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 “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
5 hours ago

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
1 day ago

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 Shawn Thurston's has begun painting a mural on Lomax Street. The boxes are windows. | Community Task Force
1 day ago

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.…

Featured image for “Part of the USS Jacksonville submarine could wind up in Downtown Jacksonville”
The USS Jacksonville leaves Joint-Base-Pearl-Harbor is this undated photo. | Bring The Sail 2 Jax
July 24, 2026

Part of the USS Jacksonville submarine could wind up in Downtown Jacksonville

The sail structure of the decommissioned submarine could be displayed next to the USS Orleck.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What’s with the roadwork at Butler Boulevard and Philips Highway?”
Construction continues at the intersection of Butler Boulevard and Philips Highway. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 24, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | What’s with the roadwork at Butler Boulevard and Philips Highway?

Construction on Philips Highway led the Jacksonville Transporation Authority to close a park-n-ride lot.…

Featured image for “JSO’s new drones get to a crime scene before officers do”
Detectives Malik Daricaud, left, and Thomas Strickland pilot a drone in a re-creation Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The screen above them shows an officer finding a missing 15-year-old with autism. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 22, 2026

JSO’s new drones get to a crime scene before officers do

The Sheriff’s Office is more than doubling the size of its drone fleet to 61, funded by the state.…

Featured image for “JTA CEO Nat Ford selected as head of Dallas rapid transit system”
Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford speaks at the topping-out ceremony for the U2C Autonomous Innovation Center near Broad and Water streets in LaVilla. | Jeffrey Leeser via Jacksonville Daily Record
July 22, 2026

JTA CEO Nat Ford selected as head of Dallas rapid transit system

Nat Ford had planned to retire from JTA in January, but the agency will now need a replacement sooner.…

Featured image for “Mandarin seeks to preserve its character as growth continues”
A canopy of trees hangs over part of Mandarin Road near Brady Road in Mandarin. It is near the home of the man who named the community in 1830 — Calvin Reed. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 21, 2026

Mandarin seeks to preserve its character as growth continues

The Mandarin Area Preservation Project will begin with two public workshops on Wednesday.…

Featured image for “Deegan plans 8 town hall meetings to discuss proposed city budget”
Mayor Donna Deegan, on stage at right, speaks at a town hall meeting on March 24, 2026, at Springfield Middle School. | City of Jacksonville
July 20, 2026

Deegan plans 8 town hall meetings to discuss proposed city budget

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will meet with residents in August and September to discuss her budget priorities.…

Featured image for “UNF poll finds mixed opinions on ballot issue to cut property taxes”
Ballot boxes at a voting booth. | Felix, rawpixel.com, stock.adobe.com
July 20, 2026

UNF poll finds mixed opinions on ballot issue to cut property taxes

Support was weaker when the poll explained that tax cuts could severely reduce public services.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville write-in candidate accused of threatening to kill Trump”
Discharged U.S. Marine William L. Upham, as seen in a Facebook video threatening President Trump. | William Upham, Facebook
July 16, 2026

Jacksonville write-in candidate accused of threatening to kill Trump

Prosecutors say discharged Marine William L. Upham posted a video calling President Trump “the enemy of God.”…

Featured image for “Tractor-trailer hits and kills man running from ICE in St. Augustine”
Police investigate the death of a man on State Road 16 who was running from ICE agents. | St. Johns County Sheriffs Office
July 14, 2026

Tractor-trailer hits and kills man running from ICE in St. Augustine

The death came amid increased scrutiny of ICE after agents shot and killed two people in other states.…

Featured image for “Fire Rescue unit stolen from Main Street fire station in Jacksonville”
A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department unit is parked at the scene of a traffic crash on Hogan Road. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 14, 2026

Fire Rescue unit stolen from Main Street fire station in Jacksonville

Someone walked into the fire station, started up the rescue vehicle and drove off. Police stopped him 5 miles away.…

Featured image for “Sulzbacher begins construction on next phase of Enterprise Village”
The apartment complex for men is nearing completion at the Sulzbacher's new Enterprise Village, as seen in May. | Sulzbacher
July 10, 2026

Sulzbacher begins construction on next phase of Enterprise Village

Sulzbacher is expanding its services in housing, healthcare and job training for people without homes.…

Featured image for “Q&A | Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters discusses the jail, police shootings and more”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks with Jacksonville Today on Thursday, July 9, 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 10, 2026

Q&A | Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters discusses the jail, police shootings and more

Sheriff T.K. Waters sat down with Jacksonville Today to talk about his department halfway through 2026.…

Featured image for “Cold case solved: 70-year-old man arrested in woman’s 1987 death”
Melissa "Missy" Ellison and her then-baby daughter, Casie, in a photograph taken just before she was murdered in 1987 in her Westside home. | Project Cold Case/Ellison family
July 9, 2026

Cold case solved: 70-year-old man arrested in woman’s 1987 death

Melissa Ellison was clubbed to death with a fire log in her Westside home. Her young daughter was uninjured.…

Featured image for “Historic Black church in Palatka is recognized on National Register”
St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Palatka is an example of the Carpenter Gothic style of architecture. | City of Palatka
July 8, 2026

Historic Black church in Palatka is recognized on National Register

The 143-year-old church was described as one of the most significant African American churches in Florida.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville under heat advisory as dangerous temperatures return”
Photo of Indian Riverside Park in Martin County. | Martin County
July 8, 2026

Jacksonville under heat advisory as dangerous temperatures return

The heat index in Northeast Florida could reach as high as 112 degrees, and heat advisories are possible all week.…

Featured image for “Jake Gordon to step down as CEO after 11 years at Downtown Vision Inc.”
Jake Gordon, CEO of Jacksonville’s Downtown Vision Inc., will step down as of Sept. 30. | Downtown Vision Inc.
July 7, 2026

Jake Gordon to step down as CEO after 11 years at Downtown Vision Inc.

Gordon said it was time for new perspectives at Downtown Vision, a nonprofit that aims to revitalize Downtown.…

Featured image for “European Street Café to open 4th site at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown”
A rendering of the planned second phase of Riverfront Plaza, showing a beer garden and restaurant. | City of Jacksonville/Perkins & Will
July 6, 2026

European Street Café to open 4th site at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown

The restaurant will open in the second phase of Riverfront Plaza, which is under construction.…

Featured image for “Here’s a rundown of fireworks on the First Coast for America’s 250th”
A recent 4th of July fireworks display over Downtown Jacksonville. | City of Jacksonville
July 1, 2026

Here’s a rundown of fireworks on the First Coast for America’s 250th

Fireworks will fly up and down the St. Johns River from Jacksonville to Palatka — and along the Atlantic beaches.…

Featured image for “HUD and Jacksonville team up to create affordable housing on Northside”
This manufactured home is an example of how Jacksonville and HUD hope to increase affordable housing. | City of Jacksonville
June 30, 2026

HUD and Jacksonville team up to create affordable housing on Northside

The Starter Home Initiative will use manufactured homes to create more affordable housing.…