THE STATE HOUSE — It was 69 years ago Friday that Massachusetts made March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day — a legal holiday in Suffolk County. And though the law is said to formally recognize the day the British evacuated Boston in 1776, the conspicuous coincidence of the calendar certainly did not go unnoticed: The governor signed the bill in green ink.

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick outlined broad cuts in state government Thursday, saying he will reduce spending by $352 million, make non-union workers take nine more unpaid days off and ask for the power to cut the Legislature and court system’s budgets.

BOSTON — The Boston biotechnology firm Replikins says it’s developed a swine flu vaccine.

Boston — With the Sox trailing the Yanks by one game in the American League East with three games left to play this weekend at Fenway, the possibility the season could end in a tie looms large