Rapper Jeffrey Atkins AKA Ja Rule began serving a two-year state sentence last month for attempted possession of a firearm, but yesterday he was sentenced to 28 months and ordered to forfeit $1.1 million for failing to file his federal income taxes. Wearing an orange jumpsuit, the Daily News reports that Atkins told the court, "I was a young man who made a lot of money—I'm getting a little choked up—I didn't know how to deal with these finances, and I didn't have people to guide me, so I made mistakes." Atkins pled guilty in March to failing to pay taxes on the $3 million he earned between 2004 and 2006. more ›

A woman was fatally shot during a Queens mugging—because she refused to hand over her purse. According to the Post, "Rabie Mohammed, 23, was walking on 204th Street near 93rd Avenue with her husband around 8:30 p.m. when three thugs demanded her belongings." more ›

A Queens woman is suing the city after her 12-year-old daughter was allegedly forced into a locker room and sexually assaulted by seven male classmates. The suit claims the victim had been knocked to the ground in Pathways College Preparatory School in Hollis, Queens, and then dragged into a locker room by 12- and 13-year-old boys, where they allegedly rubbed their crotches in her face. The girl's lawyer told the Daily News, "It was like bedlam in that gym that day." more ›

It might not flow off the tongue as smoothly as some of their rhymes, but Run-DMC JMJ Way is finally here. The sign is at the intersection of 205th Street and Hollis Avenue in Queens, and you can see some video of the unveiling, which took place yesterday, here. The Daily News reports back from the ceremony, where DJ Run told the gathered crowd, "I lived right down that block," and DMC thanked the neighborhood locals on hand, who he says made them who they were. The late Jam Master Jay's mother was in attendance as well, wearing a shirt with her son's picture on it; she told the crowd, "This is a proud day for my whole family." Reportedly the documentary titled Two Turntables And A Microphone, which "will dissect Jay's death and celebrate his life," will be released later this year (see a preview after the jump). more ›

The Queens hip-hop legends Run-DMC are heading back to their hometown streets. Well, not quite, but there will be a symbolic renaming of a street corner in Hollis, CityRoom reports. The spot will be at the corner of 205th Street and Hollis Avenue and will be dubbed Run-DMC JMJ Way, with an extra special tribute to the late Jam Master Jay who was murdered in Queens at the age of 37. (Animal has a mock-up of what the tribute may look like!) With the Hollis Hip Hop Museum (housed in the former Hollis Famous Burger) just down two blocks away from the corner, could the area see a boom of visitors? Queens councilman Comrie hopes so, he told the site: “It is my sincere hope that this street renaming, combined with the museum, will help to economically revitalize this particular neighborhood as a potential tourism attraction." At least Run-DMC are finally getting their due, they were even inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. more ›

Swine flu ain't gone yet. An assistant principal has been hospitalized in critical condition with the H1N1 virus and the city is closing down three public schools in Queens after hundreds of students have come down with flu symptoms. The assistant principal works at Intermediate School 238 in Hollis and may have had a previous condition that made him vulnerable to the virus. At one of the closed schools, Intermediate School 5 in Elmhurst, 241 students were absent from classes today. The third school is PS 16 in Corona where 29 students reported flu-like symptoms to the nurse's office today. All three schools are expected to be shut down for tomorrow and all of next week. Mayor Bloomberg said, "While the symptoms of H1N1 flu seem to resemble those of seasonal flu, the H1N1 virus seems to spread rapidly, so we’re closing these schools in order to slow transmission.” Just earlier today the Health Department had reemphasized that there have been no deaths related to swine flu in the city and that all who have been affected have recovered or are recovering. The mayor is expected to have another press conference this evening. more ›

It's about time: Run-DMC will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame tomorrow. In 1985 (nine years before the real deal opened) they put out a video for "King of Rock" that showed them trespassing at a fictional rock 'n' roll museum (watch it after the jump). Darryl McDaniels, aka DMC, remembers "people were saying that was kind of prophetic: 'You guys are bound for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because of that.' "And now they're being welcomed with open arms. more ›