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Former President Biden makes surprise St. Patrick’s Day appearance in Boston

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Former President Biden makes surprise St. Patrick’s Day appearance in Boston


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Giving a speech in his unscheduled appearance, Biden spoke about immigrant experiences and Irish American history.

Former President Joe Biden, seen here speaking during a St. Patrick’s Day reception in 2024, made a surprise appearance Tuesday in Boston. Stephanie Scarborough/AP Photo

Former President Joe Biden joined a special celebration Tuesday morning in Boston for St. Patrick’s Day.

Biden made a surprise appearance at the Irish American Partnership’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast alongside former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin, who is also a former Massachusetts state representative. He was not scheduled to appear, according to Dorchester Reporter editor Bill Forry, who shared a photo of Biden at the event on X.

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The partnership, which works to connect Irish Americans to their heritage, held the celebration at the InterContinental Boston Hotel in the Seaport District. Biden received a standing ovation as he made his way to the podium to give a speech, The Boston Globe reported.

Biden’s speech focused on his Irish ancestors, who escaped the Great Famine in the mid-1850s and came to the United States as immigrants. In 2023, Biden visited Ballina, the Irish town from which one of his great-grandfathers emigrated in 1850.

Comparing his ancestors’ experience to immigration today, Biden alluded to the challenges that immigrants are facing amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown, the Globe reported.

“Let’s not lose sight of the bonds we share with today’s immigrants, families who are enduring fear and violence at the hands … of our government,” Biden said. “That’s not who we are. That’s not who America is.”

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However, he mostly remained positive, urging Americans to “summon the Irish optimism about the world of unlimited possibilities,” according to the Globe. Biden also noted Boston’s importance to Irish American history, drawing reference to the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day and the local traditions that have followed.

“Our ancestors, they knew America’s not a fairy tale. We’re not guaranteed a fairy tale ending,” Biden said. “But maybe it’s the Irish in me that’s led me to believe that the America of our dreams is always closer than we think.”

Gov. Maura Healey, who also has Irish immigrant ancestors, further embraced the connections between Massachusetts and Ireland, joking that Boston knows how to “celebrate St. Patrick’s Day better than anyone else in this country.” She also echoed Biden’s comments about immigration, calling on Americans with immigrant ancestors to reflect on their experiences, the Globe reported.

“We see immigrants being demonized, intimidated, and in many cases being treated so, so unjustly, and in ways that are truly un-American,” Healey said. “Many of our common ancestors did not receive the warmest welcome. Let us learn from our mistakes.”

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Boston, MA

JPMorganChase inks deal to become the main tenant of new South Station Tower

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JPMorganChase inks deal to become the main tenant of new South Station Tower


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The move underscores the financial firm’s commitment to expanding in the state as it prepares to open its 100th branch.

A pedestrian passes South Station Tower. Craig F. Walker / The Boston Globe, File

JPMorganChase is deepening its roots in Boston, announcing Tuesday that it will move its local offices to the new South Station Tower in 2028, making it the tower’s anchor tenant. 

The relocation signals the global financial firm’s continued expansion in Massachusetts, as the bank expects to open its 100th branch later this year. 

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“We are excited to deepen our roots in Boston and invest in the city’s future,” said Rick MacDonald, JPMorgan’s New England region manager for commercial banking, in a statement. “The move to South Station Tower represents a new chapter for our firm in Boston.”

JPMorganChase will occupy eight-and-a-half floors, which is about 250,000 square feet of the tower. The space will house about 1,000 employees. As part of the expansion, the company said it will add 300 jobs in the next several years. 

In addition, the firm will continue holding onto its location at 451 D St., which has 800 employees. 

Already, JPMorganChase has more than 1,600 employees working in the city through its corporate offices and Chase branches. 

The move will allow the company to bring its employees under one roof in a convenient location. South Station sits above Amtrak service to New York City, where the company’s newly opened headquarters are based. 

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Chase opened its first retail branch in Massachusetts in 2018. It has since grown to 92 branches statewide. 

“Reflecting on our journey in New England, it’s incredible to see how much JPMorganChase has expanded and evolved over the years,” said Stephen Burbage, JPMorgan’s head of institutional sales and marketing in Boston. “Our growth in the city has been remarkable.”

In December, the bank applied to the city to mount “JPMorgan” in 12-foot letters on top of the building. According to a JPMorgan spokesperson, the city is still reviewing the application. 

South Station Tower is owned and developed by Hines, a global real estate investment manager. The building rises 51 stories above the transit hub and has 680,000 square feet of office space. 

The developers have been working to fill the building since it first opened in September, after taking more than two decades to complete. 

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The top 16 floors of the tower are Ritz-Carlton condominiums. Other soon-to-be office tenants include the hedge fund Citadel, law firm Jones Day, and property insurer FM. 

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Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.

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Boston, MA

Red Sox No. 11 Prospect Unlocking New Power for Boston

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Red Sox No. 11 Prospect Unlocking New Power for Boston


The Boston Red Sox entered the 2025 season with one of the very best farm systems in baseball. The club proceeded to bring Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell all up to the big leagues at points.

All three have graduated from prospect status. Despite this fact, the Red Sox still boast one of the best farm systems in the game, even after trading a handful of guys away this past offseason, including Jhostynxon García and Brandon Clarke. Boston’s farm system is still stacked. Throughout Spring Training, guys like Payton Tolle, Franklin Arias, Connelly Early, Justin Gonzales and Jake Bennett have gotten most of the buzz. But another guy Red Sox fans should get to know right now is 2025 second-round pick Henry Godbout.

Godbout can play second base, shortstop and third base and was selected in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft by Boston out of the University of Virginia. He played in 13 games for High-A Greenville and slashed .341/.473/.477 with a .950 OPS. Right now, Godbout is the team’s No. 11 prospect. But don’t be shocked if he moves up the list quickly.

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The Red Sox’s farm system is loaded

Jun 16, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers second baseman Henry Godbout (2) runs after hitting a single against the Florida State Seminoles during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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While speaking to Andrew Parker of Baseball Now, Godbout opened up about how Driveline philosophies embraced by the Red Sox has already added a bit of power to his game that wasn’t there even last year when he was drafted.

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“It’s very new to me because UVA is probably the opposite of Driveline,” Godbout said to Baseball Now. “It’s all about hitting balls the other way, moving guys over, hitting the ball on the ground, and bunting. That is completely opposite of what we are doing over here, in a good way. It’s perfect for me and I knew this going into it by talking to Kyle Teel. I do a lot of those other things very well. Adding the ability to step on balls and pull them over the fence is the last piece of the puzzle. I think it’s the perfect marriage.

“There are obviously a couple of hiccups along the way, but that is part of it. I am learning that I don’t need to just gear up and take a long swing to create power. It might just come [by] swinging these bats and being in the bat speed program. This spring has been great being able to test things out. It is really a great system for me to take my game to the next level.”

Parker pointed out that things have already started clicking and Godbout launched a homer at Fenway South this past weekend during minor league Spring Training action.

So, Godbout currently is Boston’s No. 11 prospect. In 2025, he didn’t hit a homer in his 13 games of professional action. He had eight homers in his final college season across 50 games for UVA. If he can still be the high-average guy, plus add power in 2026, this guy is going to significantly rise up Boston’s prospect list. The future is bright for the Red Sox overall and it sounds like the club’s hitting approach is already having a positive impact down in the minors.

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Every Boston State University player drafted by the Boston Celtics

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Every Boston State University player drafted by the Boston Celtics


The Boston Celtics have built their teams in a number of ways over the decades, but few if any methods have born more fruit than through the NBA draft. The best players to suit up for the Celtics have, by and large, come to Boston either through being taken directly in the annual event, or via trades made that night.

And it is not just the top stars who have been picked up by the Celtics via the draft. Countless members of the storied ball club’s alumni have been taken by the team, and some schools are better represented than others. We can see blue blood programs and some very small schools both delivering top talent to Boston’s rosters over the years, so we decided to take a look at which players came from which schools overall.

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So without further ado, let’s take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Celtics out of Boston State University.

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Rod Forbes – forward

Oct 18, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The number 6 is seen on the Boston Celtics jersey honoring Celtic great Bill Russell during the third quarter of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Draft year and position: 12th round (eighth pick, 163rd overall), 1969 NBA Draft

Seasons at Boston State University:

Seasons played with Celtics: Did not make the team

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Every Boston State University player drafted by the Celtics

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