Hearing date set on Kennedy replacement

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts legislators have scheduled a public hearing on whether to change state law to allow the governor to name an interim replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Lawmakers decided Monday to set the hearing for Sept. 9. Kennedy himself requested the law change, which Gov. Deval Patrick supports.

Patrick on Monday set a date of Jan. 19 for a special election to fill Kennedy's seat. The primary will be Dec. 8.

Possible contenders include Kennedy's widow Vicki Kennedy, nephew and former Rep. Joseph Kennedy, Attorney General Martha Coakley, and several members of the state's congressional delegation.

Patrick says Vicki Kennedy has told him she is not interested in being appointed as an interim replacement.