How to chop off X number of characters across multiple records?
DECLARE @tab TABLE(statename VARCHAR(20))
INSERT INTO @tab
(
      statename
)
select 'Boston, MA' UNION ALL
select 'Los Angeles, CA' UNION ALL
select 'Helena, MT' 


SELECT SUBSTRING(statename,0,LEN(statename)-3) FROM @tab t

SELECT LEFT(statename,LEN(statename)-4)FROM @tab t