AUSTIN – Newly-released data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), subject to customary data revisions in the coming months, shows that upstream oil and natural gas employment in the state surged by 6,900 jobs in May, the highest single-month reported job growth in the 33 years of data available on TWC’s website. The addition of these jobs in May brings the total upstream oil and natural gas job count in Texas above 200,000 for the first time in over three years.

Misdemeanor Arrests

•Jay Barton English, 39, Canadian; public intoxication; resisting arrest, search or transport; terroristic threat against public servant (two counts); 6/14/23; HCSO

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

•Lloyd James Murphy, Amarillo; unsafe speed; 6/13/23

Intents to Drill

GRAY (PANHANDLE, West) Pantera Energy Company, #9 Anna Herber, (640 acres) 1930’ FNL & 1930’ FWL, Sec 184, Blk B2, H&GN RR Surv, A-901, 6.5 mi SE from Kingsmill TX TD 3404’, (sgd. Laura Savage 806-376-6625) Vertical Reclass

Abbott vetoes bills; feud with Patrick grows
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claimed last week that Gov. Greg Abbott is sabotaging the Senate’s work because of their ongoing feud over which approach to property tax reform is best, The Dallas Morning News reported. Abbott vetoed three bills by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who has been Patrick’s point senator on increasing homestead exemptions in order to provide tax cuts. As of Friday afternoon, he had vetoed 31 bills.