This Week's Top Stories

film

'The Chosen' Wraps Its Final Season at Midlothian's Camp Hoblitzelle

After nearly five months of filming, the biblical drama's seventh and last season has finished production at the Ellis County campus that has been its home since Season 3.

Cameras stopped rolling this week on the seventh and final season of "The Chosen" in Midlothian, capping a nearly five-month shoot at Camp Hoblitzelle that began in late April. The biblical drama about the life of Jesus has primarily filmed at the Salvation Army's more-than-1,200-acre campus since Season 3, where the production built 150,000 square feet of studio space and sets — including a full-scale replica of the ancient fishing village of Capernaum that hosted more than 500 days of filming across the run of the series.

transportation

I-35E Closes Through Red Oak Corridor; Detours Expected Through Late 2026

A long-term TxDOT rebuild project has shut down all northbound lanes between FM 664/Ovilla Road and Bear Creek Road, with signed detours now in place.

Red Oak commuters are facing a major disruption on I-35E after the Texas Department of Transportation closed all northbound lanes between FM 664/Ovilla Road and Bear Creek Road beginning the night of Wednesday, September 24. The first closures started Tuesday, September 23, and the northbound lanes between those two points will remain detoured through late 2026 as part of an ongoing large-scale corridor improvement project.

city budget

Midlothian Adopts FY 2026-27 Budget and Tax Rate of $0.64 per $100

The city ratified a new tax rate at a special called meeting on September 9, setting spending priorities for the coming fiscal year as the city's automated trash program also takes hold.

The City of Midlothian formally adopted its fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and tax rate at a special called meeting on September 9, 2026. The adopted rate is $0.64 per $100 of assessed value — split between $0.336585 for maintenance and operations and $0.303415 for interest and sinking — and is projected to generate approximately $28.6 million for operations and $25.8 million for debt service, calculated at a 99 percent collection assumption. City finance staff opened public hearings on the proposed budget and rate at the August 25 council meeting.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 26

Ovilla Annual Heritage Day Celebration

📍 Park grounds behind Ovilla City Hall, 105 S. Cockrell Hill Rd, Ovilla · 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Verify · City of Ovilla

Saturday, October 3

Chamber Bingo: Island Nights

📍 Midlothian Conference Center, Midlothian · Various times · Verify · Midlothian Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, October 17

Red Oak Fall Festival

📍 Pearson Park & Red Oak Municipal Center, 200 Lakeview Pkwy, Red Oak · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Verify · City of Red Oak

Through November 3

Midlothian Annual Scarecrow Festival

📍 Downtown Midlothian · Various times · Verify · City of Midlothian

Through December 13

Battle Axes Axe Throwing League — Season 4

📍 Battle Axes, 1704 W FM 875, Bldg A, Ste 100, Midlothian · Various times · Verify · DFW Battle Axes

More from the Community

Ellis County Burn Ban Remains in Effect Across Unincorporated Areas

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted to impose a county-wide burn ban at its meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Voter Registration Deadline for November 3 Election Is October 5

Ellis County residents have until Monday, October 5, 2026, to register to vote or update their voter registration records to participate in the November 3, 2026, General and Special Elections.

Community Directory

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