West Midlands

West Midlands Police report that a man has been jailed after attempting to ram his vehicle into armed officers. The force shared footage of the incident, saying the sentence reflects the seriousness of targeting police. Details of the man's identity, the length of the sentence and the exact location have not been widely reported.

Richard Parker, the Labour mayor of the West Midlands, has called on the chancellor to relax the UK's electric vehicle sales mandates, arguing the targets are placing pressure on carmakers and workers in a region central to the country's automotive industry. The appeal puts a senior Labour figure at odds with government policy on the transition to electric cars.

A murder trial in the West Midlands has heard allegations that the accused copied methods associated with the fictional television serial killer Dexter, a character who stalked and killed criminals while working as a blood analyst. Prosecutors presented the claim to the jury, though details of the alleged imitation and the defendant's response were not given in the report.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made a campaign stop in Midland, where he discussed affordability, education, and energy policy with local audiences. The stop in the Permian Basin, a key energy-producing region, paired his cost-of-living messaging with reassurances on education and support for the oil and gas industry that dominates the local economy.