Dan Scanlan Reporter email
Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with 40 years as a radio, television and print reporter in the Jacksonville area, as well as years of broadcast work in the Northeast. After a stint managing a hotel comedy club, Dan began a 34-year career as police and current events reporter at The Florida Times-Union before joining the staff of WJCT News 89.9.
Featured image for “After retention pond deaths of 2 Jacksonville children this month, ‘time to take action’”
This retention pond at the Bennett Creek apartment complex off Salisbury Road is where 2-year-old Melani Ava Mixson drowned Sept. 18, 2024. A memorial to her remained earlier this year. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today 
9 hours ago

After retention pond deaths of 2 Jacksonville children this month, ‘time to take action’

Council member Reggie Gaffney Jr. gathered fellow lawmakers, parents developers and others to discuss how to prevent more deaths after…

Featured image for “UNF presidential search committee selects University of North Georgia president”
University of North Georgia President Michael Shannon | UNF
12 hours ago

UNF presidential search committee selects University of North Georgia president

A UNF search committee has selected the University of North Georgia’s president as the Jacksonville school’s potential next leader.…

Featured image for “Fernandina Beach paid parking to end Nov. 18”
Paid parking spots are filled on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, four days after voters opted to kill that parking program during the primary election. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
1 day ago

Fernandina Beach paid parking to end Nov. 18

Fernandina Beach’s paid parking will end on Nov. 18.…

Featured image for “Pair riding WaveRunners from Fernandina to Maryland to fundraise for teen mental health”
Jake Thiel, left, and Timothy Homan embark on their 8-day trip to Maryland on restored 1995 Yamaha WaveRunners from Fernandina Beach's downtown marina early Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

Pair riding WaveRunners from Fernandina to Maryland to fundraise for teen mental health

2 friends are on a 1,200-mile trip from Fernandina Beach to Maryland astride Yamaha WaveRunners to raise funds for teen…

Featured image for “$20M fund established to spark affordable rental housing in Jacksonville”
These are some of the new apartments that have been built in Jacksonville in the past few years, including the One Riverside complex, left, and other units on Riverside Avenue and Park Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 20, 2026

$20M fund established to spark affordable rental housing in Jacksonville

A group of private and philanthropic investors is creating the fund as another tool to combat the housing crisis.…

Featured image for “Duval’s election turnout modest; support for Angie Nixon overwhelming”
A driver arrives at Duval County Precinct 408 on the morning of the 2026 primaries | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 19, 2026

Duval’s election turnout modest; support for Angie Nixon overwhelming

Turnout totaled about 23%, and Nixon, the U.S. Senate candidate, won nearly every Duval precinct.…

Featured image for “New fire station replaces 46-year-old firehouse at Blount Island”
Fire Station 48 at the city's Blount Island marine terminal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 19, 2026

New fire station replaces 46-year-old firehouse at Blount Island

The new, larger Fire Station 48 will protect JAXPORT and Northside neighborhoods on Heckscher Drive.…

Featured image for “Voters kill paid parking in Fernandina Beach with overwhelming ‘yes’”
Pay to park spots on South 7th Street in Fernandina Beach, marked with street signs and the QR code to access the system. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 18, 2026

Voters kill paid parking in Fernandina Beach with overwhelming ‘yes’

Almost 75% of Fernandina Beach voters voted to ban paid parking in the center of the historic city’s Downtown.…

Featured image for “New artificial reef sunk off Jacksonville, the first of its kind in years”
Concrete culverts and pipes are part of a new artificial reef about 28 miles off the Mayport jetties, at what is called Harm’s Ledge. | Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club
August 17, 2026

New artificial reef sunk off Jacksonville, the first of its kind in years

An artificial reef made of concrete culverts will increase marine habitat and benefit anglers and divers.…

Featured image for “Second red tide alert issued near Fort George River in Jacksonville”
The Fort George River off the Kingsley Plantation in North Jacksonville. | Florida History Online, University of North Florida
August 14, 2026

Second red tide alert issued near Fort George River in Jacksonville

Red tide, caused by a toxin-producing algae, was detected twice in four days near Heckscher Drive.…

Featured image for “Met Park Marina becomes latest riverfront development to open”
A boat floats at the new Met Park Marina on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, with the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences under construction in the background. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 12, 2026

Met Park Marina becomes latest riverfront development to open

The rebuilt marina includes 78 slips, electrical and water hookups, marine fuel and a store.…

Featured image for “Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock to retire after 16 years at helm”
Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock. | Clay County
August 11, 2026

Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock to retire after 16 years at helm

Lorin Mock has spent more than 40 years as a firefighter, including 27 with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.…

Featured image for “Federal authorities bust violent drug trafficking gang in Jacksonville”
U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe speaks at a news conference Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, about the arrests of 12 gang members in Jacksonville. | News4Jax
August 10, 2026

Federal authorities bust violent drug trafficking gang in Jacksonville

A dozen gang members have been arrested after a seven-year reign of murder and drug dealing.…

Featured image for “Riverfront Plaza construction will close portions of Main Street Bridge”
The Main Street Bridge. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 7, 2026

Riverfront Plaza construction will close portions of Main Street Bridge

The bridge will be reduced to one lane heading south for up to five months, beginning Aug. 24.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who’s in charge of Flock cameras in Jacksonville?”
This Flock camera on Hendricks Avenue has a solar panel on top to power it, plus electronics and the actual camera underneath. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 6, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | Who’s in charge of Flock cameras in Jacksonville?

Flock cameras have created controversy around the country, and a Jacksonville Today reader has questions.…

Featured image for “Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned”
A row of Durham School Services buses. | Durham School Services
August 5, 2026

Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned

Durham School Services will meet with bus drivers this week in an attempt to avert a strike.…

Featured image for “More Buckman Bridge closures this weekend. This time it’s northbound.”
Two northbound lanes of the Buckman Bridge will be closed this weekend for repairs. | Google Maps
July 30, 2026

More Buckman Bridge closures this weekend. This time it’s northbound.

Crews have spent months replacing steel joints on the bridge, a project that will continue until fall.…

Featured image for “JEA CEO Vickie Cavey takes extended leave, effective immediately”
Vickie Cavey, CEO and managing director of JEA, speaks at a briefing Sept. 26, 2025, at the Duval County Emergency Operations Center. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 29, 2026

JEA CEO Vickie Cavey takes extended leave, effective immediately

JEA gave no explanation why Cavey was taking leave. She will be gone between two weeks and 60 days, JEA…

Featured image for “Riverside Avenue could shrink to create bike lanes and parallel parking”
Riverside Avenue is shown on the left before any changes. On the right, a rendering shows the addition of a bicycle lane and parallel parking. | Jimmy Peluso, Downtown Investment Authority
July 29, 2026

Riverside Avenue could shrink to create bike lanes and parallel parking

City Council member Jimmy Peluso is proposing changes to Riverside, Forest and West Monroe.…

Featured image for “Reservations open Friday for new Met Park marina behind Four Seasons”
A rendering shows the marina behind the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences. | Jacksonville Daily Record
July 28, 2026

Reservations open Friday for new Met Park marina behind Four Seasons

The marina includes 78 wet slips and provides electrical power, pump-out capabilities and boating supplies.…

Featured image for “Streeter Acclaimed Kitchen seeks new home after devastating fire”
Johnathan Streeter, owner of Streeter Acclaimed Kitchen, in front of his restaurant before it burned in a fire Saturday, July 25, 2026. | Streeter Acclaimed Kitchen, Facebook
July 27, 2026

Streeter Acclaimed Kitchen seeks new home after devastating fire

The owner of Streeter Acclaimed Kitchen pledges to move forward even though his building can’t be saved.…

Featured image for “LGBTQ artwork returns to Five Points with a mural celebrating diversity”
Artist Shaun Thurston's has begun painting a mural on Lomax Street. The boxes are windows. | Community Task Force
July 27, 2026

LGBTQ artwork returns to Five Points with a mural celebrating diversity

The 1,700-foot mural follows a state order last year banning rainbow-colored crosswalks.…

Featured image for “Harry Reagan, former City Council member and broadcaster, dies at 87”
Harry Reagan, a former Jacksonville City Council member, has died at age 87. | Harry Reagan, Facebook
July 24, 2026

Harry Reagan, former City Council member and broadcaster, dies at 87

Harry Reagan was known for nightly editorials at WJXT-TV and for his time on the Jacksonville City Council.…

Featured image for “Gingerbread Extravaganza gets a new home and sponsor for the holidays”
Last year's Gingerbread Extravaganza was held at the Jacksonville History Center, with dozens of creations on display. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 24, 2026

Gingerbread Extravaganza gets a new home and sponsor for the holidays

The Historic Springfield Society is taking over the Gingerbread Extravaganza from the Jacksonville History Center.…