From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
AP reports that the "Mass. Senate approves bill allowing governor to name interim successor to late Sen. Kennedy."

Reuters reports that the vote was 24-16.

The House approved the measure 95-58 last week.

But "the bill goes back to both chambers for a final procedural vote
on Wednesday before heading to Gov. Deval Patrick, who has said he
would sign it."

The Boston Globe on possible replacements: "Among the names frequently mentioned by observers are Michael S. Dukakis, the former governor; Paul G. Kirk Jr., the former Democratic National Committee chairman and an aide to Kennedy; Charles J. Ogletree, Harvard Law School professor; and Evelyn Murphy, former lieutenant governor."