*FBI agents have rounded up 23 reputed members and associates of the Gambino crime family in New Jersey on charges of racketeering, extortion and fraud.

*The MTA scrapped a billion-dollar deal to develop Manhattan’s West Side rail yards Thursday, after the developer allegedly stalled negotiations to wait for rezoning.

*NYS Governor David Paterson met Thursday with Sean Bell’s family at his office in Manhattan, where he endorsed a proposal to test officers involved in shootings for alcohol or drugs. The reform has been sought by activists after Bell’s 50-shot slaying in 2006.

*Advocates for the homeless joined local leaders at NYC Hall Thursday to protest the city’s plan to move a homeless intake shelter from Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn. The Coalition for the Homeless called on the mayor to withdraw the plan.

*A restaurant delivery man who was stabbed in Brooklyn on Monday night remained in the hospital Thursday night as police made an arrest in the case. The 26-year-old man was delivering food for a Japanese restaurant when we was stabbed near Avenue W and East 16th Street in Sheepshead Bay.

*Suffolk County police say a man fleeing police in Medford, Long Island  crashed into two other cars —killing a father of three. Police say the accident at 11:55 Thursday morning involved a man who had stolen landscaping tools.

*A day after his carefully orchestrated protests briefly blocked rush-hour traffic, Al Sharpton promised Thursday to stage another mass protest.

*Responding to terminally ill Yuri Benefeld’s modest hope – that a cop and firefighter stop by to say hello on his 12th birthday – some 40 members of the NYPD and FDNY showed up yesterday for a surprise party beyond his wildest dreams. (Full story, along with exclusive photos & video will be posted shortly on YWN).

*Lakewood Police will close Third Street about 8:30AM today to accommodate a gathering of the Police Unity Tour.The tour will stop at the police station and then receive a police escort to Central Avenue to pay tribute to Patrolman William Preslar, who died on duty in an early-morning crash while responding to a call in May 2007.

*Oil prices surged past $125 per barrel Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening U.S. dollar drove investors to snap up commodities.

*After several days of warm weather, temperatures began dropping Friday morning as steady rain moved into the region. Flood warnings have been issued as forecasts predict the rain will continue throughout Friday. An accumulation of two to three inches is expected. Rain will taper off late Friday night, and a mostly dry, mild weekend is expected.

*Police say an off-duty officer was wounded as he walked his dog down a Bronx street after an altercation ended in gunfire. The officer’s injuries were not life-threatening, police said.