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Monday marks the beginning of 4709 in the Chinese calendar, the "Year of the Dragon". A strong, fiery, and auspicious cultural symbol, the lunar year ahead holds the potential for seismic change. In addition to the generational transitions set for its government, military, and the Communist Party, some experts are claiming 2012 will be the year China's economy collapses.

At a community center on Division Street in Manhattan, a 59-year old Chinese immigrant in a baggy grey sweater and a baseball cap pulled low recently was helping elderly residents sign up for free classes.

Monday marks the start of the Lunar New Year, and celebrations are kicking off in Chinatown this week to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Eight U.S. soldiers have been charged in connection with the death of a soldier from New York City, the military said Wednesday.

Fong Inn Too in Chinatown is one of the oldest family-run tofu factories in the country, but the fourth generation has little interest in keeping the tradition going. For now, preservation of the legacy rests squarely on the founder's great grandson.

The City Council approved a Business Improvement District (BID) for Manhattan's Chinatown. The BID will take annual fees from local businesses to help clean up streets and attract more customers.

WNYC's morning news producers bring you a rundown of today's must-read stories.

For the first time in more than 30 years, thousands of teachers could be laid off this month unless the City Council and the mayor work out an alternative to the city's budget crunch before the deadline at the end of June. With time running out, educators are nervous — especially new teachers like Juhyung Harold Lee, one of the 4,100 teachers at risk of losing their jobs this month. 

One-thousand red lanterns hang at Market Street and Division Street in Chinatown to mark the final day of the two-week Chinese New Year celebration. (Stephen Nessen/ WNYC)

Chinatown business leaders have reservations about China's largest bank snapping up an 80 percent stake in a U.S. subsidiary of a bank with branches in Manhattan's Chinatown, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens.

Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Partnership Development Corporation, and Jan Lee, third-generation Chinatown property owner and one of the members of the Coalition Against the Chinatown BID, consider whether or not a business improvement district designation is a good idea for Chinatown. Also, Erik Engquist, a reporter who covers New York City politics and government for Crain's New York Business, weighs the pros and cons of BID designations for New York City neighborhoods.

Next year the city will have 13 new City Council members. Brian Lehrer and WNYC are exploring who they are, where they come from, and what they hope to accomplish.

Today we meet City Councilwoman-Elect Margaret Chin (D-1), who will represent Chinatown, SoHo, TriBeCa, and parts of the ...

Filmmakers MA Shumin and ManSee Kong join Brian Lehrer to discuss gentrification on The Lower East Side and in Chinatown. Both women have movies playing in The Asian American International Film Festival this weekend. MA ...

Thousands of New Yorkers welcomed the Year of the Ox at the 10th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on February 1, 2009.