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 “Teams rescue entangled right whale off St. Marys”
An endangered North Atlantic right whale named "Division" was spotted Wednesdaty, Dec. 3, 2025, off Jekyll Island, Georgia. Fishing lines were entangled around ihis body. | Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
9 hours ago

Teams rescue entangled right whale off St. Marys

The endangered whale, named “Division, was severely entangled in fishing lines off St. Marys, Georgia.…

Featured image for “Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home”
Gingerbread creations like a snow-covered White House are part of the 23rd annual Gingerbread Extravaganza at the Jacksonville History Center. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home

The Jacksonville Historical Society’s 23rd annual extravaganza features 41 gingerbread creations.…

Featured image for “Palatka residents warned of lead in drinking water”
Palatka officials have issued a public drinking water notice after recent sampling showed elevated lead levels in more than 10% of homes tested. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Palatka residents warned of lead in drinking water

Water samples showed elevated lead in more than 10% of the homes tested, the city said.…

Featured image for “Final littoral combat ship destined for Mayport”
The USS Cleveland will join the littoral combat squadron at Naval Station Mayport, the last of its kind, the Navy says. | U.S. Navy
December 4, 2025

Final littoral combat ship destined for Mayport

The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of the USS Cleveland. The ship will homeport at Mayport Naval Station.…

Featured image for “Police officer cleared in shooting of unarmed boy”
State Attorney Melissa Nelson explains why she decided a police officer's shooting of an unarmed boy was lawful. | News4Jax
December 4, 2025

Police officer cleared in shooting of unarmed boy

The police officer was justified in shooting the boy, but communication errors contributed, the state attorney says.…

Featured image for “Paid parking clears first vote in Fernandina Beach”
This parking spot in front of the Downtown Fernandina Beach post office at 401 Centre St could be included in the proposed paid parking plan.
December 3, 2025

Paid parking clears first vote in Fernandina Beach

The City Commission will take a final parking vote on Jan. 6, but a lawsuit and referendum are pending.…

Featured image for “St. Johns deputies kill gunman who threatened coworker”
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office investigates the fatal shooting Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, of a gunman on U.S. 1. | St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
December 3, 2025

St. Johns deputies kill gunman who threatened coworker

The gunman led deputies on a chase down U.S. 1 and yelled “shoot me, shoot me,” the sheriff said.…

Featured image for “Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest”
Brett Price helps erect the holiday tree inside Riverfront Plaza on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Price previously built Jacksonville's holiday tree in James Weldon Johnson Park for the previous five years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest

Fireworks, a lighted boat parade and a sneak peek at Jacksonville new downtown park are all at Saturday’s River Fest.…

Featured image for “Mandarin Food Bank’s 35th Thanksgiving giveaway helps 450 families”
Frozen turkeys, fresh milk and produce and other staples are on tables at the Mandarin Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving giveaway on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 24, 2025

Mandarin Food Bank’s 35th Thanksgiving giveaway helps 450 families

The annual drive saw more need this year as the pause in SNAP benefits from the government shutdown ends.…

Featured image for “440-acre motorsports complex gets green flag in Palatka”
This 440-acre motorsports complex includes a racetrack, go-kart course, meeting space, garages and more. | Putnam County
November 19, 2025

440-acre motorsports complex gets green flag in Palatka

A father and son team wants to build the $200 million motorsports complex next to the municipal airport.…

Featured image for “State launches program to protect seniors from scams”
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announces a new program aimed at stopping senior scams. He spoke Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at the Cypress Village retirement community in Jacksonville. | News4Jax
November 18, 2025

State launches program to protect seniors from scams

Lt. Gov. Jay Shields came to Jacksonville on Tuesday to announce Operation Senior Shield, a scam alert system.…

Featured image for “City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station”
An illustration of a new marine fire station has been erected at the riverfront site where the station will be built. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 14, 2025

City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station

Ground was broken Friday for a new fireboat station to serve Jacksonville’s growing Downtown.…

Featured image for “Volunteers refurbish Five Star Veterans Center”
Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, The Home Depot Foundation and others rebuild the Five Stars veterans center gardens on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2025

Volunteers refurbish Five Star Veterans Center

More than 70 volunteers pitched in from Home Depot, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida and other groups.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple sets groundbreaking”
A private groundbreaking is set for January for Jacksonville's first Latter-day Saints temple in Mandarin. | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
November 11, 2025

Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple sets groundbreaking

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will break ground for the temple on Jan. 24.…

Featured image for “Donations sought to restore Peg Leg Pete in Fernandina”
Peg Leg Pete now stands now outside the Amelia Island Museum of History. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 10, 2025

Donations sought to restore Peg Leg Pete in Fernandina

A fundraiser aims to raise $23,000 to repair the Peg Leg Pete statue and return it to the waterfront.…

Featured image for “Florida seeks to expand Atlantic red snapper season”
Gov. Ron DeSantis points to increases in fishing due to state management of the Florida Gulf red snapper season. The governor spoke Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at the Amelia Island Marina, | News4Jax
November 10, 2025

Florida seeks to expand Atlantic red snapper season

The state is asking the federal government for permission to oversee red snapper fishing off Florida’s East Coast.…

Featured image for “The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park”
The latest design of the Shipyards West Park is 90% complete. It shows a new two-story event pavilion, a flex lawn, a Playscape, Riverwalk, sports/pickleball courts and trees, all planned to be bult by 2028. | City of Jacksonville
November 7, 2025

The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park

Groundbreaking is planned next year on Shipyards West, one of many areas under development on the Northbank.…

Featured image for “Flight cutbacks could crimp travel at Jacksonville airport”
The entrance sign at Jacksonville International Airport. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 6, 2025

Flight cutbacks could crimp travel at Jacksonville airport

Jacksonville travelers could enounter complications because of flight reductions ordered at other airports.…

Featured image for “Sporting Jax lands men’s head coach as 2026 season nears”
Sporting Jax’s first men’s head coach, Liam Fox, speaks to reporters Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 4, 2025

Sporting Jax lands men’s head coach as 2026 season nears

Veteran Scottish coach Liam Fox will lead the Sporting Jax mens team when it opens play next year.…

Featured image for “ICARE and city pledge to revive affordable housing fund”
ICARE is working with the city to revive an affordable housing trust fund. | Gabriella Paul, WUSF
November 4, 2025

ICARE and city pledge to revive affordable housing fund

The fund would provide incentives for developers to create more affordable housing.…

Featured image for “Sea-Doo recalls pontoon boats after Jacksonville capsizing”
Vianca Grullon wears a life preserver in a photo taken before she was injured. Vianca suffered traumatic brain injuries when her family's Sea-Doo switch capsized in 2004. | Photo courtesy of family and attorney Judd Rosen
October 30, 2025

Sea-Doo recalls pontoon boats after Jacksonville capsizing

A 15-month-old girl suffered traumatic brain injuries when the family’s Sea-Doo Switch capsized on the Black Creek.…

Featured image for “Lisa Sutherland appointed as JU’s interim president”
Lisa Sutherland has been appointed as interim president of Jacksonville University. | JU
October 28, 2025

Lisa Sutherland appointed as JU’s interim president

Sutherland will take over when current President Tim Cost becomes school chancellor July 1…

Featured image for “It’s Florida-Georgia week. The commotion has already begun.”
The Florida and Georgia fans are split at EverBank Stadium during a recent game. | City of Jacksonville
October 28, 2025

It’s Florida-Georgia week. The commotion has already begun.

Expect the usual traffic and crowds as the Florida-Georgia game approaches on Saturday.…

Featured image for “Holon signs agreement to build autonomous vehicles in Jax”
Holon plans to produce this autonomous vehicle at a new plant in Jacksonville by 2027. | Holon
October 27, 2025

Holon signs agreement to build autonomous vehicles in Jax

Holon, a German manfacturer, plans to build a factory and produce the autonomous vehicles by 2027.…