Patrick puts his stock in a blind trust

Governor Deval L. Patrick placed all his stock holdings in a blind trust in July to insulate himself from potential conflicts of interest, according to his 2007 financial statement, filed yesterday with the State Ethics Commission. His statement does not disclose what assets he put into it. "The governor feels it is important to create a firewall between his decisions as governor and his personal finances, to avoid even the appearance of conflict," said his spokesman, Joe Landolfi. Patrick had promised such a move last year. In previous financial statements covering 2005 and 2006, Patrick listed some 250 holdings in stock and municipal bonds, but did not give any values. He also listed 83 stocks and other equities that are in family trusts.

A Revere teenager has been ordered held without bail after being charged with the fatal stabbing of a 61-year-old man. At his arraignment yesterday in Chelsea District Court, Richard Southern, 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the death of Storm Mandeville. Police found Mandeville's body Saturday in his apartment on Bryant Street after receiving an anonymous phone call. Investigators believe that the victim died from multiple stab wounds sustained during a confrontation with Southern late Thursday or early Friday. (AP)

Northeastern University president Joseph E. Aoun has appointed Stephen W. Director to be provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, the university announced yesterday. Director is replacing Ahmed Abdelal, who said in September that he would resign at the end of the spring semester. Director, provost at Drexel University, previously served as dean of engineering at both the University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University. He will begin at Northeastern on July 1, a university spokesman said.

A woman who was killed in a two-alarm fire in Norwood Monday night has been identified as Lauren Ayala, 24, of Norwood, the Norfolk district attorney's office said. Ayala was rushed to Caritas Norwood Hospital after being removed from the first floor of her residence at 67 Tremont St. by a Sharon fire medic, Norwood fire officials said on Monday. She was the only person home at the time of the fire.

A Lynn police officer shot and killed early yesterday morning a knife-waving man who advanced toward him and ignored warnings to stop and drop his weapon, prosecutors said. The suspect was identified as Michael Addesa, 34, of East Boston, the Essex district attorney's office said. The incident occurred when the officer, who was not identified, pursued the suspect after he was acting suspiciously at about 2:20 a.m., according to the district attorney’s office. Addesa stopped and confronted the officer with a knife, and after ignoring multiple warnings from officers, was shot once in the chest, the DA said. Addesa was pronounced dead at Salem Hospital. The district attorney’s office is investigating the case, along with Lynn police.

A third teenager has been charged in the slaying of a cab driver in Brockton. Jeffrey Milton, 17, pleaded not guilty in Brockton District Court yesterday in the February shooting death of Edward Conley. Milton turned himself in to police Saturday. He was arraigned on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was arrested a week after Antonio Fernandes, 16, became the second Brockton teenager to be arrested in Conley's killing. Prosecutors say that Milton, Fernandes, and Adilson Neves, 17, schemed to kill Conley by luring the 56-year-old cabdriver onto a dead-end street, where he was fatally shot. (AP)

A Chicopee man has been sentenced to four to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to running over his girlfriend and killing her as she walked away from a bar. Christopher M. Slatcher pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of vehicular homicide, operating with a suspended license, and having an open container of alcohol in his car. Slatcher was accused of running over Lorie S. Avery after the 37-year-old Chicopee teacher's aide left a local bar and refused to get into his car last year. Slatcher tearfully apologized in court yesterday, insisting it was accidental. (AP)