Good morning readers — welcome to Wednesday’s Dispatch.
We are back on track with our usual schedule. You’ll find your daily mini-briefing below and our long mid-week story will be with you tomorrow.
A little growth update — yesterday we let you know that we were aiming to reach 250 paying members by the end of the week and six of you signed up within a couple of hours of publishing. At the time of writing, we have 246 paying subscribers which is brilliant, thanks for your support lovely new members. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, and like what we are doing, hit the lovely green button:
Brum in Brief
💰 600 redundancies have been announced at Birmingham City Council and planned cuts to spending by the local authority currently fall short by tens of millions, it has emerged. In an email to all staff, Chief Executive Deborah Cadman said: “I understand this news will be unsettling.”
🚨 A wanted man, believed to be carrying a knife, threw missiles at police from the roof of a pub in Kingstanding on Tuesday. A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We’re advising residents to avoid the immediate vicinity while we talk to the man in an effort to bring the incident to a safe conclusion."
🎸 Chef and musician Levi Roots has been announced as the keynote speaker at the Birmingham Black Business Show 2024. Conference News reports: “Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insights from Roots’ journey, learn from his experiences, and be motivated by his positive impact on both the business and cultural landscape.”
🍽️ Michelin star restaurant Carters will relocate to the city centre from 2 February to 31 May. The pop-up will be hosted at private members club Eighteen at 103 Colmore Row where diners can make the most of an outdoor terrace floating above Birmingham. You can book here.
🪐 Watch breathtaking views of the solar system while listening to Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon in this immersive show at the ThinkTank Museum. There are only a few dates in February and March left, so book your tickets now.