Our weekend read is here! With Andy Burnham riding his Bee Network to Number 10 Downing St (and back to 'Number 10 North' again), the political capital of buses is on the rise. In August, phase two of WMCA's bus takeover kicks in. But what does it all mean for our region?

Our weekend read is here! With Andy Burnham riding his Bee Network to Number 10 Downing St (and back to 'Number 10 North' again), the political capital of buses is on the rise. In August, phase two of WMCA's bus takeover kicks in. But what does it all mean for our region?

🚨 We are hiring a Staff Writer for our Birmingham team 🚨 We are seeking an exceptional writer capable of documenting the stories of Birmingham and the West Midlands through agenda-setting, high-quality reporting.

🚨 We’re hiring a Senior Editor 🚨 We need an exceptional editorial leader - someone who can edit ambitious journalism, develop writers, and help shape the direction of one of the most exciting teams in British journalism.

In 2008, Steve Dyson was editor of the Birmingham Mail when he got a tip-off about former 'porn king' and Blues owner David Sullivan.

Writing like this makes subscribing to @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social worth very penny!

Really proud of our talented colleagues at our sister title in Sheffield who are smashing their campaign. If you have friends, family, lovers, pets in the steel city, tell then to subscribe to @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social !

Your Monday Briefing is out now ft: 🗣️Al Carn's wants Keir Starmer's job, but his friendship with a former fraudster has set tongues wagging 🎂The woman who wants to celebrate her birthday with strangers 🗑️Cllr Majid Mahmood resigns and is branded a 'wasteman' by former colleague

Brilliant Brummie story, would make a great film or TV drama: Rising Damp meets Oppenheimer.

It’s March 1940. Blackouts are in force across Birmingham and gas masks bump against torsos as citizens bustle around the streets. At 38 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, two men are writing a note about their current research project: how to build a workable nuclear bomb.

Sheffield looks like one city - but is it? 🤷 People’s experiences of living here can be very different, depending on who they are and where they live.

“They don’t want to take the phone away because it causes a huge meltdown." Smartphones have changed young people's lives with many parents and teachers in despair. How are Birmingham's schools and their pupils faring? www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/andrew-tate-...

If you’ve looked at our homepage today, you might have noticed the progress bar has turned a very encouraging shade of white... As of this afternoon, 506 brilliant people have joined our campaign 🙌 We are exactly at the halfway mark!

Your Monday briefing has arrived ‼️📍 Top story: at Birmingham city council’s meeting last Friday, Labour and Reform tried to get into bed with the Tories, agreeing to divvy up seven scrutiny roles between them. Photo of the week: Ronnie Ackling / Instagram

In New Orleans, 1999: Prof. Charles Craddock was one of the first people to hear about a drug that would go on to change the course of medical history. 'You could hear the gasp go round the room,' he told The Dispatch.

@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social on it again. What still amazes me is how discussion of HS2 is still on a national level, not the impact all the delays and dithering have had on Digbeth. www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/longest-wait...

Incredible journalism here from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social! If you want to see more reporting like this please do think about subscribing... www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/longest-wait...

Delays, pint-induced rants, and one very angry Irishman. What will it take to get phase 4 of the Eastside Metro Extension finished?

Monday Briefing out now: ⚖️Raise the Colours founder charged with murder 🪩Mayor welcomes new nightlife changes incl more night buses and lobbying for tax changes 📻The Dispatch goes on @TimesRadio + more

Abandoned and on fire People are living in Brum’s derelict buildings. What happens when there’s a blaze? via @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/abandoned-an...

Today’s story is out now: People are living in Brum’s abandoned buildings. What happens when there’s a blaze?

Next week, my colleagues at @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social are up for the @privateeyenews.bsky.social Paul Foot Award. And for a few weeks, Sheffielders can join The Tribune as members for FREE. Please share this link with your Sheffield friends. www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/help-make-sh...

Have you read yesterday's story on Operation Fearless yet? Plus, don't miss our Brum in Brief which keeps you up to date with the West Midlands' news of the week. Click the link below to read🔗

Amazed this story doesn’t yet appear to have got any national media follow. Home Sec Shabana Mahmood + family have some serious explaining to do over this vote rigging story - but all they’ve done so far is threaten @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social journos www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/exclusive-sh...

Operation Fearless: racist and short-sighted or absolutely necessary?

Wow, our campaign is off to a flying start! It’s been just under a week since what might have been one of the most exciting days in Tribune history - and we’re still buzzing from it.

What's going on at the Royal Shakespeare Company?

Last year, the RSC announced plans to cut their workforce by 11%, citing a £5m shortfall as one of the main reasons why. Former and freelance musicians at the RSC say the cuts have drastically affected their department — which they say now effectively ceases to exist.

Our campaign to add 1,000 new members is live! And already they are flooding in... Pay what you like for two months and help us get there: www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/pledge/

Two weeks ago, @manchestermill.bsky.social investigated electoral fraud before the locals. Now there have been five arrests. As the Telegraph writes: “An investigation by The Mill reported claims that the fake independents were put forward by people associated with the Tameside Labour group.”

'Thank God that’s over': A libel claim brought against local news publisher Mill Media has been thrown out as an 'abuse of process' as David Lammy promised action against such groundless lawsuits intended to silence public interest reporting pressgazette.co.uk/news/mill-me...

Different backgrounds, but the same instinct for thoughtful, in-depth journalism - rooted in place and driven by curiosity 🤝 We’re really glad they’re part of this. You can read more about Brad and Mia below:

Birmingham city council remains under no overall control. But, the latest update is that Greens, Lib Dems, and seven independents have joined forces. Will it work, though? That's today's story⬇️

Well, have we got some news for you 🚨 With two weeks to go until launch, we wanted to introduce two of the people helping shape The Exchange. Introducing: Brad Deas and Mia Jankowicz.

A good email to get from our lawyers: "Great news!! The attached judgment was handed down this morning and we have won!!!” Nightmare over for @londonermag.bsky.social and @coramazov.bsky.social. And a huge win for the free press. So delighted with this. ✊ www.the-londoner.co.uk/we-won-our-d...

The unique weirdness of Shropshire and West Midlands folklore Industrial workers and superstition: a match made in heaven via @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-unique-w...

Your Monday Briefing has arrived‼️ A confrontation between Raise the Colours and Stirchley locals led to a woman being punched and a man's leg being crushed by a van last Thursday. Two arrests have been made. Read our story from last year on RtC below:

Exclusive: Court transcripts contradict Shabana Mahmood’s denials about a notorious vote-rigging case Click the link below to read more🔗⬇️

Exclusive: Court transcripts contradict Shabana Mahmood’s denials about a notorious vote-rigging case The judge in the case says the home secretary’s statement ‘appears to bear no relation to reality’ via @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/exclusive-co...

Have you read yesterday's piece yet? Click below for ghosts, UFOs, and pig men⬇️ Plus, our Brum in Brief: 🎓Scholars and students are pushing back on management BCU who have pulled the plug on the Black Studies MA 🎻CBSO announces their new season

So, we’ve got a name. Introducing: The Exchange. A new newsroom for West Yorkshire - built on the idea that places matter, stories matter, and that information shouldn’t just sit there.

🛸Pig men, UFOs, and ghosts — the West Midlands has it all. In today's feature, we explore the local legends, stories, and folklore tales that refuse to die. Click below to read🔗👻

Your Monday briefing has arrived‼️ 🧵Today's top story is the question on everyone's mind: what comes next for Birmingham? Plus: where might alliances form? A blue alliance would still fall short of a majority, and so would need the support of Independents.

Read our round-up of yesterday’s local election results below:

In the same week as the elections, this came out from the amazing @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/exclusive-sh...

Despondent Labour activists, jubilant Greens and a Reform councillor now serving on TWO local authorities. We encountered it all at Birmingham's seismic count yesterday, which ended 14 years of Labour dominance. So: what now? Read our report.

Last weekend, the government tried to stop us from publishing our exclusive story on the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Yesterday it was discussed on Private Eye’s podcast with Ian Hislop, Helen Lewis, Adam Macqueen and Andrew Hunter Murray. Watch below⬇️

Nice read… nice pics @aaronjlaw.bsky.social

Great contributing thoughts and images to this positive piece!

Shannon Lee was found dead in 2023 after an agency healthcare assistant did not properly check up on her. The 22-year-old carer had been admitted to Hallam Street Hospital in West Brom complaining that she could hear voices telling her to tie a ligature.