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New York Post
03-07-2025
- New York Post
Louisiana Catholic school music teacher fired when parent discovered his late husband's obituary
A gay Catholic school music teacher in Louisiana claimed he was fired after a parent discovered his late husband's obituary and accused him of breaking the school's morality clause. Mark Richards had worked at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Metairie for over 20 years before he was dealt the life-changing career blow. 'It's just a stab in the back,' Richards told WDSU. 'I was stunned. It's just a sad reality that this is the world we live in today. It's heartbreaking. I enjoyed teaching at this school. I loved those kids.' 4 Mark Richards claimed he was fired after a parent discovered his late husband's obituary. WDSU A parent reported the obituary of the longtime teacher's late husband, John Messinger, to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and accused the educator of 'lying' about his romantic life and living situation, the outlet reported. The music teacher claimed that the school administrators knew he was a gay, married man and they never had an issue until a complaint was made in May. 'Because I had signed 20 years of contracts with the morality clause that I had lied on my contracts, that was the reason for my dismissal,' the fired educator added. 'I have not lied on my contracts for the last two years, I live with three dogs.' 'Actively engaging in homosexual activity' is listed in the morality clause along with getting an abortion, becoming pregnant 'out of wedlock,' and fathering a child 'out of wedlock,' according to the morality clause obtained by WDSU. 'If John had been a woman, we wouldn't be sitting here, it wouldn't be a problem,' Richards suggested. Richards married his late husband in 2014 and they remained together until Messinger died in 2023 after a heart attack. 4 Richards married his late husband, John Messinger, in 2014. WDSU 4 Messinger died in 2023 after a heart attack. WDSU St. Francis Xavier sent an email to parents confirming that Richards 'is not returning' to the faculty in the 2025-2026 school year, WDSU News reported. 'We apologize for the way in which you received this news and acknowledge with great respect the emotion around this announcement,' the email obtained by WDSU read. The statement added that 'no administrator or faculty member is guaranteed a contract for more than one year,' but would not comment any further. 4 St. Francis Xavier confirmed that Richards 'is not returning' to the faculty in the 2025-2026 school year. WDSU The Catholic school's philosophy is rooted in 'creating an environment in which a Christian way of thought and life permeates all facets of the educational program by focusing on the spiritual, moral, intellectual, individual, social, physical, and cultural growth of its students,' according to its website. Over 1,500 parents have signed a petition to change the morality clause and have shown support for Richards. 'I would like the line regarding homosexuality in the morality clause that educators sign to be removed,' parent Katheryn Lee told WDSU News. 'Your identity is not your morality. I hope we have a voice in this.'
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'This is for him': Dana White confirms UFC 318 was built for Dustin Poirier's send-off
'This is for him': Dana White confirms UFC 318 was built for Dustin Poirier's send-off UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the upcoming pay-per-view event in New Orleans was built to celebrate Dustin Poirier's retirement fight. UFC 318 takes place at the Smoothie King Center on July 19 and features Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) facing Max Holloway in a trilogy bout for the BMF title. It will be a home-state send-off for Poirier, who was born in Lafayette, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from New Orleans. The BMF title is only brought out for special occasions by the promotion to add a little something special for a matchup between fan-favorite fighters. Poirier and Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) fit that bill as global stars for the UFC. White labeled both fighters as "all-time greats" of the promotion. "Dustin Poirier is a big star for us," White told WDSU News. "He's accomplished a lot in the sport. This is for him, to be honest with you. This is for him. He wanted to have his last fight and end his career in New Orleans, so here we are.' Poirier, 36, defeated Holloway in their second meeting by unanimous decision at UFC 236 to capture the interim lightweight title. Their first fight came seven years earlier at UFC 143 in 2012, which Poirier won by submission in the first round. There's plenty of history between the two fighters, and now Poirier will close his career against a familiar face, in a familiar place. White heaped praise on Poirier's career, which began in the UFC back in 2011 when he debuted against Josh Grispi at UFC 125 as a featherweight. "He's ranked No. 5 in the world right now in the lightweight division," White said. "He's a guy who's held his position in the top 10 for a very long time. He's achieved a lot. He's one of the all-time greats. Thousands of people have fought in the UFC. I don't know where I could rank him (overall), but he's one of the all-time greats." Poirier campaigned for the UFC's return to New Orleans. The promotion's last event in "The Big Easy" was UFC Fight Night 68 in June 2015. Poirier competed against Yancy Medeiros at that event and earned a Performance of the Night bonus for a first-round TKO.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why the Grandmother of One of the New Orleans Jail Escapees is Now Behind Bars
The fallout of the historic New Orleans jailbreak continues. A little over a week after the biggest planned escape in Louisiana history, Americans are watching closely as eight out of 10 inmates have since been apprehended. And those accused of assisting the fugitives are finding themselves in hot water as well. Multiple people have been arrested and accused of assisting the Orleans Justice Center's escaped fugitives, the latest of which is Connie Weeden, per WDSU News in New Orleans. Weeden, of Slidell, who is Jermaine Donald's grandmother, was arrested on Thursday night. Investigators revealed that Weeden, 59, 'provided cash to Donald via a cellphone app.' Weeden was found in Slidell as a result of the investigation and placed under arrest. She currently faces 'a charge of felony accessory after the fact and was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.' Weeden joins Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste as women who have been arrested for allegedly helping the inmate's jailbreak. Harris and Baptiste were charged on May 22, as we previously reported. As of Tuesday, May 7th, eight of the escaped inmates have been arrested, with two inmates still on the run, per CNN. Donald and Leo Tate were found outside of Louisiana, in Texas, on Monday, and arrested after a 'high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies.' Donald, whose original charges were illegal carrying of a weapon and second-degree murder, was 'charged with outstanding warrants for escape and resisting an officer,' while Tate was charged with 'outstanding warrants for aggravated escape and escape from custody.' Tate's original charge was obstruction of justice. The two inmates still at large are Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves. As we reported, this all began on May 16 when ten men broke out of the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Since the investigation began, numerous jail employees have been arrested in connection with the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared in a statement last week, 'This is a continuing investigation, and we will provide updates as often as possible. We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
