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T u e s d ay, J u n e 16, 2026
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Audit: UL staffer falsified expenses School mishandled the incident, auditor says
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR
Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS BY BRAD KEMP
ABOVE: Members and volunteers with PFLAG paint the Lafayette sign for Pride Month on Sunday at Pavillon de Cuisine in Lafayette. BELOW LEFT: Keilford Coleman puts some touches on the sign. BELOW RIGHT: Shelly Landor paints under one of the Ts.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette mishandled an incident involving a former Athletics Department football recruiter who submitted false documents to get paid for unallowed alcohol and food costs, according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office. It was one of three incidents of erroneous charges totaling $76,890 described in the auditor’s report issued Monday. The auditor’s report said that in May 2025, the UL Purchasing Department, through its routine internal controls, found that a football recruiter, from November 2024 through March 2025, submitted false documentation to justify some expenses. The employee’s action, called a misappropriation by the Auditor’s Office, may violate the state’s LaCarte Card and travel policy, as well as state law. UL President Ramesh Kolluru, in an April 29 letter to the legislative auditor, said the university concurs in part with the findings. But provided “clarifications regarding characterization of certain events as misappropriations.” The allegation was referred to the university’s Human Resources Department and Office of Internal Audit, which investigated and issued a report on March 16. The UL Internal Auditor’s Office reported that the employee instructed vendors to include on receipts unallowable alcohol and food charges and list them as room rentals or event deposits,
ä See AUDIT, page 4A
Initial deal to end U.S.-Iran war moves forward
Five St. Landry schools at risk of closure District battles $18M deficit
BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer
The St. Landry Parish School Board convened for a special retreat over the weekend to propose plans for dealing with an ongoing budget crisis. After the parish lost COVIDera federal funding in 2024, the district has been operating at a deficit, losing a projected $18 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year ending on June 30. With only $10 million left in the general fund going into the 2026-27 fiscal year, and no new revenues expected following the failure of a desperately needed millage in the May 16 election, the School Board must make sharp cuts in expenditures. Otherwise, it will run afoul of a state law that requires school districts to oper-
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packed house of teachers, principals, administrators and parents in attendance. The main proposal was presented by Batiste, who stressed that the plan would likely change based on community feedback. The plan, if enacted, would consolidate several smaller schools across the parish. The following is an overview of the possible school closures/ consolidations proposed during Saturday’s meeting: n Krotz Springs Elementary School: consolidated into Port Barre PROVIDED PHOTO Elementary School and Port Barre Middle/High School St. Landry Parish schools Superintendent Milton Batiste III and n Eunice Central Middle School: conSchool Board members listen to public comments during a special solidated into East Elementary weekend meeting for dealing with an anticipated budget shortfall. School, Glendale Elementary School and Eunice Junior High these cuts might hold for the School ate with a balanced budget. n Grolee Elementary School: consolThe weekend retreat was not community. “Today is only for ideas,” said idated into Park Vista Elemenfor the board to take any specific actions, instead to present St. Landry Parish Superinten- tary School possible solutions to a public dent Milton Batiste III. ä See SCHOOLS, page 4A concerned about what effects Ideas were plentiful, with a
BY JON GAMBRELL, ELENA BECATOROS and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An initial agreement between the United States and Iran to extend their shaky ceasefire inched toward a formal signing despite questions Monday over the fate of Tehran’s ä Trump nuclear program and arrives at an offensive by Israel G7 summit in Lebanon that could looking for prolong the fighting and momentum scuttle the deal. The agreement signed after electronically Sunday announcing is meant to provide a deal. PAGE 3A meaningful truce in a monthslong war that has killed thousands across the Middle East, including the top leaders of Iran’s theocracy, and raised the prices of fuel, food and other basic goods far beyond
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ä See IRAN, page 4A
101ST YEAR, NO. 351