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Boston.com readers were obsessed with these stories in 2024. Here's why.
Readers Say
Karen Read, campus protests, the Celtics and several other stories bubbled to the top this year.
The people — or at least the people who make up Boston.com’s readership — have spoken. A lot of news happened in 2024, but these are the stories that readers cited as the ones that most intrigued them over the course of the last 12 months.
In total readers sent more than 500 responses to our survey, and below you’ll find a countdown of the five they mentioned most often, followed by six more that bubbled up just underneath. (And how much do you want to bet at least a few of these turn up on the list again next year?)
5. Massachusetts gets (part of) the eclipse (7%)
OK, so Boston wasn’t in the “path of totality.” We’ll get our own total solar eclipse on May 1, 2079 (turns out the waiting is the hardest part), but in the meantime Boston.com readers seemed plenty content with getting our own little slice of the natural phenomenon here last April. Silly glasses were de rigueur, schools and businesses stopped everything to check it out, and plenty of people actually headed north to New Hampshire and Vermont to see the thing in toto. (Although a lot of them seemed to run into a few problems getting back home.)
4. Pro-Palestinian protests on campus (11%)
Greater Boston has a lot of colleges, and a lot of students who aren’t particularly shy about speaking up at them. So it probably made sense that when students started protesting over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, our schools would be a hotbed of such activity. And sure enough, MIT, Tufts, and Emerson led the way, followed by Harvard, Northeastern, UMass Amherst, Dartmouth, and UNH, among others. Even the Rhode Island School of Design got into the act, occupying part of an administrative building. Protests, encampments, arrests, and resignations seemed to arise basically every day last spring, and readers followed live updates with interest (and probably no small amount of trepidation).
3. Bill Belichick says bye-bye (13%)
One of two sports stories to make our top five, a sizable number of readers pointed to the departure of Bill Belichick from the Patriots team he had led to six Super Bowl championships. Even though it happened way back in early January, readers reported his leaving as having taken up big chunks of their sports headspace throughout 2024 — maybe because he kept making headlines, whether it was his opinions about the team he left behind, reports about his love life (couples Halloween costume, anyone?), or his eventual landing as coach at North Carolina.
2. Celtics are national champs (19%)
While they might not have had the juice of our omnipresent No. 1 story mentioned below, readers named our Boston Celtics the second most intriguing story of the year, with their decisive championship victory over the Dallas Mavericks in June dispelling any doubt that this was — arguably by far — the best team in the NBA. It almost makes you feel bad for all those other teams that didn’t have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a roster of stellar complementary players, and Coach Joe Mazzulla churning out quotes-of-the-day like an Internet-era Yogi Berra. Oh, and their parade was pretty good too.
1. The Karen Read saga (28%)
In a year that saw the continuation of more than a few disturbing ongoing murder stories — the Brian Walshe and Lindsay Clancy cases come to mind — one captured people’s attention the most, by far. The trial of Karen Read made headlines and spurred water-cooler talk far beyond Boston, leading to the logical assumption among basically everybody that it would eventually be a Netflix documentary. Which of course it will be.
As you’ll probably recall, prosecutors allege that Read was driving drunk and deliberately backed her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, while dropping him off at a house party in January of 2022. And Read’s lawyers allege that O’Keefe was actually beaten by people inside the house (and attacked by the family dog). It’s a case that has everything, including a Turtleboy. And since her first trial ended in a mistrial, we get to do it all again next April.
Honorable mentions:
Trump makes headway in Mass: People of the MAGA persuasion probably shouldn’t get too excited — Massachusetts remained solidly blue in November’s presidential election, with Kamala Harris earning about 61% of the vote. But Donald Trump took the whole shebang, and readers (well, about half of them) pointed to his gains even in liberal Mass. as part and parcel of his booming comeback — he flipped 10 Massachusetts towns that had voted for Biden in 2020 and shrunk the gap in a lot of others. Meanwhile, the anti-Trump contigent immediately began hand-wringing over how his policies might affect things in the Bay State.
The Mass. migrant crisis: Thanks to the state’s “right to shelter” law, migrants were everywhere — at Logan Airport, in repurposed community centers, at hotels and in a shuttered prison. And despite Gov. Maura Healey’s ever-tightening guidelines for shelter stays, the issue remains a thorn in her political side.
Crime in Downtown Boston: A shoplifting surge and violence on the Common — which many blamed on problems that spread from the former encampments of homeless and addicted individuals at Mass. & Cass — meant much consternation among the city crowd. Mayor Michelle Wu, though, assures us Boston remains the safest big city in America.
Ballot questions: There were five of them! And three — approval of a legislative audit, the elimination of the MCAS as a graduation requirement, and allowing rideshare drivers to unionize — actually passed. Sorry, psychedelics and increased tipped minimum wage.
The arrest of Tania Fernandes Anderson: It just happened a few weeks ago, but Boston City Councilor Fernandes Anderson’s federal public corruption arrest — charges involved a $7,000 cash payment in a City Hall bathroom — immediately caused a stir on Boston’s political scene. (One reader even suggested that outgoing President Joe Biden should pardon her.)
State police troubles: As if the classless texts from State Trooper Michael Proctor revealed during the Read trial weren’t enough, the mysterious training death of recruit Enrique Delgado Garcia cast a further pall over the organization. Plus all the fraud. (Not that your run-of-the-mill municipal police departments got off easy either. Case in point: the Sara Birchmore case in Stoughton.)
Stay tuned for a full list of the most-read stories on Boston.com in 2024 next week.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 59 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers looked like a completely different team against the Boston Celtics in Game 2.
And unlike Game 1, the Sixers’ defense also showed up, holding Boston to 43 second-half points and 39 percent shooting for the game in a 111-97 road win to tie this Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1.
Edgecombe scored a team-high 30 points on 12-for-20 shooting, and Maxey added 29 points and nine assists. The Sixers’ backcourt duo combined to shoot 11-for-22 from 3-point range. The Sixers were 19-for-39 from 3 after going 4 of 23 from that distance in Game 1.
Boston was led by Jaylen Brown’s game-high 36 points, but Jayson Tatum was the only other Celtics player who scored in double figures with 19. Boston shot 13-for-50 from 3-point range.
Here are some takeaways with Game 3 set for Friday in Philadelphia.
Celtics offense falls flat
The Celtics knew to expect a different effort from the 76ers.
One adjustment from Philadelphia likely didn’t take Boston by surprise. After taking just 23 3-pointers in Game 1, the 76ers sought out more long balls in Game 2.
Maxey called his own number more often. Edgecombe was aggressive from the start. As a team, the 76ers played with more freedom, firing plenty of shots that they might have turned down in the series opener. Philadelphia made plenty of those looks while shooting 48.7 percent from behind the arc.
Still, the Celtics would have been all right if they had played their usual offensive game. Instead, their offense was their biggest issue. They shot just 39.3 percent on field goal attempts. They missed 37 of 50 3-point attempts. They committed an atypical 13 turnovers.
Trying to come back in the fourth quarter, they had too many empty offensive possessions. Jaylen Brown got blocked while trying to beat the shot clock buzzer and picked up an offensive foul while hitting Maxey in the face. Jayson Tatum missed a contested pull-up 3-pointer early in the shot clock on one possession and threw away a pass on another. Derrick White was left wide open in the left corner but couldn’t find the bottom of the net. The 76ers left the door open early in the fourth quarter by missing several shots, including a couple of layups, but the Celtics couldn’t fully capitalize. Eventually, Maxey sank a series of baskets to create more separation for Philadelphia, and the Celtics largely went away down the stretch. — Jay King, Celtics beat writer
Sixers bounce back in Boston
This is the way the 76ers have to play if they want to extend this series as far as possible.
Maxey and Edgecombe have to dominate their guard matchups, which is exactly what they did in Tuesday night’s Game 2. Paul George needs to be a deterrent to Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He doesn’t have to eclipse them, because that would be difficult. But he does have to give them a bit of pause. Most of all, the 76ers have to play the focused brand of basketball they exhibited in Game 2 rather than the sloppy and slapstick kind of hoops they played in Game 1.
The Celtics are such a good team that the above equates to near-perfect basketball. But that’s the task the Sixers are facing, particularly without star center Joel Embiid. On Tuesday night, this was a team up to the task. They were focused. They executed on both ends of the floor. They got much better play from their role players. Maxey and Edgecombe were absolutely dominant.
Overall, on both ends of the floor, this is the best game the 76ers have played in months. And they got it at just the right time. Now we have a 1-1 series heading back to Philadelphia. — Tony Jones, Sixers beat writer
A former doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has been indicted on 81 new sexual assault charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday. Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist, was already facing rape and assault charges in Middlesex County and had been sued by dozens of former patients.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the new charges stem from accusations made by 22 victims between 17 and 56 years old. Todd faces 21 new rape charges, 59 new counts of indecent assault and battery and one count of assault with intent to rape.
“Many of these women had complicated and gravely serious symptoms and conditions. Some were in excruciating pain. Many were desperate for relief,” Hayden said. “Dr. Todd intently groomed them all into quiet submission.”
With the latest indictments, Todd is now facing more than 100 charges of sexual assault in Massachusetts.
“Almost unimaginable”
The alleged assaults occurred between 2017 and 2023 at Brigham and Women’s Hale Building in Boston and the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Hayden said it’s “almost unimaginable” how Todd was able to violate and betray patients’ trust.
“The scale of victimization and the magnitude of trauma left in the wake of these allegations is something we have never encountered,” Hayden said.
WBZ-TV has reached out to Todd’s lawyer for comment. He could be arraigned in court on the new charges this week, Hayden said.
Charges against Dr. Derrick Todd
Brigham and Women’s fired Todd in 2023 following accusations that he performed inappropriate pelvic and breast exams on his patients. The I-Team reported at the time that police were investigating more than a dozen complaints of sex assault against Todd by his female patients.
In January of 2025, Todd pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to rape charges involving two of his former patients at Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham.
Last month, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said a grand jury indicted Todd on three new charges of rape and 17 counts of indecent assault and battery.
Boston, MA
Between Providence And Boston Is A Vibrant Massachusetts Town Bursting With Diverse Entertainment – Islands
For some, New England might conjure images of skating rinks, Colonial architecture, and quaint villages. Others might picture waterfront cities like Boston or Providence, rich in history and — in the case of Boston, especially — towering skyscrapers. As you drive between these two capitals along Interstate 95 — a trip that should take about an hour — you’ll pass by towns like Foxborough. For the last few decades, this little community has developed a reputation as a hub of diverse entertainment, making it a worthwhile pit-stop as you journey along the East Coast.
If you’ve ever watched the Patriots kick off from Gillette Stadium on TV, then you’re already familiar with this Massachusetts town. The stadium, considered one of the 10 best in the U.S. for fun activities and events, was completed in 2002, but Foxborough itself has served as the home base for the Patriots since the 1970s. In the decades since, the team has attracted millions of visitors.
Foxborough — also spelled “Foxboro” — is normally home to about 6,500 year-rounders, but it floods with thousands more people on game or concert days. In total, the stadium can accommodate over 65,000 fans. When you’re not at Gillette Stadium, which is less than 4 miles from the heart of downtown, you’ll find plenty of other things to do. There’s live theater, outdoor recreational opportunities, and an eclectic mix of dining options, each deserving some exploration.
NFL games and Cranberry Bogs in Foxborough
Foxborough is located roughly 30 miles from Boston and just over 20 miles from Providence. In the area, you’ll find plenty of suburbs with historic downtowns and lush trails, like Hopedale, but Foxborough, nicknamed the “Gem of Norfolk County,” has one of the most diverse mixes of entertainment options. Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, for instance, housed in a 1920s-era silent movie theater, offers a busy calendar of comedy and musical performances year-round.
Football fans will also enjoy visiting the Patriots Hall in Patriot Place Mall, which is open daily for $10 per standard ticket. Here, you’ll be able to watch interviews with former players and stroll through a range of exhibits. “I liked all the different memorabilia from all different players all labeled with who and what milestone they came from,” reads one review on Tripadvisor. Afterward, check out the dozens of shopping and dining options in the surrounding mall, which also has its own commuter rail station and connected hotels. Gillette Stadium is next door; along with the Patriots, the venue has hosted performers like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and The Rolling Stones.
The Ocean Spray Cranberry Bogs and surrounding nature trails are also part of Patriot Place. Planted back in the 1920s, these bogs continue to thrive. They’re typically harvested in October, when visitors can attend the annual Harvest Festival. At this fun and family-friendly local event, you’ll be able to enjoy an inflatable corn maze, a beer garden, live music, and more.
Where to eat and sleep in Foxborough
As you explore Foxborough, you’ll find a range of dining options, from classic breakfast plates at The Commons, to artisanal burgers at Union Straw. As one reviewer writes about the latter on Google, “[This is a] Gorgeous venue, one of our favorite daytime lunch or date places. All food options are 10/10, truffle burger, gnocchi bolognese, and the flatbread pizzas are delicious and the fries are perfect.”
If you’re planning to spend the night rather than hit the road after a burger at Union Straw or a long football game, you’ll have a range of vacation rentals, local inns, and chain hotels to choose from. The Rally Point Inn & Pub, for instance, is within walking distance of local restaurants and shops. It also has its own sport-themed bar, weekly trivia nights, and karaoke. Just make sure to book your stay well in advance, as places tend to fill up before popular events.
The nearest airport is also in Providence, but you’ll find more flight options at Boston Logan International. Travelers can also opt for the “Event Train,” which runs between Patriot Place and Boston’s South Station on game days, providing a convenient way to avoid the notorious traffic. Besides the I-95 drive from Providence to Boston, there are plenty of other New England road trip tours you can take through gorgeous small towns. That being said, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a destination that attracts as many annual visitors as Foxborough.
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