton is set to open its doors next week.

More towns and villages across the Midlands are to get ultrafast full fibre broadband.

Schoolchildren across the country are set to celebrate 'One Britain One Nation Day' this week by singing a patriotic song.

Rates have increased week-on-week in 85% of local areas.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said every possible avenue will be taken to accelerate the rollout.

41 cases have been identified to date in the UK.

Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS England’s medical director of primary care, renewed calls for people to take up the offer of a jab.

Tuition fees and a lack of in-person teaching were the biggest causes of dissatisfaction among undergraduates, a survey suggests.

It comes amid concerns about the impact of the pandemic on the medical workforce.

New figures suggest there were peaks in prescriptions around the time of national lockdowns

The Healthcare Safety Investigation branch said in a report that at least a dozen hospitals had to take emergency action to mitigate risks.

The trial of a police officer over the death of a footballer, Russian jets and a psychic seagull feature on the front pages.

West Mercia Police Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith denies assaulting the former footballer

Researchers found the prevalence of long Covid increased with age and was higher among women.

A brother and sister who committed VAT and income tax fraud amounting to more than £300,000 have both been given suspended jail sentences.

A police officer's actions which caused the death of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson have damaged trust in the force, said the Assistant Chief Constable of West Mercia Police.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering teenager Kimani Martin – who was shot and killed as he sat in a taxi in the Tividale area.

Travel agents have protested outside Westminster to highlight the ongoing challenges facing the sector, and the risks to businesses.

Mobile vaccine buses are making their way around the Black Country – as new figures show more than three in five adults across the UK have had their second jab.

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a postal apprenticeship scheme aimed at would-be postmen and postwomen.

Police have warned people not to fall for a new vaccine passport scam that is doing the rounds.

Visiting a Midlands hospital is about to become less of a daunting experience for children and patients with learning disabilities.

A West Midlands charity working to tackle youth violence and build mental health resilience has moved into its first office location.

Dalian Atkinson picked up the ball deep in his own half, shrugged off tackles from three members of Wimbledon's 'crazy gang', before impudently chipping a disbelieving Hans Segers from 30 yards.

You may have heard of the term HMO and have a rough grasp of what it means.

Staffordshire Police's deputy chief constable is to continue in the force's top job on a temporary basis, it has been confirmed.

Wolverhampton City Credit Union had a record month of lending in May.

A Black Country tenant was put at risk from a ceiling that partially collapsed and was left unable to use her shower after her landlords failed to adequately repair a leak, a court has heard.

A new business has opened its doors at Wolverhampton's i10 office and retail development – creating five new jobs.

Five million items of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) have now been distributed to frontline staff by Wolverhampton Council since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last March.

An unusual sight outside a city shopping centre has been causing a buzz for passers-by.

A survey found that 96% of Scots who travelled overseas between March 2020 and today felt very or fairly safe.

A private investigation company in the West Midlands has warned people and business owners to be vigilant after a surge in cases it is dealing with.

More than 82% of adults have also received their first dose.

The family of a man who died following a collision on a Staffordshire road have paid tribute to their ‘cheeky beloved Luke’.

A walk-in vaccination centre has opened at Birmingham’s City Hospital for people aged 18 and over.

A Sutton Coldfield teacher says she is 'humbled and proud' after receiving national recognition.

When former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson was fatally Tasered by police in the street where he grew up in Telford it sent shockwaves across the community and beyond.

The family of football hero Dalian Atkinson have spoken of their five-year ordeal following his death at the hands of West Mercia officer Benjamin Monk.

A Labour councillor has been criticised over claims she led an "anti-Israel" chant calling at a pro-Palestine rally.

West Mercia Police Pc Benjamin Monk has been found guilty of the manslaughter of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson but cleared of his murder after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

A man is in hospital after he was stabbed in the chest in a flat in Wolverhampton.

A man allegedly murdered at a house in the Black Country was killed by a single stab wound, a post mortem has found.

The Government’s travel lists will be updated on Thursday.

Lloyds Banking Group has faced anger after announcing the closure of 44 branches across England and Wales including bank branches in Sedgley and Quinton and a Halifax branch in Rugeley.

Birmingham Airport has revealed that it was handling only an average of 1,600 passengers a day during last month.

Harry Potter star Oliver Phelps has spoken of his happy times as a youngster at Little Sutton Primary School.

The daily update also saw the highest number of deaths since April.

It is a special place for thousands of people from the Midands, but for one American visitor it was just muddy hell.

Gavin Williamson told MPs he wants to see students sitting formal exams next year, but ‘mitigations’ are likely.

The Education Secretary told MPs that schools must remain impartial.

The Scottish Government introduced the ban on Friday over concerns about coronavirus cases in Manchester and Salford.

The Bank of England will be watched closely for its latest take on the threat of surging inflation as the economy rebounds sharply.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding – after it's alleged he deliberately drove at a group of people outside a Black Country pub.

Officers are calling on people in Staffordshire to be extra vigilant when buying and selling on Facebook.

NHS staff are angry at the Government for recommending a 1% wage increase.

An enhanced resuscitation area and new bereavement suite could be created at Dudley’s main hospital as part of a revamp of the A&E department.

Worried residents fear anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related trouble could increase if a proposed Darlaston off-licence is approved.

Representatives for Dalian Atkinson's family have welcomed the manslaughter verdict again Pc Benjamin Monk and have called for action to address racism in policing.

Two men have been found guilty of killing a young man during a shoot-out in the West Midlands.

Many farmers breathed a huge sigh of relief when the UK and EU reached a last-gasp post-Brexit trade deal after nine tortuous months of negotiations.

When Nigel Farage uttered the words "the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom", he probably didn't foresee the myriad of problems that lay ahead.

A man who was fatally shot in a taxi had just turned 18, police said as they named the victim.

A Bilston pub has reopened with a new name and a new direction to be at the heart of the local community.

An author born and bred in the Black Country has won an award for his first children's book.

A village has received a life-saving boost today after a group of medically trained volunteers donated a new defibrillator.

Almost 20 new bungalows and flats are set to be built on disused land in Tipton as part of efforts to meet demand for more social housing.

A ward councillor's actions were described as "irresponsible and dangerous" after he claimed an area of green belt was saved from development.

A violent offender who once stole a vehicle with two toddlers still strapped in their child seats is back behind bars after he was caught trying to break into cars.

Charities have benefited from the efforts of two eight-year-old pupils at a primary school.

A former Stourbridge doctor’s surgery which has stood vacant for years is set to be converted into apartments.

As almost everyone becomes football-crazy during Euros 2020, staff at a Wolverhampton shop selling handmade desserts are determined to ensure everyone can gets a real taste of success.

A Black Country pub which caught fire reopened a day later in time for the England game.

A Black Country surgeon is set to be given a prestigious Rotary award for his pioneering work with artificial limbs.

“It was the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced, but worth it for the sight of all those flares lighting up the sky.”

A top police officer who spent two weeks in intensive care with Covid-19 has been put in charge of fighting crime in Walsall.

There were smiles and cheers as football fans cheered on England from a Black Country pub.

Public health leaders are urging people in the Black Country and Staffordshire to help halt the recent rise in cases as the easing of some national restrictions begins this week.

A financial adviser from Willenhall who cost clients more than £24 million from their pension funds, with high risk unregulated investments, has been banned from being a company director for 13 years.

A man who sold illegal tobacco at a Brierley Hill shop has been jailed after failing to pay almost £59,000 – despite having an expensive vehicle.

The mother of an e-scooter rider who died after a crash in Wolverhampton has called for helmets to be mandatory for all riders.

Media minister John Whittingdale said the Government was still in discussions with Uefa over who could attend the matches.

A man accused of murdering two men in a Range Rover in Dudley is "compassionate and considerate" and isn't aggressive, a trial has heard.

Two men shot dead in a Range Rover in Dudley felt they were being "fobbed off" by the man accused of killing them over a debt, a trial heard.

The nation’s daily pandemic death toll has dropped below 300 for the first time in more than a year.

The Government’s travel lists are expected to be updated on Thursday.

The total has risen 21% in a week – but is still well below the peak of the second wave.

The NHS Covid Pass will allow people in England to show their vaccination status or test results.

Creating new homes has unearthed a rare archaeological find in the Worcestershire village of Sedgeberrow.

Fewer than 10% of festival organisers applied for cultural pandemic support funding, according to industry data.

The ad for the Go-Vi Eradicator19, seen on the website protect-nhs.co.uk in November, included the claim ‘Proven to destroy Coronavirus* cells’.

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report has published its 10th edition.

Most NHS leaders say it is likely that another surge in Covid-19 cases will result in extra pressure.

Only one in seven pupils said they write something in their spare time every day, report found.

Data from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation found that employers are also looking at hiring more staff, but labour shortages remain an issue.