Plano's Willow Bend Redevelopment Advisory Committee is considering different strategies to mitigate traffic for the proposed Dallas Stars arena.

What you need to know: Some roadway changes under consideration include:

• A new traffic signal along Chapel Hill Boulevard

• A new driveway along Dallas Parkway

• Three left-turn lanes at Park Boulevard and Dallas Parkway

• One additional left-turn lane along International Parkway

• Traffic signal removal along Park Boulevard

• Convert raised median to paved area for temporary traffic management

Also of note: Mayor John Muns took part in a panel hosted by the Plano Chamber of Commerce with the Dallas Stars Oct. 22. Muns said the arena is planned to become a space where people can stay beyond attending a sports event.

Looking ahead: Muns said the city is working to finalize its agreement with the Stars in late November and demolition at the mall is estimated to start in February. Architecture planning for the arena will be taking place over the next three months.

Fast-casual restaurant Flower Child plans to open a second location in Plano next year.

What's on the menu: The menu includes a selection of customizable bowls, salads and wraps, such as the avocado Caesar salad and The Rebel "French Dip." Diners can also order entrees that include a protein option and two sides.

• 5700 Legacy Drive, Ste. A1, Plano

North Texans report greater affordability pressures, less neighborhood connectedness and unease about artificial intelligence in a new quality-of-life survey from the University of Texas at Dallas.

The overview: Researchers from the university’s School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences presented results from the 2026 William C. Short Quality of Life Survey on Oct. 21. They have conducted the survey annually since 2024 to identify issues important to North Texans and bring community members together, said Jennifer Holmes, dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

A closer look: Respondents identified inflation and prices and housing affordability and availability as the most important issues currently facing their communities.

Quote of note: “The challenge we face as a region is we need faster, more accurate, more accessible data,” project director Timothy Bray said. “We begin by listening to North Texas, asking the folks who live in our communities what they think.”

At the close of the first week of early voting on Oct. 25, 214,745 voters had cast their ballots at polling locations in Collin County, county documents show.

Latest update: About 26.9% of the county’s registered voters have turned out for the midterm election as of Oct. 25, according to the Collin County Elections Office. The county has 799,130 registered voters, a representative of the Collin County Elections Office confirmed.

Also of note: The busiest polling locations during early voting so far have been McKinney’s John and Judy Gay Library, Plano’s Davis Library and Allen Public Library.

Early voting kicked off in Denton County Oct. 19, and 197,201 residents cast their ballots in person or by mail by the end of the day Oct. 25, according to data from the Texas Secretary of State's website. 

The breakdown: Those 197,201 ballots translate to over 28% of registered voters, an 8% increase from the first week of early voting in 2022, the last midterm election, according to the SOS's website. The total number of voters during the same timespan in 2022 was 116,552, or 20.49%.

There are 688,032 registered voters in Denton County this year. 191,483 residents voted in person and 5,718 voted by mail by the end of the day Oct. 25, state data shows. 

Stay tuned:Community Impact will continue to cover local elections through election night Nov. 3. Visit communityimpact.com/election for the latest local election results.

See five transportation projects around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Upcoming projects

1. Loop 288 frontage road construction

Project: The Texas Department of Transportation is planning to construct frontage roads on Loop 288 in Denton County with grade separations and an improved connector to US 380. The project would span from I-35 to US 380 east of Geesling Road.

Update: TxDOT has yet to raise the necessary funds for the recently announced billion-dollar cost. TxDOT is still working with Denton County and the contracting firm to finalize schematics and plan the project’s timeline.

• Timeline: finalized schematic expected December 2026

• Cost: $1.3 billion

• Funding sources: TxDOT, Denton County

2. US 81 improvements

Project: TxDOT and the city of Fort Worth will reconstruct frontage roads and make intersection improvements along US 81 from I-35W to Harmon Road.

Update: Fort Worth City Council approved an advance funding agreement with TxDOT for $3.75 million for water main relocation as part of the project at a Sept. 29 meeting.

• Timeline: estimated completion January 2028

• Cost: $75.9 million

• Funding sources: TxDOT, city of Fort Worth