New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says his Democratic caucus has a "framework" for an agreement on Governor Paterson's MTA rescue plan that would minimize fare hikes and service cuts. Last night he met with Long Island senators Craig Johnson and Brian Foley, who had been holding out on the plan.

Foley says one of the things that won him over was Smith's insistence on better oversight of the MTA, including a financial audit.

FOLEY: "If an when the forensic audit is completed, which will show the real expenses and real revenues for the MTA, that then we're gonna be able to make additional adjustments to the payroll tax and other payments that go to the MTA."

Foley and Johnson had been holding out primarily over the payroll tax in Paterson's plan. The governor has sought to placate suburban lawmakers with a proposal to reimburse school districts for the tax. It's not clear if they will instead push to exempt schools from the tax entirely.

Others, including Mayor Bloomberg, complain that though Paterson's plan would avert fare hikes and service cuts, it does nothing to address the agency's long-term capital needs. Paterson says the legislature may take up the capital plan later this year.

PATERSON: "The capital plan is not the issue if you are going over the bridges and the tolls are going up 30 percent, and if you live in a place where there'll be no service at all -- which is going to be the case if we don't address it -- that is the most immediate problem."

Most New Yorkers know they can take the IRT 7 train to get to the Mets ballpark and the U.S. Open, but they’re less familiar with a booming neighborhood just one Subway stop after Willets Point. Main Street in downtown Flushing is thriving and its restaurants, retail stores, banks and ...

The economic downturn which largely started on Wall street has been felt globally - and its ripples have touched shopping districts all over the world. But there seems to be one retail hub that is thriving and it's not in a far-flung corner of the planet. As part of our ...

On this eve of Valentine's Day, we offer you some audio chocolates:

New Yorker Bill Schifrin has been selling wedding rings on W. 47 Street since 1947. Once, a woman buying a ring for her fiance asked Schifrin to engrave the words "No refunds, no returns."

WNYC's ...

A somber prayer service was held at a Hindu temple in Queens for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

More than 300 men, women and children packed into an auditorium today at the Hindu Temple Society of North America to chant mantras.

Mayor Bloomberg and council speaker Christine Quinn addressed ...

The Olympics have been China’s big coming out party, and in New York City’s Chinatown, Chinese people of all ethnic groups watch with pride and optimism. WNYC's Richard Yeh has the story.

Slideshow: Olympic pride in NYC's Chinatown

HU JINTAO: Beijing’s 29th Olympic Games start now!

REPORTER: The Games open ...

Just in time for Memorial Day, a national organization is reaching out to New York's veterans.

The group "Helmets to Hardhats" connects National Guard Reserve and transitioning active-duty military members with careers in the construction industry. Since its creation 26 states, including New York, have established programs that make it easier ...

The 2 week period celebrating the Lunar New Year wraps up tomorrow.

Richard Yeh captured his family's recent celebration in Queens, which brought several generations together over piles of traditional food.

REPORTER: In last night's GOP debate in Florida, Rudy Giuliani dismissed The New York Times' endorsement of John McCain.

GIULIANI: I think there's serious ideological differences. That probably was some of the nicest language they've written about me in the last 6 months.

REPORTER: The Times' editorial board described the former mayor ...