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 “Volunteer firefighter dies while fighting Hilliard wildfire”
Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department firefighter James Crews. | Nassau County Sheriff's Office
15 hours ago

Volunteer firefighter dies while fighting Hilliard wildfire

Firefighter James Crews died after a medical emergency while battling a Hilliard wildfire, officials said.…

Featured image for “Former preschool teacher gets 10 years for enticing child”
2 days ago

Former preschool teacher gets 10 years for enticing child

The former Nocatee teacher was accused of communicating with an FBI agent who was posing as a 13-year-old girl.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Beach hosts annual Opening of the Beaches”
Volunteer lifeguards take part in a recent Opening of the Beaches parade in Jacksonville Beach. | City of Jacksonville Beach
2 days ago

Jacksonville Beach hosts annual Opening of the Beaches

Opening of the Beaches represents the unofficial start of the summer season in Jacksonville Beach.…

Featured image for “Southeast Toyota shows off huge new JAXPORT site”
New Toyotas wait for inspection and installation of options at the new Southeast Toyota Distributors facility at JAXPORT's Blount Island Marine Terminal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

Southeast Toyota shows off huge new JAXPORT site

The facility enables Southeast Toyota to process hundreds more vehicles per day to ship to dealers.…

Featured image for “Smoke blankets area as Railroad wildfire grows”
A Clay County Fire Rescue unit battles the Railroad Fire at the Clay/Putnam County line on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. | Clay County
3 days ago

Smoke blankets area as Railroad wildfire grows

The wildfire grew slightly overnight, but firefighting efforts on the ground and air are helping to contain it.…

Featured image for “Wildfire risks could grow over next 10 weeks, officials warn”
A 4,100-acre wildfire burns around the Clay–Putnam County line on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. | Clay County Fire Rescue
April 21, 2026

Wildfire risks could grow over next 10 weeks, officials warn

The danger of wildfires will persist as long as the drought continues, and little rain is forecast, fire officials say.…

Featured image for “Wildfires scorch Northeast Florida as drought continues”
A 500-acre blaze near Connor-Nelson Road in West Hilliard lights up the sky early Sunday, April 19, 2026. | Florida Forest Service
April 20, 2026

Wildfires scorch Northeast Florida as drought continues

A wildfire in Clay County grew to over 2,000 acres, and a 1,000-acre fire was burning in adjacent Putnam County.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville teacher charged with child sexual material”
The Clay County Sheriff's Office arrested a Jacksonville teacher on charges of transmitting child sexual material. | File photo
April 17, 2026

Jacksonville teacher charged with child sexual material

Johnny Robinson III, a math teacher at Temple Christian Academy, faces 50 counts. He has been fired.…

Featured image for “City Council protester convicted of resisting arrest”
Supporters rally May 28, 2025, after three protesters were arrested at a City Council meeting. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
April 16, 2026

City Council protester convicted of resisting arrest

A jury convicted Leah Grady in connection with protests last year at a Jacksonville City Council meeting.…

Featured image for “Clay County bans burning during extreme drought”
A wildfire burns at the University of North Florida campus. | Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Departmenbt
April 16, 2026

Clay County bans burning during extreme drought

Nassau, Baker and Putnam counties are also under a burn ban, and dry conditions are expected for weeks.…

Featured image for “Teacher accused of romantic relationship with student”
River City Science Academy Elementary School on Beach Boulevard. | Google Maps
April 15, 2026

Teacher accused of romantic relationship with student

Jackson Jordan Hull, a 25-year-old teacher at River City Science Academy, is no longer affiliated with the school.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why don’t all bridges have name plaques?”
A sign shows the official name of the Main Street Bridge. | Google maps
April 10, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | Why don’t all bridges have name plaques?

Many bridges in Jacksonville have plaques showing their names, but many do not. Why not?…

Featured image for “3 more Jacksonville cops accused of faking overtime”
Sheriff T.K. Waters announces the arrests of three officers on charges of filing false overtime claims. At his sideis Undersheriff Shawn Coursey. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
April 9, 2026

3 more Jacksonville cops accused of faking overtime

The three officers filed more than $33,000 in false overtime claims, the sheriff said. Another officer was arrested in February.…

Featured image for “Another Duval school bus crashes on trip to the zoo”
A school bus and a truck collided Wednesday, April 8, 2026, near the Jacksonville Zoo and Botantical Gardens. | News4Jax
April 8, 2026

Another Duval school bus crashes on trip to the zoo

No one on the school bus was seriously hurt, but eight students were checked out at a hospital.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Are golf courses restricted from watering during drought?”
Lawn watering restrictions are in place in Northeast Florida due to the drought. | St. Johns River Water Management District
April 8, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | Are golf courses restricted from watering during drought?

Northeast Florida residents are subject to water restrictions, but what about heavy water users like golf courses?…

Featured image for “Family demands records in Duval County jail death”
Charles Faggart, who died while in the custody of the Duval County jail. | Faggart family/Plata Schott Law
April 7, 2026

Family demands records in Duval County jail death

The family of food truck owner Charles Faggart filed a court complaint exactly one year after his death in jail.…

Featured image for “Attorney Ben Crump protests 2 violent arrests in Jacksonville”
Deonca Gordon speaks during a news conference Friday, April 3, 2026, about the violent arrest of her son. | News4Jax
April 3, 2026

Attorney Ben Crump protests 2 violent arrests in Jacksonville

Crump demanded an investigation into the arrests of two Black men by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.…

Featured image for “New student art alliance will oversee Deck the Chairs”
A recent Deck the Chairs holiday exhibit in Jacksonville Beach, which will now be run by the new Students in the Arts Alliance. | Deck the Chairs
April 3, 2026

New student art alliance will oversee Deck the Chairs

Deck the Chairs seeks to create more youth-oriented art opportunities throughout the year.…

Featured image for “BestBet sued over treatment of pregnant employees”
BestBet is accused of failing to accommodate pregnant employees. This is the BestBet sign on Monument Road. | Cyd Hoskinson, Jacksonville Today
April 2, 2026

BestBet sued over treatment of pregnant employees

The EEOC sued BestBet Jacksonville, claiming the business forced two pregnant employees to quit their jobs.…

Featured image for “4 kindergarteners hurt when truck hits school bus”
The rear end of a school bus was crumpled when a truck hit the bus. | News4Jax
April 2, 2026

4 kindergarteners hurt when truck hits school bus

The school bus was taking students from San Pablo Elementary School to the Jacksonville zoo.…

Featured image for “58th Mandarin Art Festival returns for Easter weekend”
The historic Mandarin Community Club is home Easter weekend to the 58th Mandarin Art Festival. | Mandarin Art Festival
April 2, 2026

58th Mandarin Art Festival returns for Easter weekend

More than 100 artists will vie for awards at Jacksonville’s longest-running art festival.…

Featured image for “More Buckman Bridge closures planned this weekend”
Two northbound lanes of the Buckman Bridge will be closed this weekend for repairs. | Google Maps
April 2, 2026

More Buckman Bridge closures planned this weekend

Two of four lanes will close starting Friday night, but in the opposite direction of past weeks.…

Featured image for “Duval included in challenge to new Florida voting law”
An early voting site in Duval County. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today.
April 1, 2026

Duval included in challenge to new Florida voting law

The ACLU is suing the state over a law requiring proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.…

Featured image for “Some Duval students spend time learning outdoors”
Students at SP Livingston take part in a new initiative designed to cultivate student wellness through screen-free, outdoor learning. | Duval County Public Schools
April 1, 2026

Some Duval students spend time learning outdoors

Three schools are part of a pilot program to balance computer-heavy days with outdoors lessons.…