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 “Ceremony will remember Dollar General shooting victims”
A makeshift memorial outside Dollar General honors the three people killed there Aug. 26, 2023 — Jerrald Gallion, Angela Carr and "AJ" Laguerre. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
10 hours ago

Ceremony will remember Dollar General shooting victims

Community members will reflect Sunday on the racially motivated shooting two years ago.…

Featured image for “Teen becomes Jacksonville’s 100th traffic death of year”
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department critical care rescue unit. | JFRD
August 15, 2025

Teen becomes Jacksonville’s 100th traffic death of year

The 100 deaths surpass the 88 at this time last year. The teen was the 19th pedestrian killed.…

Featured image for “Baptist prepares for increase in high-risk pregnancies”
One of the new labor and delivery rooms at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. | Baptist Medical Center
August 14, 2025

Baptist prepares for increase in high-risk pregnancies

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville is midway through an expansion of maternal and fetal care.…

Featured image for “Mom accused of putting gun in child’s backpack”
A mother in Clay County was jailed on charges of putting a gun in her child's backpack. | Clay County Sheriff's Office
August 14, 2025

Mom accused of putting gun in child’s backpack

Police said the child found the gun in the backpack and told a teacher.…

Featured image for “DeSantis announces ‘Deportation Depot’ in Baker County”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference about immigration enforcement on May 1, 2025, in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP file
August 14, 2025

DeSantis announces ‘Deportation Depot’ in Baker County

The state will set up its second immigration detention center at a vacant Baker County correctional facility.…

Featured image for “State attorney explains why cops were cleared in violent arrest”
An image from Officer D. Bowers' bodycam shows William McNeil Jr. in his seat just after the traffic stop. | State Attorney's Office
August 13, 2025

State attorney explains why cops were cleared in violent arrest

Officers took control because Will McNeil Jr. refused to follow instructions, a new memorandum concludes.…

Featured image for “Police officer fatally shoots man armed with knife”
A portion of Buckman Street was shut down Wednesday after police shot and killed a man. | News4Jax
August 13, 2025

Police officer fatally shoots man armed with knife

Police said the man refused to put down the knife, even when threatened with a police dog.…

Featured image for “Construction starts on new Blount Island fire station”
Jacksonville Fire Chief Percy Golden II speaks Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, before the groundbreaking for new Fire Station 48 on Blount Island Boulevard. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 11, 2025

Construction starts on new Blount Island fire station

Jacksonville’s biggest port facility will soon have a bigger fire station and a better fire boat dock.…

Featured image for “Reminder: The Main Street Bridge is closed this week”
The Main Street Bridge. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 11, 2025

Reminder: The Main Street Bridge is closed this week

The bridge will close for a mechanical evaluation, ahead of a longer shutdown in two years.…

Featured image for “Camden County sergeant indicted over use of force”
Camden County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Buck Aldridge's police car video showing him stopping Leonard Cure for speeding in 2023 on Interstate 95 in Kingsland. Following a violent roadside scuffle, Aldridge shot him to death. | Camden County Sheriff's Office
August 7, 2025

Camden County sergeant indicted over use of force

Sgt. Buck Aldridge is the same officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop in 2023.…

Featured image for “Firehouse Subs to reopen 2 years after fiery crash”
The renovated Firehouse Subs on University Boulevard South will reopen Wednesday. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 7, 2025

Firehouse Subs to reopen 2 years after fiery crash

The restaurant has been closed since a car crashed into the building and killed two people.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is one traffic signal always out on Southside Boulevard?”
A traffic signal frequently malfunctions at the intersection of Southside Boulevard and the service road. | Google
August 6, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why is one traffic signal always out on Southside Boulevard?

A Jacksonville Today reader says the traffic signal malfunctions about once a week.…

Featured image for “Bartram Trail teacher accused of lewd behavior near children”
August 6, 2025

Bartram Trail teacher accused of lewd behavior near children

The high school teacher is charged with inappropriate behavior in the surf off St. Augustine Beach.…

Featured image for “Next phase of First Coast Expressway due to open soon”
Part of the First Coast Expressway is shown under construction. | FDOT
August 4, 2025

Next phase of First Coast Expressway due to open soon

The latest segment, from Blanding Boulevard to U.S. 17 in Clay County, could open within two weeks.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville gets CSX’s first rail hazmat training center”
The fire academy at Florida State College at Jacksonville has this railroad tank car to help train firefighters in handling hazmat spills. The new CSX facility will be built nearby. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 4, 2025

Jacksonville gets CSX’s first rail hazmat training center

CSX and FSCJ will team up to build the Hazardous Materials Training Institute at the college’s existing fire academy.…

Featured image for “Fernandina gangway collapse blamed partly on large crowd”
This is the gangway that collapsed as people stood on it to watch July 4th fireworks from the Fernandina Harbor Marina. | City of Fernandina Beach
August 1, 2025

Fernandina gangway collapse blamed partly on large crowd

The gangway was supporting more weight than it was designed for when it collapsed during July 4 fireworks.…

Featured image for “Rapper Ksoo and cousin guilty of 1st-degree murder”
Jacksonville rapper Hakeem Robinson — known as Ksoo — looks back as he learns of his guilty verdict in a Jacksonville courtroom on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | News4Jax
July 31, 2025

Rapper Ksoo and cousin guilty of 1st-degree murder

The two were charged in the 2020 shooting death of Charles McCormick Jr. at a shopping center in Arlington.…

Featured image for “Marquee is next step in restoration of Florida Theatre”
The Florida Theatre and its first marquee, as it appeared in 1927 when the theater opened. | The Florida Theatre
July 29, 2025

Marquee is next step in restoration of Florida Theatre

The marquee is in dire need of repairs, among years of renovations at the 98-year-old venue.…

Featured image for “Suspect charged in slaying outside Copeland’s restaurant”
Police investigate a shooting June 11, 2025, outside of Copeland's of New Orleans restaurant on Southside Boulevard. | News4Jax
July 29, 2025

Suspect charged in slaying outside Copeland’s restaurant

The shooting June 11 shut down parts of Southside Boulevard and rattled nearby shoppers.…

Featured image for “IDEA River Bluff teacher accused of sexual battery”
The IDEA River Bluff charter school in Arlington. | Google
July 28, 2025

IDEA River Bluff teacher accused of sexual battery

James Lewis Tellis was fired from the charter school after he was accused of soliciting a child by computer.…

Featured image for “The Amelia moves to Saturday; Dario Franchitti is honoree”
Thousands of people attended the 30th annual Amelia concours d'elegance in March, many looking at race cars of 2025 honoree Helio Castroneves. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 28, 2025

The Amelia moves to Saturday; Dario Franchitti is honoree

The Amelia Concours is moving from Sunday to Saturday at the suggestion of people who attend.…

Featured image for “Hilliard gunman kills 3 but spares 5-year-old girl”
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper provides an update on a murder-suicide in Hilliard that left three women dead. | Nassau County Sheriff's Office
July 25, 2025

Hilliard gunman kills 3 but spares 5-year-old girl

A man killed three women and then apparently shot himself in the head, police said.…

Featured image for “Ex-Camden deputy gets 16 months for inmate beating”
A jail video shows former Camden County deputy Ryan Biegel and two others beating inmate Jarrett Hobbs in 2022. | Camden County Jail
July 25, 2025

Ex-Camden deputy gets 16 months for inmate beating

Ryan Biegel was sentenced in the beating of inmate Jarrett Hobbs in September 2022.…

Featured image for “Baymeadows may get crossing where man and son died”
A car passes Wicked Barley on Baymeadows Road, where a man and his child were killed May 16, 2025. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
July 23, 2025

Baymeadows may get crossing where man and son died

A study by the Florida Department of Transportation says a crosswalk is justified near Wicked Barley Brewing Co.…