Public confidence in the integrity of council and parliamentary elections in Birmingham was shattered by the disclosure last year of widespread postal vote fraud, an inquiry has found.
A council scrutiny investigation concluded that national media publicity following the exposure of corruption at the 2004 local authority elections "brought shame" upon the city and its civic life.
People would not be reassured about the probity of future elections until the Government moved to tighten security surrounding the postal vote system, said Councillor Len Clark, who chaired the scrutiny committee.
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Taxi services in the Midlands have seen a rise in attacks on drivers, with some becoming too frightened to continue working, according to new research.
According to Taxiwise, a publication dedicated to improving passenger safety, brutal attacks on cab drivers are on the increase in parts of the Midlands including Coventry, Shrewsbury, Market Drayton in Shropshire and Rugby.
Figures have shown at least 13 reported incidents of theft or attacks on drivers in the country since April this year, including stabbings, robberies, severe beatings, racist abuse and vehicles set alight, with a number of unreported attacks.
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A Birmingham business has been closed down by the Government after an investigation found it was preying on the religious sensitivities of its recruits.
Galaxy Lifestyles International(GLI) has been put into compulsory liquidation after the Department of Trade and Industry found more than 3,500 people had been conned into investing in the company.
Elaine Douglas, from Edgbaston, who ran GLI, claimed potential investors would receive discounts on their shopping. They were conned into believing that they could make up to #91,000 by recruiting a new member to the pyramid scheme every ten months.
Most of Douglas's victims were from Christian backgrounds - and she even quoted Mother Teresa to get people to sign up.
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As George Best recovers in hospital, the issue over whether people who habitually abuse their bodies should benefit from NHS-funded life-saving treatment has been raised again.
Health Reporter Emma Brady looks at the thorny issue of organ donation.
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Aston Villa's performances on the pitch might have been less than satisfactory in recent seasons ? but at least football fans across the country still consider the club's stadium to be one of the best.
That is according to a new survey, which unfortunately, doesn't involve the Villans winning any silverware.
Villa Park finished tenth in the favourite stadia category of the survey, which asked 3,000 fans their opinions on different football grounds.
See Friday's Birmingham Post for more on these stories
