Patrick to raise safety spending by $106m

Governor Deval Patrick's proposed state budget would boost public safety spending by nearly $106 million, including money targeted at the troubled state Medical Examiner's Office and funds for 100 new police officers, the Associated Press has learned. Patrick's plan also includes increases for the State Police Crime Lab and extra money for changes at the Department of Corrections to curb the number of prison suicides. The plan would also boost spending on firefighting equipment and training programs, summer jobs programs, grants for centers for at-risk youth, and a popular antigang violence program. "These are targeted investments aimed at creating safer communities to live in and work in," an administration source said on the condition of anonymity because the budget won't officially be released until today. (AP)

Governor Deval Patrick announced yesterday that he has nominated Linda S. Fidnick as an associate justice to the Hampshire County Division of the Probate and Family Court and Richard A. Simons to become a probate and family court associate circuit justice. Fidnick, 54, of Leverett, is a partner of the Amherst law firm of Burres, Fidnick & Booth and an advocate and specialist in the field of domestic relations. Fidnick is the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Justice Sean M. Dunphy in September. Simons, 48, of Pittsfield, is a partner of the Pittsfield law firm Simons, Smith & Gerrard. He will fill the vacancy created by the Nov. 9 appointment of Judge Anne M. Geoffrion to the Hampden County Division of the Probate and Family Court.

There's a new phone number to call during storms or disasters in Massachusetts. It's 211. Officials at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency say 211 is designed to reduce the number of nonemergency calls made to 911. By dialing 211, people can get updated information on disasters and postdisaster programs, as well as volunteering and donation opportunities. The 211 call center operates weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing information about social services. (AP)

The Salem School Committee voted last night to ask police to investigate a former school business manager whom officials have blamed for a major deficit. The $4.7 million shortfall led school officials to announce layoffs earlier this month. So far, the equivalent of about 75 full-time jobs have been cut, according to Superintendent William J. Cameron Jr. But 10 of those jobs are expected to be reinstated using money the Salem community donated. Bruce Guy, the former business manager who is at the center of the controversy, could not immediately be reached for comment last night. Mayor Kim Driscoll, who is the chairwoman of the school board, said her office already has forwarded information about the school district's finances and about Guy to police.

A high school history teacher in West Boylston has been placed on administrative leave after being charged with distributing material harmful to minors over the Internet. Scott Simoncini was arrested Friday and pleaded not guilty yesterday in Worcester District Court. He was released on $2,500 bail and ordered not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16. West Boylston School Superintendent Thomas Kane told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette the charges do not involve any students at the school or other children in the town. Kane says Simoncini has been teaching in the high school for about five years and serves as junior varsity baseball coach. He will return to court on Feb. 14.

An electrical malfunction was probably what started a Danvers house fire that killed two people last week, officials said yesterday. Fire investigators determined that the Jan. 16 fire started between the basement ceiling and the floor of the first story of the home, and the only possible heat source there was electrical wiring that showed signs of malfunctioning, state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said. Olga and Andrezej Pierowski were found on the second floor of the Lawrence Street home, overcome by smoke. Foul play is not suspected, officials said. Danvers Fire Chief James Tutko said evidence suggested there were no working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in the home.