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W e d n e s d ay, a p r i l 15, 2026
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2026 LEGISLATURE financial g the audit of the rin du d se clo dis re and nine control we material weaknesses iencies in internal be fic to de red six ide yns irt co Th re 2. seven deficiencies we statements. Twentydeficiencies. nt ica nif sig be to idered deficiencies were cons ents of the to the financial statem ial ter ma re we t tha ce rnment Auditing ces of noncomplian accordance with Gove in ted or rep be 3. Thirty-four instan to would be required School Board, which sed during the audit. Standards, were disclo internal control over terial weaknesses in ma ur fo d se clo dis ts financial statemen 4. The audit of the programs. major federal award
LAFAYETTE PARISH
School system, auditor clash over findings Auditor flags 77 issues, questions records
District objects to virtually all of the issues raised
BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer
An independent auditor for the Lafayette Parish school system listed 77 findings after testing the district’s financial internal controls and compliance, 31 of which it said were material weaknesses. Kolder, Slaven and Co., which was hired and paid by the school system to conduct the district’s 2024-25 audit, also said in its rethat it was “un“We have port able to obtain sufsubmitted ficient appropriate responses evidence to provide a basis for an audit and objections opinion” because “concerns about that include of the reliability of the corrective accounting records actions, and financial reporting provided by many of which are management.” The district obalready in jected to virtually place.” all of the findings. In most cases, the FRANCIS district argued that TOUCHET a finding was not JR., Lafayette from the 2024-25 auParish school dit period. In at least superintendent three instances, the school system’s response to a finding included that the district felt it had been included to cast the system in an “unfavorable light” and twice argued that the finding highlighted the auditor’s “apparent lack of objectivity.”
HIGHER EDUCATION
Universities in La. may seek new accreditor
Change pushed amid scrutiny of higher ed bureaucracy
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
As higher education bureaucracy comes under scrutiny nationally, Louisiana’s public universities might soon be allowed to seek alternatives to the accreditor that has evaluated institutions in the state for over a century. The potential change comes as some conservative leaders like President Donald Trump and Gov. Jeff Landry criticize excess spending in higher education and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Some administrators say, however, that the problems with accreditation lie less with DEI and more with the inefficiency of a geography-based system. Senate Bill 304 would permit public universities to break with their longstanding accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS. The bill follows the recommendations of a task force Landry created last year to review accreditation in the
ä See UNIVERSITIES, page 3A
Resignations affect Johnson’s agenda in House BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
objections that include corrective actions, many of which are already in place,” he said in a statement. “We are now focused on moving forward and have engaged a well-respected firm to review the audit and ensure any valid issues are fully addressed.” Some of the findings also related to the timeliness of submitting the
WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress resigned Tuesday, creating more headaches for U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise as they started to move a sheaf of “must-pass” legislation through a Congress. Right off the bat, Johnson, RBenton, and Scalise, R-Jefferson, want to reauthorize government surveillance power in a bill with Johnson which a group of Republicans have serious problems. That authorization expires April 20. Also expected to pop up this week or next are
ä See FINDINGS, page 4A
ä See AGENDA, page 3A
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
The Lafayette Parish school system objected to virtually all of the findings of an audit for 2024-25. ä Key findings of the Lafayette school system audit. PAGE 4A Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. said in a statement that some of the findings should have been consolidated and other issues should have been raised earlier by the auditor, who has worked with the district for more than 30 years. “We have submitted responses and
Amazon to buy Covington-based Globalstar for $11.6 billion a news release Tuesday, Ama- Amazon shares for a total purTech giant would be zonIn said it planned to use Global- chase price of around $11.6 billion. star’s satellite network and tech- In the past month, the company’s better able to nology as part of Amazon Leo, a stock price has increased nearly compete with Starlink project that will enable smart- 35%. The deal is expected to close
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL and JERRY DICOLO Staff writers
Amazon is acquiring Louisiana satellite communications company Globalstar in a nearly $12 billion deal that will allow the e-commerce giant to expand its spacebased mobile phone services.
WEATHER HIGH 83 LOW 66 PAGE 8A
phone users to connect directly to a network of thousands of satellites for voice and data service. Amazon also announced a deal with Apple to bring the service to iPhones starting in 2028. Globalstar currently powers the emergency SOS feature on Apple’s iPhones. Globalstar shareholders will receive $90 a share or comparable
in 2027, pending regulatory approval. It’s not clear how the deal will impact Globalstar’s nearly 400 employees worldwide or its headquarters in Covington, where roughly half of the workforce is based. Globalstar Chair Jay Monroe, who bought the company in
Globalstar officials and visitors tour the company’s satellite control center in Covington in 2025. STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
ä See GLOBALSTAR, page 3A
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101ST yEAR, NO. 289