Black Sabbath Seem to Have Called It Quits-At Least According to a Facebook Post

Early last month in their hometown of Birmingham, England, heavy metal legends Black Sabbath played their very last tour date , calling an end to their yearlong The End tour, not to mention their 49-year-long career as a touring entity. Just a few days later, however, guitarist Tony Iommi hinted that Sabbath might still play the occasional one-off show-or even record together.

Body found in canal: Round-up story and pictures

Police received a call from a concerned member of the public just before 7.30am today morning reporting they had seen a body in the canal at Spring Lane, near Worcester Shrub Hill railway station. The body has not yet been formally identified and police say they are treating the death as “unexplained” at this stage.

Islam-inspired terror offences – nearly double in UK in five years’

The number of Islamism-inspired terrorism offences in the UK has nearly doubled in the five years to the end of 2015, according to a new report. The period from 1998 to 2015, studied in a report on Islamist terrorism on British soil, has also seen a surge in the number of women taking part in these crimes with offenders are getting younger and the bulk of the Islamism-inspired threat coming from home-grown terrorism.

Boy dies after collapsing at school following suspected allergic reaction

Brigid Jones, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for children, families and schools, said on Twitter: “My thoughts are with the family of the young man who tragically died following an incident at school yesterday.” A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place and police are working with the school and council to establish the circumstances of the boy’s death.

Mayor set to enjoy a cuppa for Fairtrade Fortnight

Dudley’s Mayor – will be calling into the Fairtrade Break Coffee Morning at St Thomas’s Church Hall, Market Street, Stourbridge, on Saturday March 11 which is being organised as part of the annual campaign. The coffee morning, running from 10am to 12.30pm, is being organised by Stourbridge Fairtrade, who were instrumental in achieving Fairtrade status for Stourbridge in 2010.

Locally produced food and drink on the menu at new Holiday Inn restaurant

BENNETT’S ice cream from Worcester and ales from the Wye Valley Brewery near Bromyard are just two of the local products to be found at the newly opened Cow on the Hill restaurant at Bromsgrove’s Holiday Inn hotel. The new restaurant offers a steak and grill menu with the emphasis on provenance of ingredients – all the steaks are from beef matured and grass fed on organic pastures in Northern Ireland’s Glenarm Estate.

Travel latest: One lane closed and queueing traffic on M5 due to accident

So, if you’re looking for a stress free journey and want to avoid the rush hour hot-spots – why not use our traffic update? A quick glance around the Black Country and North Worcestershire suggests the roads are looking okay in general, apart from the below: One lane closed and queueing traffic due to accident on M5 Southbound at J5 A38 , congestion on M5 to J4a M42. In the roadworks area.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott raises concerns about Worcester hospital trolley deaths

A SHADOW minister spoke of her deep concern about trolley deaths at Worcester hospital and called for urgent investment in social care when she visited the city. Thanking the people of Worcester for a warm reception on her first visit to the city, she spoke about the crisis engulfing hospitals, including the city’s Worcestershire Royal Hospital, asking people to sign the ‘care for the NHS petition’ which calls for extra Government funding for the NHS.

Thursday morning’s traffic and travel

Roads are looking generally clear this Thursday morning with just a few minor incidents to look out for across the Black Country and North Worcestershire, including: Water main work and temporary traffic lights on A442 Franche Road in Kidderminster at the Woodland Avenue junction, so expect delays. Some delays again on A451 Stourbridge Road in Kidderminster at the Springfield Lane junction due to gas main work and temporary traffic lights.

Smallbrook Queensway demolition set for go ahead

A 70 million regeneration project including plans for one of Birmingham’s tallest residential buildings is expected to get the green light next week. City planners have been recommended to approve both elements of Commercial Estates Group’s project in Smallbrook Queensway which will see the end of part of the sweeping Ringway Centre spanning the length of the street.

Before the courts

Alexander Colin McDonald, aged 28, of Gibbs Road, Lye, was given a seven month community order for entering the Chequers Inn, Stourbridge, as a trespasser on September 27, 2016, and stealing cash of a value unknown. He was also sentenced for entering Customark, Dudley, as a trespasser on November 13, 2016, with intent to steal and driving without insurance in Lye on January 2. He was given six penalty points and must pay compensation of A 500, a victim surcharge of A 85, A 185 court costs and a A 100 fine.

12 killed after truck rams Berlin Christmas market crowd

A truck rammed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin on Monday evening, killing at least 12 people and injuring around 50 as it tore through tables and wooden stands. Police said a suspect believed to be the driver was arrested nearby and a passenger died as paramedics were treating him.

Lions hope sleigh outings beat previous festive fundraising efforts

KINGSWINFORD and Stourbridge Lions hope to beat previous festive fundraising efforts with this year’s Christmas sleigh outings with a brand new Santa mobile. The charitable group has been treated to an all-new sleigh this time – thanks to sponsorship from a number of local businesses and organisations including NatWest Bank, West Bromwich Building Society, Asda, Stourbridge Motor House, Imperial Commercials, Crown Butchers.

Sundance Screenwriters Lab Unveils 15 Writers It Will Support

Making the cut is Iranian writer-director Massoud Bakhshi true story ‘Yalda,’ which centers on a woman convicted of killing her husband who agrees to appear on a popular TV show to ask her husband’s daughter for forgiveness. The Sundance Institute has selected the 15 emerging screenwriters and their 12 feature film projects that it will support through the 2017 Screenwriters Lab.