Between school drop‑offs, work deadlines, sports practices, and trying to remember where the water bottles disappeared to, voting can feel like one more thing on an already full plate. That’s why early voting is a lifesaver for Dallas County parents — flexible hours, multiple locations, and shorter lines mean you can vote when it actually fits your real life.

Here’s your quick, life‑friendly guide to early voting across Dallas County.

Early Voting Dates for Dallas County

Early voting for the May 2 election runs:

April 20–28

You can vote at any Dallas County vote center during early voting — not just the one near your home. So whether you’re in Mesquite, Oak Cliff, Richardson, or North Dallas, you can vote wherever your day takes you.

(Always confirm details with Dallas County Elections, since locations or hours can change. Here's a link to VoteTexas)

Popular Early Voting Locations for Dallas County Families

Here are several parent‑friendly locations across the county — places with easy parking, familiar buildings, and quick in‑and‑out access.

Mesquite

• Dallas County Mesquite Government Center 500 S Galloway Ave
• Florence Recreation Center 2501 Whitson Way
• Dallas College – Eastfield Campus 3737 Motley Dr

Dallas

• Dallas College – Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, Richland, and North Lake campuses (Great if you’re already doing a campus drop‑off or commute)
• Oak Cliff Sub‑Courthouse
• Lochwood Branch Library
• Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center

Richardson / Garland / Rowlett

• Richardson Civic Center
• South Garland Branch Library
• Rowlett City Hall

Irving / Grand Prairie

• Irving City Hall
• Betty Warmack Library

These are just a few — Dallas County typically offers 30+ early voting sites, so you can pick the one closest to your errands, your job, or your kid’s practice.

Why Early Voting Works for Parents

Early voting is built for real‑life chaos. You can:

• Vote after school drop‑off
• Vote before work
• Vote during lunch
• Vote while your teen is at practice
• Vote with a toddler in tow (most sites are stroller‑friendly)

No long lines. No rushing. No “I’ll do it later” guilt.

What to Bring

Texas requires one of the following IDs:

• Texas driver’s license
• Texas personal ID card
• U.S. passport
• U.S. military ID with photo
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
• Texas handgun license

If you don’t have one, you can still vote using a supporting document and a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

What’s on the Ballot?

Depending on where you live in Dallas County, you may see:

• School board races
• City council seats
• Bond proposals
• Local propositions
• Community‑level leadership roles

These are the elections that shape your child’s school experience, your neighborhood, and your everyday life.

Local elections = big impact.

Final Thoughts

Early voting gives Dallas County parents the flexibility we need to show up for our families and our community. Whether you swing by after drop‑off, between errands, or on your way home with your kids, your vote matters — especially in local elections where every single ballot carries weight.

You don’t have to wait for Election Day. Early voting is a beautiful gift that means you can vote when it works for you.

If you're in Dallas‑Fort Worth area with kids who love fast cars, loud engines, or anything that drifts, mark your calendar. FuelFest is rolling back into North Texas on Saturday, April 25, and it’s bringing a full day of high‑octane fun to Texas Motor Speedway.

This isn’t just a car show — it’s a full‑blown automotive festival blending celebrity appearances, live action, music, and family‑friendly entertainment. And yes, kids 12 and under get in free, which is always a win for single‑mom budgets.

What to Expect at FuelFest This Year

FuelFest has grown into a global automotive celebration, with shows from Tokyo to Los Angeles. Now in its eighth year, the Dallas‑Fort Worth stop promises to be one of the biggest yet.

Here’s what’s on deck:

• 700+ custom, exotic, rare, and show‑stopping cars
• Live drifting with pro drivers (and fan ride‑alongs if you’re feeling bold)
• Fast & Furious stars Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker making special appearances
• A live concert on the SPARQ Festival Stage
• Fitment Industries drift pits with open access so fans can get up close
• Fast & Furious screen‑used movie cars
• Interactive racing activities for all ages
• C4 Energy Taste of Tokyo showcase, bringing a Japanese street‑meet vibe to Texas

And new this year? Lucha Libre Wrestling — high‑flying, masked, wildly entertaining, and guaranteed to be a kid favorite.

VIP Options for Those Who Want a Little Extra

If you’re craving a more elevated experience (or just want a comfy place to recharge between activities), FuelFest offers VIP access with:

• A private lounge
• Early admission
• Premium viewing areas
• Exclusive merch and swag
• Auctions and special experiences

It’s a fun way to treat yourself while still keeping the day kid‑friendly.

A Festival With Heart

One of the most meaningful parts of FuelFest is its connection to Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), the disaster‑relief nonprofit founded by the late Paul Walker. A portion of event proceeds supports their mission to deploy skilled volunteers to communities recovering from natural disasters.

To date, FuelFest has helped raise more than $750,000 for ROWW’s relief efforts across the U.S. and abroad. It’s a beautiful example of car culture giving back — something your readers will appreciate.

Event Details

Location: Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Cir, Fort Worth

Date: Saturday, April 25 ⏰ Time: 1 PM – 8 PM

Tickets: Start at $35; kids 12 and under are FREE

Info & registration: FuelFest.com

Why This Event Works for DFW Families?

FuelFest is one of those rare events that checks all the boxes:

• Affordable
• Kid‑friendly
• High‑energy and outdoors
• Something for every age
• A chance to make memories without breaking the bank

Whether you’re raising a budding gearhead, looking for a fun weekend outing, or just want to experience something new, FuelFest brings a little Hollywood, a little horsepower, and a whole lot of joy to North Texas.

EarthX recently announced speakers and programming for Earthx2026, a three-day Congress of Conferences taking place in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole on April 20–22, 2026. Since 2011, the event has gathered leading voices from across the environmental spectrum to examine how innovation, markets, and culture can define the next chapter of environmental leadership.

Now in its 15th year, this event brings together policymakers, investors, scientists, business leaders, artists, technologists, and civic leaders to move beyond polarization and toward pragmatic, scalable action that supports both human prosperity and planetary health. This nonpartisan convening will offer an honest environment to identify common ground solutions that align incentives – not ideology – and set a course towards a healthy and flourishing future for the planet.

“Our mission at EarthX is to create a space where leaders from business, policy, conservation, and advocacy can cut through division and work toward pragmatic outcomes,” said EarthX CEO Peter Simek. “This event is about moving beyond rhetoric and building solutions that people across cultures, industries, and political lines can actually support.”

Congress of Conferences Speakers

Earthx2026 will feature an expanding roster of globally recognized leaders with new additions, including:

• Bob Ballard, Oceanographer and Founder, Ocean Exploration Trust
• Xiye Bastida, Executive Director of Re-Earth Initiative
• Felipe Calderón, Former President of Mexico
• Kristy Drutman, Founder Browngirl Green and co-founder of Green Jobs Board
• Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder, Mission Blue
• Isolde Fair, Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter and Performing Artist
• Lord Fatafehi Fakafānua, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Tonga
• Peter Fiekowsky, Founder, Foundation for Climate Restoration
• Torrei Hart, Comedian, Actress, and Social Impact Entrepreneur
• Danielle Holly, Executive Lead, North America, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Dr. Serena McCalla, Ph.D., Founder, iResearch Institute; nationally recognized science education pioneer
• Juan Carlos Monterrey, Special Representative for Climate Change of Panamá
• Steven Nickel, Director, Consumer Hardware Operations, Google
• Adam Peer, Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability, American Chemistry Council
• Charlie Schwarze, Senior Director, Keurig Dr. Pepper & Board Chair, Circular Action Alliance
• Jeff Seabright, Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever North America
• Bershan Shaw, Entrepreneur, Global Speaker, and Leadership Coach
• Stormy Simon, Former CEO, Overstock.com
• Dr. John Warner, CEO, The Technology Greenhouse and the founder of “green chemistry”
• Andrew Winston, Author of Net Positive; Thinkers50 “#1 Management Thinker in the World"

These speakers will join an exceptional roster of leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across sectors including Ed Begley Jr. (Actor and Environmentalist), Rachelle Carson Begley (Actor and Environmentalist), Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet (Oceanographer), Mariel Hemingway (Actor, Author, and Environmentalist), Commander G. Mark Miller (Co-Founder, GMSO), Margaret Trilli (CEO and Chief Investment Officer, ImpactAssets), Richard Wiese (President, The Explorers Club) with more to be announced.

Framing the Global Conversation on the Main Stage

New for 2026, the EarthX Main Stage serves as the narrative anchor of the event, platforming the biggest ideas facing the planet and the leaders driving real-world solutions. Programming will center on five core questions shaping the future of environmental leadership:

• America at 250: Can Nature Still Be Our Common Ground? At a moment of deep polarization, can land, water, and wildlife once again serve as a unifying national project—or has environmentalism become too politicized to repair?
• Innovation, Capital, and Corporate Leadership: Who Actually Drives Environmental Change Now? If government sets the rules but markets move the world, how are companies, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of energy, conservation, and resilience—and where are they falling short?
• Nature Under Pressure: How Do We Manage Land and Oceans in a Resource-Hungry World? What frameworks allow conservation, restoration, and responsible extraction to coexist—without pretending tradeoffs don’t exist?
• Health, Culture, and Connection: Why Environmentalism Lost People—and How to Win Them Back discusseshas environmentalism failed by becoming abstract and moralizing—and can a renewed focus on human health, beauty, place, and lived experience rebuild broad public support?
• Designing for Nature and Life: What Comes After Sustainability? If “sustainability” is no longer ambitious—or honest—enough, what does a life-centered model of growth look like in practice across cities, infrastructure, food systems, and industry?

A Congress of Conferences with One Connected Ecosystem

Earthx2026 features more than 20 summits, stages, and forums, each designed to address a critical dimension of environmental leadership. Together, these conferences form a single ecosystem designed to foster collaboration across sectors, geographies, and ideologies. These include: 

• The Family Office Summit is a peer-to-peer convening for high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and family office principals with more than $100 million in assets or net worth from the U.S., Latin America, and around the world. Designed as a confidential forum for principals and decision-makers, the summit focuses on long-term capital stewardship, intergenerational leadership, impact investing, and navigating geopolitical, environmental, and market volatility through pragmatic, values-aligned strategies.
• The 2026 E-Capital Summit convenes, inspires, and catalyzes action from thousands of the country’s and world’s leading investors, family offices/foundations, innovators, startups, established companies, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovation ecosystem leaders including incubators/accelerators/federal labs with the goal of driving substantial, positive impact on investments, businesses, people, and our planet.
• EarthxEnergy: Texas & the Next Nuclear Era Convened by the EarthX Institute, this new research-driven initiative brings together leading scientists, policymakers, investors, and technologists to examine how Texas’s track record in energy leadership can inform the next phase of nuclear deployment. Through focused discussions, the convening will translate Texas’s experience into a practical policy framework to accelerate advanced nuclear development, modernize the grid, streamline permitting, and position nuclear energy as a cornerstone of America’s clean-power future amid rising AI demand and grid stress.
• Circle America Summit: Advancing a Circular Economy and Culture convenes leaders across policy, business, and culture to examine how a circular economy can better reflect nature, protect human health, and reduce waste at scale. Through practical case studies and solution-driven conversations, the program explores innovations in reuse, recycling, and materials management, alongside the policies and market forces shaping their impact. The summit will also catalyze new partnerships and launch Circle America, a national effort to educate, engage, and mobilize the public around building a truly circular culture.
• The Nature Summit is an invitation-only, exclusive convening of government leaders, family offices, philanthropists, and corporate visionaries shaping the future of the blue and green economy. Designed to unlock sustainable investment opportunities, the summit aligns public, private, and philanthropic capital around nature-based solutions that enhance resilience, restore ecosystems, and drive long-term prosperity through high-impact collaboration.
• Blue Finance Convening and Workshop is where the Marine Technology Society convenes marine scientists, technologists, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to explore how innovation and technology are advancing ocean health, resilience, and sustainable economic activity. The summit highlights cutting-edge marine technology, ocean observation, blue economy solutions, and cross-sector partnerships critical to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans.
• Sport as a Force for Sustainability, presented by the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, examines how the world’s most influential cultural platform—sport—can drive environmental leadership at scale. Featuring leaders from sports organizations, teams, and host cities, the summit explores sustainability in mega-events, infrastructure, fan engagement, and climate leadership, demonstrating how competition and culture can accelerate and craft a sustainable future for the world stage.
• The Monarch Corridor: Trade, Infrastructure, and Environmental Resilience in North America convenes business leaders, policymakers, and investors to examine the future of cross-border trade, supply chains, and sustainable growth between Mexico and Texas. The summit, hosted in partnership with Asociacion de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM), focuses on nearshoring, energy, infrastructure, workforce development, and bilateral partnerships critical to economic resilience and environmental progress in North America.
• Island Resilience Forum brings together government leaders, development institutions, investors, and climate practitioners from island and coastal nations to address the urgent challenges of climate vulnerability. The forum focuses on adaptation finance, resilience planning, and scalable solutions that protect communities, ecosystems, and economies on the front lines of climate change.
• Texas Symposium on Climate and Energy Transition convenes legal, corporate, and financial leaders to examine the legal and regulatory frameworks shaping climate and energy transition projects. Through expert-led sessions, the program, organized by the Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, explores dispute resolution, private capital deployment, community engagement, and the evolving role of legal professionals in enabling low-carbon technology, infrastructure, and project success.
• Climate Restoration Summit challenges conventional climate thinking by focusing not only on reducing emissions, but on restoring a safe and stable climate. Centered on the science, policy, and scalability of atmospheric carbon removal, the summit, organized by the Foundation for Climate Restoration, explores how nature-based and engineered solutions can reduce legacy CO₂ and create a future where both humanity and ecosystems can thrive.
• Citizens in the Arena: Leadership for Land and Energy, presented by The Roosevelt Initiative. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's call to those "in the arena", this inaugural convening examines the intersection of conservation, markets, and policy through the lens of civic responsibility and engagement. The summit challenges leaders to move beyond rhetoric and engage directly in the work of environmental stewardship, democratic leadership, and pragmatic problem-solving at a pivotal geopolitical moment.
• North Texas Day convenes leading regional environmental organizations, NGOs, government agencies, policymakers, and advocates to take stock of the year’s work on the ground. Through workshops, panels, and collaborative sessions, the conference sets priorities and strengthens partnerships to advance the North Texas environmental agenda for the year ahead.
• 9th Annual North Texas Climate Symposium serves as a platform for sharing the latest research, innovations, and strategies in climate action and sustainability focusing on how these critical issues affect the Dallas community, local businesses, and overall quality of life of city residents. Hosted by the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability this year’s symposium theme is “Climate Resilience,” focusing on the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to support mitigation and adaptation efforts.
• The Solutions Stage is a fast-paced, public-facing platform showcasing tangible, real-world solutions emerging across the EarthX ecosystem. Featuring rapid-fire talks from innovators, businesses, governments, NGOs, and academics, the stage highlights actionable ideas, scalable models, and on-the-ground progress driving measurable environmental impact.

What to Expect?

Throughout the three days, EarthX will also offer curated side meetings, small group conversations, hands-on workshops, and designated meetup spaces designed to spark meaningful exchange around shared interests and real-world challenges. In-app tools allow participants to create or join meetups, whether planned in advance or formed organically on site.

EarthX is intentionally paced to create shared moments and rituals, from hosted lunches and evening networking hours to banquets, keynote moments, and awards celebrations that bring the full community together. These moments are not side events, they are central to how EarthX builds connection, trust, and momentum.

REGISTER:

Reserve your ticket at https://earthx.org/earthx2026/tickets/, with special Early Bird rates available for a limited time.

The electric SUV space is growing fast with a variety of options from brands you know and love and those that are new to every automotive space. From that space, the 2026 Jeep Wagoneer S feels different in a way that matters. Instead of overwhelming you with tech just to prove a point, Jeep knows its EV audience. They are dedicated to functional luxury, reliable performance and relatively seamless tech. With the Wagoneer S, Jeep delivered a vehicle focused on making the new technology feel intuitive, elevated, and actually fun to live with.

Most features inside are designed to support your day-to-day life while still feeling modern, luxurious, and future-forward. The mid-range battery delivered around 300 miles of range on a full charge, and the interior lives up to its heritage and feels like a Cherokee with dressed up in its Sunday finest.

Here are five of the features in the Wagoneer S that I enjoyed and helped it stand out from the pack.

A Digital Cockpit and Front Cabin That Feels Clean and Intentional

The moment you step inside the Jeep Wagoneer S, you realize that you are inside a good one. The digital cockpit sets the tone. Screens are expansive but thoughtfully laid out, creating a sense of clarity rather than clutter. Driving information, navigation, and media are easy to see and customize, which means your eyes stay where they should—on the road.

What I appreciate most is how natural it feels. The elevated feel of the interior shines with premium materials accented by an intuitive technology integration. This isn’t tech for the sake of tech. It’s designed to support confidence behind the wheel without demanding constant attention.

A Touchscreen Experience That’s Actually Easy to Use

The central touchscreen is responsive, quick, and refreshingly intuitive. No weird scrolling through endless screens to find the features that you use regularly. Wireless smartphone integration connects seamlessly while menus are simple to navigate, and controls respond instantly. There’s no lag, no unnecessary complexity—just smart design linked with the award-winning U-Connect System that respects your time and adds an extra layer of support.

A gorgeously clear camera makes parking and getting out of tight spaces a breeze. (Teia Collier)

This is the kind of system you can plug in and use immediately, whether you’re heading to a meeting or setting up navigation for an impromptu road trip.

Ambient Lighting That Changes the Mood

Ambient lighting is one of those features you don’t realize how much you love until you experience it and then wonder how did you not realize how fantastic of a gift that it is. In the Wagoneer S, it adds a calm, refined atmosphere—especially during nighttime drives. The cabin already feels relaxed, modern, and quietly luxurious with premium textures, cool contrasts and the signature cool imprint of Jeep echoes throughout.

Customizable ambient lighting adds a smooth touch of beauty to your daily drive experience. (Teia Collier)

It’s subtle, but it completely elevates how the interior feels, turning everyday drives into something more intentional and enjoyable.

Comfort Tech That Works in the Background

Smart details elevate the space.

Customizable drive modes make for a versatile drive experience.

The Wagoneer S rides on a nearly silent electric platform that delivers 500HP and an impressive 524lb-ft of torque in the tested Limited trim. The refined and modern SUV is packed with smart comfort and driver-assistance features that do their job quietly and effectively.

Charging is simple. (Teia Collier)

Digital climate controls, advanced safety systems, and the smooth nature of the electric powertrain all work together to create a calm driving experience. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is organized intuitively and serves as an access point for smartphone projection and information while there are additional screens for passenger entertainment and climate control.

Designed for Real Life in a Digital and Physical World

One of the Jeep brand's strengths is clearly thought design features that take into account how people actually live. USB ports are right where you expect them. Cupholders are where they need to be. Drive features are not hidden within complicated screens. Real knobs are still in use, and charging options are easy and accessible. Screens are integrated in a way that feels cohesive instead of overwhelming and confusing. Cargo spaces are generous and fully functional. The design overall is smart and ready for the stuff of real living.

A petite frunk is a smart use of the new available space in the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S. (Credit: Teia Collier)

Rear cargo space that makes sense and still leaves from for the rear seat to stay up and intact. (Teia Collier)

Whether I was doing the multi-school drop off lap, planning a road-trip, carrying for an elder generation or running daily errands, the Wagoneer S adapted effortlessly. I loved that it's tech that fit into my lifestyle instead of forcing me to adjust and adapt to it.

Final Thoughts

Elevated details bring the whole package together. (Teia Collier)

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S blends a smart combination of Jeep heritage and the innate luxury of an electric vehicle. It proves that advanced technology doesn’t have to feel cold or complicated, but rather functionally sound and premium without being stuffy or pretentious. It can be warm, intuitive, and beautifully designed with the added edge AWD performance. This is an electric SUV built for people who appreciate innovation but still want comfort, clarity of purpose and ease.

For more information on the 2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, visit here.

2024 Jeep® Wagoneer S Launch Edition

To get a recommendation to a trusted dealer, let us know here.

Pete Davidson is going to be a dad, and he co-built a custom Honda Odyssey with Tony Angelo and the Stay Tuned Crew as a part of eBay's new "Built to Spec" series.

As a part of the new series, eBay pairs cultural figures, builders, and automotive enthusiasts to deck out custom rides using cars, parts, and accessories all sourced from eBay. For drive, he wanted something that was both practical, comfortable and more than a little cool. It is absolutely no surprise that he chose to deck out a custom minivan.

“I’m about to be a dad, so I figured it was time to drive something practical but not boring... I’ve always used eBay to find just about anything, like classic TV memorabilia and sneakers, so of course that’s where I found my van too.”
Pete Davidson

Turning His Dream into Reality

For Davidson's next chapter, he chose a vehicle known for its comfort, performance and convenience for parents worldwide, the Honda Odyssey. He and eBay tapped Tony Angel and the Stay Tuned crew to source and build his dream combo. They added satin black wheels, new tires, raised it with a leveling kit, and added a power cold air intake and a valved muffler. They also brought the fun with a refrigerator and a vintage VHS player.

Want deck yours similarly with finds from eBay?

Here's what Tony Angelo and the Stay Tuned crew sourced from eBay using the Secure Purchase Program to create his ultimate dad-mobile:

● Nomad 501SB Convoy Satin Black Wheels
● Falken Wild Peak All-Terrain Tires
● Traxda Leveling Kit
● Valvetronic Designs Valved Muffler
● aFe Power Takeda Cold Air Intake
● ARB Retractable Awning with LED
● Dometic CFX3 Refrigerator
● Vintage Sony Portable VHS Player

About The Built to Spec Program

GFX

In a very cool twist, as a part of the "Built to Spec" program, the team sourced and built a second fully loaded van with eBay. This second van is inspired by Davidson's build and made for the purpose of auctioning off to benefit the nonprofit of Pete's choice. Davidson chose the New York based Answer the Call, a group that supports the families of fallen New York City first responders.

How can you help?

To learn more about the build visit ebay.com/builttospec

To bid now through December 19, visit ebay.com/petedavidson. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Answer the Call.