Author's posts
Five Oklahoma fire departments share in $5 million wildfire government funding grants
Interior Department’s Office of Wildland Fire Awards $5 Million to Strengthen Local Governments’ Wildfire Response The Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program is expanding wildfire response capacity for 97 local emergency response agencies in 26 states Five Oklahoma towns and cities were among those places that received a share of more than $5 million awarded this …
Study shows who’s falling behind in AI race—Oklahoma’s among them
Study shows who’s falling behind in AI race New report examines AI adoption, jobs, infrastructure by state A new December 2025 report analyzed how U.S. states compare in artificial intelligence adoption, infrastructure, workforce demand, and legislation, identifying which states show slower AI uptake and limited supporting resources. Oklahoma is among the 10 identified states with …
Ascent Resources CEO and Chairman to retire
Ascent Resources Announces CEO Transition as Jeffrey Fisher Retires Leadership Change Set for January 31, 2026 Ascent Resources LLC announced a major leadership transition as longtime Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey A. Fisher plans to retire from his executive roles effective January 31, 2026, according to a company announcement released Monday. The Oklahoma City–based …
Energy Brief: Trump Signals Venezuela Oil Comeback
Energy Brief: Trump Eyes Venezuela Oil Return U.S. Energy Policy & Markets *Government officials in Caracas and Washington are discussing exporting Venezuelan crude to refiners in the United States, five government, industry and shipping sources told Reuters on Tuesday, a deal that could divert supplies away from China while helping state company PDVSA avoid …
Empire Petroleum Extends Revolver Credit Facility to 2028
Empire Petroleum Extends Revolving Credit Facility to 2028 Credit Facility Extension Supports Long-Term Strategy Tulsa-based Empire Petroleum Corporation has secured additional financial runway after executing a third amendment to its revolving credit facility with Equity Bank, extending the maturity date by two years. According to the company’s announcement and a filing with the U.S. Securities …
Oklahoma oil experiences in Venezuela
Some Oklahoma oil and gas firms have had their share of experiences with the Venezuelan regimes that ran the country’s oil industry. They have not been good. Executives at Helmerich & Payne in Tulsa experienced the tough-handed decisions going back to a 2007 agreement in which the company agreed to supply its drilling rigs …
Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—the latest house cleaning at the Corporation Commission
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1576359276700637 Eyebrow-raising personnel changes at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. It’s what Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen discuss on the latest Scott Mitchell talks energy with Jerry Bohnen podcast. First there was the firing of Brandy Wreath followed this week by the termination of Trey Davis as Chief of Communications. What’s behind the housecleaning?
New Mexico Sues Oil Firms Over Abandoned Well Cleanup Costs
New Mexico Sues Oil Operators Over Abandoned Well Cleanup Costs Attorney General Targets Alleged Shell Company Scheme New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a lawsuit aimed at forcing oil and gas operators to pay for cleanup and plugging of aging wells, accusing a group of executives and companies of deliberately shifting environmental liabilities …
Oklahoma Corporation Commission terminates another top-level officer
The house-cleaning by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission swept another employee out the door this week, just less than a week after the commissioners fired Director of Administration Brandy Wreath. On Monday, Trey Davis, Chief of Communications and Operations Officer, was also terminated from his position at the commission. No formal announcement was made and …
Energy briefs
** A defiant Nicolás Maduro declared himself “the president of my country” as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty on Monday to the federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela. ** Vistra Corp. says it’s buying Cogentrix Energy in a deal estimated at …