Citrus County Chronicle

10/17/2026

Betting on elections? It’s already a multimillion-dollar business. Prediction markets let people put money on who wins races and controls Congress. Now states are fighting to shut them down, warning that gambling on democracy could undermine public trust. The platforms say they’re operating legally. Who gets the final say?

On a Friday morning, the prediction market platform Kalshi gave the Democratic candidate in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race an 87% chance of winning. The volume of trading on the outcome

10/17/2026

Florida’s social media crackdown on kids just scored a major court victory. A federal appeals court says the state can continue enforcing its law banning accounts for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. Tech giants say it violates free speech rights. The court disagrees — at least for now.

A federal appeals court panel has ruled that Florida’s 2024 law restricting access to social media for teens is likely constitutional and can continue to be enforced while the legal

10/17/2026

In a matchup of two teams searching for their first wins, Crystal River proved far superior to visiting Weeki Wachee, rolling to a 40-0 homecoming victory at Bramlett Stadium. https://tinyurl.com/yzfwac9x

10/17/2026

A breakup, a Navy recruiter out to lunch and a bout of pneumonia. What do they have in common? For Nancy Kennedy, they’re reminders that God is at work even when life seems random. In this week’s Grace Notes, she reflects on how unexpected twists can lead to blessings we never saw coming.

The Navy recruiter was out to lunch.

10/17/2026

🌿 Join us for the Chronicle Healthy Living Show!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citrus County Fair Auditorium for a morning dedicated to health, wellness and healthy living!

With 40 vendors to explore, you’ll have the opportunity to discover local resources, connect with health and wellness professionals, and find new ways to support your well-being.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Gardner Audiology, for helping make this event possible

📅 Saturday, October 24
🕘 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 Citrus County Fair Auditorium

10/17/2026

Vanguard scored on the opening play of the game Friday night and never took its foot off the gas in the first half, on its way to a 52-6 victory over Lecanto in the Panthers' homecoming game. https://tinyurl.com/5brhy28z

10/17/2026

A $7.3 million path now carries a $12 million price tag. With a $5.7 million funding gap, Citrus County commissioners face a decision: Find the money to finish the Halls River Road path or shift priorities to another safety project?

Citrus County’s proposed multi-use path along Halls River Road has grown from a $7.3 million project to an estimated $12 million, leaving a $5.7 million funding gap.

10/17/2026

Artificial intelligence is now answering non-emergency calls for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Since Sept. 29, the system has handled more than 2,000 calls without human intervention, saving an estimated 81 hours of staff time. But the technology comes with a $259,000 price tag. Here's how it works.

LECANTO — A Citrus County caller could be heard Tuesday morning on the recorded audio of a non-emergency call. He says he found a wallet in a Beverly Hills parking

10/16/2026

Join us at the Citrus County Chronicle office, where we’ll shoot a quick video of you sharing just THREE WORDS as part of our upcoming promotion!
It’s quick, it’s fun, and it’s your chance to be part of something special with your community Chronicle.
📍 Stop by the Citrus County Chronicle office and be part of the fun!
Three words. One video. Your chance to be part of the story!

10/16/2026

The Lecanto volleyball team will have to wait and see if its body of work over the season was good enough to make the regional playoffs after falling in the District 4A-5 championship match Thursday night at Citrus High School. https://tinyurl.com/3feputw3