A man who was arrested for attempted larceny in Washington Heights died in police custody after suffering an apparent asthma attack last night. The 52-year-old suspect, whose name hasn't been released yet, was allegedly caught breaking into a car; he fled into Tommy’s Grill, near the corner of West 158th and Broadway where police caught up with him. As he was being arrested, he told officers he was having difficulty breathing and said he had an asthma inhaler in his pocket. more ›

Finally, Science is on the side of all that is right and good in the world, declaring that air fresheners and scented candles can indeed be irritating, and not just in the way that makes you mouth-breathe and feel skeezy inside. more ›

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is out of the hospital after his recent asthma scare and back in the gym. Yes, back in the gym, that's correct. Why are you laughing? Christie, as everybody knows, is a total fitness fanatic who pumps iron three times a week with boxing trainer Farrel Brenner. And such is Christie's dedication that when he was in the hospital, he texted Brenner to let him know that their next workout appointment would proceed as scheduled. That's Chris Christie for you—you just can't keep that veritable Jack LaLanne out of of the gym. "It was like nothing happened," Brenner tells the Daily News. "Just like anything that Chris does, he's passionate about our time together." more ›

The city medical examiner's office have declared the death of an ex-con at the hands of police a homicide. The Bronx man was pepper sprayed by the police when he reached for his inhaler. more ›

Yesterday, NJ Governor Chris Christie suffered a severe asthma attack and was hospitalized for a few hours. The rumored 2012 presidential candidate—or VP candidate—admitted his weight causes problems. "I think the weight exacerbates everything," he said last night. "The lighter I am, the healthier I'll be... I feel a pretty big sense of urgency [to lose weight]. It's one of the major struggles of my life. I'm working on it." more ›

Last week, we established that this year is indeed the all-time worst allergy season ever in the history of dander, pollen and dust—don't blame us, science says so! But it still left the question of why this year has been so much worse than years past. It can't all be the trees' fault, right? And why has our asthma been so much worse? Now, we have one other possible answer: maybe you've been spending too much time with cockroaches? more ›

According to research from the Centers for Disease Control, more Americans than ever are suffering from asthma. About one in 12 adults and one in 10 children suffer from the condition, and between 2001 and 2009 there was a 50 percent increase in asthma diagnoses for black children. Does that mean that Bloomberg's allergy-causing tree initiative is...racist? more ›

The family of Briana Ojeda, the 11-year-old girl who died of an asthma attack over the summer, filed a wrongful death suit yesterday against the NYPD and the officer who they claim refused to help their daughter. Her mother, Carmen, claims officer Alfonso Mendez stopped her while she was rushing to the hospital (she was going the wrong way down a one-way street), and then "smirked" as he told her he didn't know CPR. She says the delay cost her daughter her life. more ›

On top of rallying for a new law that would make it a crime for police officers to refuse help in a medical emergency, the family of Briana Ojeda says they are planning a civil suit against the city for the actions of police officer Alfonso Mendez. The family's lawyer said, "We plan on a civil suit against the city and every person responsible for not stepping forward." She also asked, "It is 17 days since Briana Ojeda passed away without any word of condolence or sympathy from Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly or the mayor. We have not heard a word from Police Commissioner Kelly. Where are you?" more ›

The parents of 11-year-old Briana Ojeda, who died of an asthma attack, blame NYPD officer Alfonso Mendez for refusing to perform CPR on her and held a rally yesterday to demand a criminal investigation into Mendez's actions. They also want the state to make a new law making it a crime for an officer to refuse to give emergency medical assistance. Mendez has already been suspended for failing to take proper police action, but the some officials agree that the punishment should be greater. State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz told NY1, "If every police officer, every police officer was recertificate in the CPR, then I will guarantee you that we would not be standing here at this moment." more ›

Last week, an 11-year-old girl died of an asthma attack, and her mother, Carmen Ojeda, blamed a police officer for keeping her from getting to the hospital in time. She also says the officer, Alfonso Mendez, "smirked" at her and refused to perform CPR on her dying daughter, claiming he didn't know how. Mendez has been suspended from the 84th precinct and could face departmental charges for "failing to take proper police action," but the Ojedas say that isn't enough. On top of wanting to press criminal charges, they want to make it a crime for a cop to refuse to help in a health emergency. more ›

When police officers began looking for the cop responsible for refusing to perform CPR on Briana Ojeda, and keeping her mother from taking her to the hospital, at least three witnesses say the officer in question had a full head of hair. But when police tracked down Alfonso Mendez of the 84th precinct four days later, his head was shaved. Bonita Zelman, lawyer for the family of Briana Ojeda, told the Daily News, "We think there was an attempt to alter his appearance...Don't you think that's an admission of guilt?" more ›

When Brownsville mom Ivory Williams was summoned to her son's school last week, she found the 9-year-old boy handcuffed, crying, and having an asthma attack. The Department of Education says the student, Jaheim Williams, was restrained after a cafeteria fight because he posed a threat to others, and that he was handcuffed for just twenty minutes. But Jaheim's mother claims that when administrators finally acknowledged that Jaheim needed medical attention, officers from the 73rd precinct brought him to the hospital—with the cuffs still on. more ›

New legislation introduced today by the City Council may help those who suffer from asthma by requiring landlords to make buildings more lung-friendly. The council would require owners of 175 buildings to attempt to reduce asthma factors like mold and garbage pileup, or risk liens from the city. Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the Times, "Not every landlord is a good landlord in the city of New York. We need to have stricter laws to deal with those bad apples." more ›

The NYPD has lost its first officer to swine flu after a Brooklyn cop died following a seven-week fight with the virus. 27-year-old Officer Ryan Johnson of Brookhaven on Long Island died yesterday after weeks in a coma following his diagnosis on June 17th. He was a five-year veteran of the force out of the 83rd precinct in Bushwick. There is some debate as to whether a preexisting condition exacerbated the H1N1 virus—health officials said that Johnson had long suffered from asthma, but his mother denied that. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that Johnson "fought valiantly over many weeks, often expressing his desire to return to the job." As of the Health Department's most recent report a month ago, the swine flu death toll in New York City was at 47. more ›

In April, Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill giving New York the toughest laws against vehicular idling; leaving your engine running for more than three minutes is punishable by fines ranging from $220 to $2,000 for repeat offenders. And the limit in a school zone is just one minute. At the bill signing, Bloomberg declared, "Those of us that want to leave a good life for our children, and want to have clean air for us to breathe, and clean water to drink... it's incumbent on us to really carry the fight." more ›

NYC’s air quality has gotten substantially worse compared to other cities, according to the American Lung Association's annual "State of the Air" survey. Since last year the city jumped from 10th worst in the nation for ozone pollution (smog) to an eighth place ranking. And in the category of short-term particle pollution (soot), NYC nabbed 13th place after ranking 17th worst in the last study. (L.A., the undisputed smog heavyweight, coasted to 1st place again.) more ›

Thick black smoke hovering above Washington Heights is apparently a common occurrence, but it is legal? The Gay Recluse has some photos of the area and says it's the result of "improperly maintained or outdated boiler systems," with one building in particular being a main culprit (671 West 162nd Street). Has anyone seen something similar, or worse? This certainly can't be helping with the rising asthma problem. more ›

Tomorrow, a new state task force will convene to talk about the threat of mold to the health of New Yorkers and what can be done about it. The New York State Toxic Mold Task Force was formed at the urging of health experts, who are concerned that there isn't enough being done to combat an organism that wrecks properties and endangers the lives of tenants and homeowners. According to state senator Liz Kreuger representing... more ›