Openly Gay Surgeon Stabbed to Death in Own Home in New Orleans

Dr. Ralph Edward Newsome Jr. was stabbed to death in his home in the French Quarter, and someone lit the home on fire after the murder attempting to cover evidence, the Times Picayune reports:

"Dr. Ralph Edward Newsome Jr., 45, died after being stabbed multiple times inside his three-story town house in the 900 block of Toulouse Street about 3 a.m. His body had no burns, and he had not inhaled any smoke, meaning someone set fire to the home after he was stabbed, New Orleans coroner's chief investigator John Gagliano said...A 911 call reporting a blaze led New Orleans firefighters to Newsome's home. They found smoke flowing out of the second floor and soon discovered a large fire burning toward the back of an attic. They struck three alarms and rushed 68 firefighters to the scene, spokesman Edwin Holmes Jr. said. Newsome's neighbors told rescuers that they never saw him exit his house. Firefighters barged into the home and found an unconscious Newsome on the second floor, stabbed several times. Firefighters brought him outside to waiting New Orleans EMS paramedics. They took him to LSU Interim Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. New Orleans police detectives haven't announced any suspects or a motive in the case, spokeswoman officer Shereese Harper said."

Newsome was a plastic surgeon at Tulane University, specializing in disfigured trauma victims and skin cancer patients. Said Dr. Benjamin Sachs, the dean of Tulane's School of Medicine: "It is a tragedy for this city to lose such a brilliant surgeon. We have lost a major leader and gifted educator. He was an extraordinary physician."

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Stephen Fry urges Twitter followers to get behind campaign seeking apology for British mathematician Alan Turing.

Sally Kern facing transgender challenger in Oklahoma.

Michael Jackson finally laid to rest 70 days after his death.

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Hurricane Season: Massive NOAH 'Ark' Proposed for New Orleans

Hurricane season is upon us. So what better time to propose a massive habitat to protect the citizens of one of the nation's most vulnerable cities.

Gizmodo writes: "NOAH (New Orleans Arcology Habitat) is a massive, 1200-foot city within a building that's hurricane-proof and can actually float (don't worry, it's tethered to something or other). Conceptualized through a mind trust of three architectural firms, green (wind, solar and water) energies would help power the structure's 20,000 residences, 1,000,000 square feet of commercial space, school, hospital and, just for fun, 3 casinos."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Brad Pitt Pushed for New Orleans Mayor: 'I'm running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization of marijuana platform.'

In a Brad Pitt interview with Ann Curry on Today, Curry brought up the fact that some people in New Orleans are pushing for Pitt to be mayor. Asked if he'd take it seriously, Pitt replied: "I'm running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana platform. I don't have a chance."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

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