AM Briefing: Crime Bill Passes House; 2-Year Boston School Could Close

Good morning. Top local stories and what we're watching this Thursday:

-- House lawmakers overwhelmingly passed legislation to overhaul sentencing laws in Massachusetts.

-- Power has been restored to almost all Massachusetts residents, after storms swept through eastern Massachusetts yesterday.

-- The latest state jobs numbers are due out this morning. [Associated Press, via FOX-TV]

-- The Senate is scheduled to take up the Mashpee Wampanoag casino compact today, after the House ratified it yesterday. [AP, via Boston Herald]

-- Urban College, a two-year Boston school that primarily serves low-income and immigrant women, could be forced to close due to financial difficulties. [Boston Globe]

Sports:

-- The Red Sox routed the White Sox last night.