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 “Families cling to hope for loved ones still missing”
Wilveria Sanders holds a yellow rose during the 16th annual Missing Adults’ Day event at Jacksonville City Hall on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Sanders' brother, Shelton Sanders, was last seen June 19, 2001. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
3 days ago

Families cling to hope for loved ones still missing

Families and friends shared their sorrows Friday during Missing Adults Day at Jacksonville City Hall.…

Featured image for “Questions arise after 12-year-old’s death on minibike”
Police investigate the minibike crash Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. | News4Jax
February 19, 2026

Questions arise after 12-year-old’s death on minibike

The child was hit near Patriot Oaks Academy in St. Johns County, although minibikes are banned on public roads.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How did the Brooklyn neighborhood get its name?”
Empty lots line South Myrtle Avenue at McCoys Creek Boulevard in the Brooklyn neighborhood. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 18, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | How did the Brooklyn neighborhood get its name?

A Jacksonville Today reader asks why Brooklyn has the same name as a New York city borough.…

Featured image for “Intuition Ale Works auctions its brewing equipment”
Part of Intuition Ale Works' tanks in its large brewing system off East Bay Street. | Intuition Ale Works
February 16, 2026

Intuition Ale Works auctions its brewing equipment

An online auction will begin Wednesday as Intuition Ale Works goes out of business after 15 years.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville officials warn about serious wildfire risks”
Jacksonville firefighters battle a 2-acre wildfire recently on UNF Drive.| Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
February 13, 2026

Jacksonville officials warn about serious wildfire risks

A severe drought and extensive freezes make this a particularly dangerous year for wildfires.…

Featured image for “Paid parking starts Monday in downtown Fernandina Beach”
Centre Street and nearby side streets will be under a new paid parking program as of Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
February 12, 2026

Paid parking starts Monday in downtown Fernandina Beach

A judge dismissed most of a complaint seeking to stop the paid parking plan on downtown streets.…

Featured image for “Daimler Coaches opens U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville”
Visitors tour Daimler Coach's new U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville after its opening Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 11, 2026

Daimler Coaches opens U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville

The Daimler facility will handle inspection, training, delivery, repair and service for the giant motor coaches.…

Featured image for “Duval and Baker residents asked to conserve water”
A water shortage has left brown grass and dried-out foliage. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 11, 2026

Duval and Baker residents asked to conserve water

The St. Johns River Water Management District ordered residents to avoid “wasteful and unnecessary water use.”…

Featured image for “Baptist Health teams up with Brooks to add rehab unit”
The Brooks Rehabilitation Neuro Recovery Center on University Boulevard South, showing some of the equipment and services expected at the Baptist Health location. | Brooks Rehabilitation
February 10, 2026

Baptist Health teams up with Brooks to add rehab unit

Baptist Health will build its first inpatient rehabilitation center at its San Marco campus. Brooks Rehabilitation will run it.…

Featured image for “Bolles receives $8M donation to maintain Hodges field”
George H. Hodges Field on the Bolles Upper School Campus. | The Bolles School
February 6, 2026

Bolles receives $8M donation to maintain Hodges field

The gift from the estate of Kernan and George H. Hodges Jr. is Bolles’ largest gift ever.…

Featured image for “Former assistant police chief arrested in St. Augustine”
A former assistant police chief in St. Augustine has been arrested after an investigation into financial discrepancies at the Police Benevolent Organization. | St. Augustine Police Department
February 6, 2026

Former assistant police chief arrested in St. Augustine

Anthony Cuthbert is accused of taking thousands of dollars from the Police Benevolent Organization.…

Featured image for “UNF picks Polk State president as interim leader”
Angela Garcia Falconetti has been selected as interim president at the University of North Florida. | UNF
February 5, 2026

UNF picks Polk State president as interim leader

Angela Garcia Falconetti is a Jacksonville native and two-time graduate of UNF.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville sites added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail”
Mount Ararat Baptist Church on Myrtle Avenue North will become part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 5, 2026

Jacksonville sites added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail

The civil rights sites include Mount Ararat Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in 1961.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who’s supposed to maintain the Southbank?”
Curbing at a Riverplace Boulevard crosswalk median is damaged, as are nearby bricks. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 5, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | Who’s supposed to maintain the Southbank?

A Jacksonville Today reader says areas on the Southbank need repairs. Who’s responsible for that? she asks.…

Featured image for “Smoky wildfires close roads and schools in Putnam County”
Heavy smoke from wildfires envelops a police car near Interlachen on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. | Putnam County Sheriff's Office
February 4, 2026

Smoky wildfires close roads and schools in Putnam County

The county is under a state of emergency due to the threat of wildfires from abnormally dry conditions.…

Featured image for “FBI recognizes Jacksonville pastor for crime fighting”
The Rev. Korey O’Neal, left, is greeted by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Dunn. | FBI Jacksonville
February 3, 2026

FBI recognizes Jacksonville pastor for crime fighting

The Rev. Korey O’Neal, Project RISE program director, got the FBI Jacksonville Director’s Community Leadership Award…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold”
Federal officials are considering the sale of the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building due to low occupancy and high maintenance costs. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 2, 2026

Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold

A federal panel is considering whether to sell the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Zoo to debut new entrance and manatee exhibit”
The new entrance at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens shades the new manatee exhibit. Both are set to officially open March 6. | Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
January 29, 2026

Jacksonville Zoo to debut new entrance and manatee exhibit

The improvements are part of a $52 million renovation plan at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens.…

Featured image for “DONNA marathoners prepare for extreme cold”
Thousands of runners launch from the start line for last year's annual Donna Marathon through Jacksonville's Beaches. | Donna Marathon
January 29, 2026

DONNA marathoners prepare for extreme cold

Roads will closed Sunday as thousands of marathoners race through the three Beaches communities.…

Featured image for “Intuition Ale Works closing after ‘right buyer never came’”
Intuition Ale Works will close April 24 after an attempt to sell the business failed. | Intuition Ale Works
January 28, 2026

Intuition Ale Works closing after ‘right buyer never came’

Craft Breweries like Intuition Ale Works are finding it difficult to remain in business as costs mount and competition grows.…

Featured image for “11 men accused of rooster fighting at Jacksonville home”
This is one of dozens of caged birds police found at a Northside rooster fighting ring. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
January 28, 2026

11 men accused of rooster fighting at Jacksonville home

A total of 130 roosters had to be destroyed due to their aggressive training and risk of disease.…

Featured image for “Fernandina’s plan for paid parking winds up in court again”
Centre Street, one of the areas affected by paid parking in Fernandina Beach. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
January 27, 2026

Fernandina’s plan for paid parking winds up in court again

Opponents have filed a second request for an injunction against paid parking in downtown Fernandina Beach.…

Featured image for “More details released on first police shootings of 2026”
A video from a police bodycam shows a confrontation Jan. 5, 2026, outside a Southside apartment. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
January 23, 2026

More details released on first police shootings of 2026

One man was killed and one wounded in separate shootings involving police on Jan. 5.…

Featured image for “Blood donations sought as supply lags on First Coast”
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are urging people to donate due to critically low supplies in Florida. | LifeSouth
January 23, 2026

Blood donations sought as supply lags on First Coast

Many blood centers don’t have enough supply for more than one or two days, LifeSouth says.…