Allowing local authorities to retain business rates only rights one of many wrongs imposed on them by central government writes Steve Beauchampé

Labour’s West Midlands Mayor candidate pledges to build 3,000 new affordable homes per year.

Aim to boost central government help for devolved region.

UB40 help put Birmingham music heritage on the map.

Call for local runners to raise money during pandemic.

Donors needed at Birmingham Donor Centre due to low stocks.

Residents campaign to save playing fields as part of Commonwealth Games legacy.

Motorists are being urged by a road safety charity to concentrate at all times following the case of a driver who killed a cyclist while she was altering her satnav.

Coventry University and its successful spin-off firm Microcab are set to show off their zero-emission vehicle expertise at the 2013 Automotive Engineering Show at the NEC in Birmingham next week.

Organisers gearing up for this weekend’s big biker event.

Sheilagh Matheson raises a glass or two.

British ‘bullet trains’ should be Black Country-built says Liam Byrne.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street and Liam Byrne MP to meet audience.

Mayoral candidates challenged to prove their commitment to green issues.

West Midlands candidates urged to stand up for pedestrians.

Constituents "penalised for something beyond their control"

Public support for benefits 'safety net'.

Local MP amongst group seeking to end corporate anonymity.

New York Sounds: The Week In Free Jazz, No Wave Funk-Disco, Jewish Cantorial Experimentation & Alternative Hip Hop

The British Heart Foundation Acocks Green Furniture & Electrical Store was broken into last Thursday.

Richard Nevin goes on a voyage of discovery.

News that another well-known local has declared themselves a potential mayoral candidate prompts Dave Woodhall to wonder what the criteria for the job will be.

Forget the current obsession with reforming the EU, reform of our domestic political institutions is far more important says Steve Beauchampé.

The Midlands Media Awards is this year to take place at The Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC’s prestigious hospitality centre.

Media and creative professionals from across the West Midlands helped put Birmingham on the map as the new Carnival Capital last week, at a special event organised by the Birmingham Publicity Association (BPA).

Richard Lutz saunters through a little path of heaven in the changing weather.  

The Fashademix aims to stimulate debate and opinion.

Think Pink to raise awareness.

Half-season ticket launch will see help given to city charities.

Goldman Sachs’ new Birmingham office could end up in Brindleyplace.

An exciting new local food market will begin this month at Twickenham Primary School in Kingstanding.

Villa's run of poor form leads Dave Woodhall to draw an obvious conclusion.

Celebrating 75 years of Windrush, we discover who and what was Dorcas.

Cinema’s maverick directors celebrated at international film festival.

Watch your all-time favourite films in a truly unusual setting!

Our recent story about proposed developments at Acocks Green has drawn a reply from local campaigner Julie Larden

Thousands of people cheered Queen Elizabeth II during a trip to Stamford and Burghley House earlier this month

Conservatives demand council and police act on growing menace.

Our arts correspondent, Howie Elston, reports from Hollywood on a timely movie that could grab the Oscar for best film.

Former patient back on his bike for Velo.

Warwick Arts Centre have announced their summer film series, including some whip-smart comedies guaranteed to make you forget the lousy weather.

Design and marketing specialists employ young workers.

Eve Jones to replace injured Ellyse Perry for summer competition.

Terry Wills. Not a Happy Baggie.

Childrens Society chief executive Mark Russell writes about their Look Closer campaign.

Police Now officers tackling crime and anti-social behaviour with positive results.

Woman faces lifetime ban after racially abusing and spitting at doorman.

Richard Lutz is caught out by the cold, and other things.

Helen Annetts and family get festive at Warwick Castle.

Crimestoppers reminds the public to speak up anonymously to help save lives.