Black Country Talking News 08th July 2026

In this week’s edition:

We find out what’s been happening at Beacon with the latest update from Helen and Muhammed.

There’s all the latest news from across the Black Country, 

With this week marking World Chocolate Day, with thanks to TNF Soundings contributor Lindsay, we learn the history of the day which is marked each year on the 7th of July.

Is this spell of sweltering heat set to continue? we hear from Meena who has the forecast for the week ahead.

After the footballing theatre from the early hours of Monday morning, this World Cup keeps shifting our evenings and stretching our screen time well beyond the usual bedtime routine; we take a tactical timeout, or hydration break, to focus on new research into how bright evening light may affect eye health.

Staying with sport and you’ll have to be sharp of mind, as just in time for The Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale – Southport, in a couple of weeks, to celebrate the sport’s oldest tournament, we have a special golf themed did you know section from Roger and Quiz with Meena.

And you may recall from last week’s edition, we considered how public transport systems are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat – and offered some guidance on heat exhaustion. 

Well, as temperatures soar once again this week and red weather warnings remain in place, with thanks to Express and Star journalist Kirsty-Louise Card – we  take a journey on the Midlands buses– to find out whether calls from bus drivers - seeking to make aircon mandatory on UK buses- are justified…