This Week's Top Stories

city council

Midlothian Council Greenlights Airport Hangar Design Contract and Digital Ranch Development Deal

The September 22 City Council meeting advanced two significant economic development items: engineering work for new box hangars at Mid-Way Regional Airport and a development agreement with Digital Ranch LLC tied to a nearly 400-acre rezoning.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Midlothian City Council took up a packed agenda that included two high-profile economic development votes. Under item 2026-332, the council considered and acted upon a Professional Services Agreement with KSA Engineers, Inc. in the amount of $143,235 for design and bidding services for a proposed Box Hangar Development at Mid-Way Regional Airport — a joint facility operated by the cities of Midlothian and Waxahachie on Airport Drive.

elections

Monday Is the Last Day to Register to Vote in Ellis County's November 3 Election

Texas law sets October 5 as the hard deadline to register — or update an existing registration — for the November 3 General and Special Elections, which include the gubernatorial race and county offices.

Residents of Midlothian, Red Oak, Ovilla, Oak Leaf, and Pecan Hill who are not yet registered to vote have until Monday, October 5, 2026, to do so. The Texas Secretary of State's office confirmed that October 5 is the statewide deadline to register for the November 3, 2026 General Election — 30 days before Election Day as required by Texas law. The deadline applies to new registrations as well as to changes of address or name.

burn ban

Ellis County Burn Ban Remains in Effect; Dry Conditions Persist Across the Area

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted in July to impose a countywide burn ban that remains posted as active on official county websites, covering all unincorporated areas including Oak Leaf and Pecan Hill.

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted in favor of a county-wide burn ban at its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and as of this week the ban remains listed as active on the Ellis County website and the Village of Oak Leaf's official site. The ban covers all unincorporated areas of Ellis County, which includes Oak Leaf and Pecan Hill, and prohibits outdoor burning of brush piles, trash, campfires, and any other open burning.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 3

Autumn Beats Free Concert — 90 Proof

📍 Midlothian Community Park, Art Pierard Memorial Amphitheater, 3601 S. 14th Street, Midlothian · 7:30 PM · Verify · Beyond the Nest / City of Midlothian Parks & Recreation

Saturday, October 3

Bearded Ax Brewery Oktoberfest

📍 Bearded Ax Brewery & Gathering Hall, 301 W. Main St., Suite 126, Downtown Midlothian · Various times · Verify · City of Midlothian — September 22, 2026 Council Agenda

Wednesday, October 7

MHS Homecoming Parade

📍 Begins at Midlothian High School, 923 S. 9th Street, traveling east on George Hopper Road and south on 14th Street to Multi-Purpose Stadium parking lot · 6:00 PM · Verify · City of Midlothian — September 22, 2026 Council Agenda

Friday, October 9

Midlothian High School Homecoming Football Game

📍 MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, 1800 S. 14th St., Midlothian · 7:00 PM · Verify · Midlothian ISD District Calendar

Sunday, October 11

Red Oak Trash Bash

📍 Oaks Church, 777 South I-35, Red Oak · 7:30 AM–10:30 AM · Verify · City of Red Oak, TX

More from the Community

Compass Datacenters' $15M Ellis County Animal Shelter Grant Approved; 830-Acre Red Oak Campus Also Moves Forward

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court approved a $15 million grant from Compass Datacenters to fund construction of a new municipal animal shelter — a pledge made in a June 2, 2026 announcement…

Voter Registration Closes Monday, October 5 — Early Voting Begins October 19

The Texas Secretary of State's office confirmed that Monday, October 5, 2026, is the last day for Ellis County residents to register to vote — or update an existing registration — for…

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