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 “Archie the rhino recovering at zoo after tooth removal”
Archie the southern white rhino lies anesthetized during surgery to remove a tooth on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. | Curtis Dvorak
May 22, 2024

Archie the rhino recovering at zoo after tooth removal

Animal care experts came from around the state came to help remove Archie’s abscessed tooth at the Jacksonville Zoo and…

Featured image for “New owners buy Five Points Theater; Sun-Ray to close”
The FIVE music venue will replace Sun-Ray Cinema in Five Points. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 21, 2024

New owners buy Five Points Theater; Sun-Ray to close

Union South Partners plans $2 million in renovations to the historic four-story building, but the new owners are not renewing…

Featured image for “Local hate crime bill called ‘cheap political pandering’”
Jacksonville City Council member Terrance Freeman | News4Jax
May 20, 2024

Local hate crime bill called ‘cheap political pandering’

City Council member Terrance Freeman is opposing a proposed hate crime law in Jacksonville, calling it unnecessary and insulting to…

Featured image for “Ponte Vedra Beach man accused of COVID PPE fraud”
A woman wears a COVID-19 mask. | Alvaro Barrientos, AP
May 20, 2024

Ponte Vedra Beach man accused of COVID PPE fraud

James Elliott Davis II was indicted on charges of enticing people to invest more than $7 million in a phony…

Featured image for “School employee among 27 accused of soliciting children”
A suspect was handcuffed after a Jacksonvillle police K9 subdued him.
May 20, 2024

School employee among 27 accused of soliciting children

A Duval school maintenance worker and a former professional baseball player are among the people arrested in an internet sting.…

Featured image for “Sheriff Office reexamines teenage girls’ slayings”
Jazmine Shelton, 13, and best friend Megan Simmons, 14, were shot and killed in August 2013 in a trailer home on Missouri Avenue. | MAD DADS
May 20, 2024

Sheriff Office reexamines teenage girls’ slayings

No leads ever emerged in the shootings of Jazmine Shelton, 13, and Megan Simmons, 14, on Aug. 10, 2013.…

Featured image for “Former Nassau deputy pleads guilty to drug charges”
Former Nassau County sheriff’s Sgt. James Hickox.
May 17, 2024

Former Nassau deputy pleads guilty to drug charges

James Hickox admitted to stealing marijuana and cocaine while working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.…

Featured image for “Trauma survivors cheer their saviors at Memorial Hospital”
Ponte Vedra High School senior Madison Schemitz, right, shoots a selfie with her mother, Jacqueline Rogue, and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Lt. Matt Avera. They were at the Trauma Survivors Day event Thursday, May 16, 2024, at HCA Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

Trauma survivors cheer their saviors at Memorial Hospital

Eight grateful patients reunited with teams at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital Jacksonville that saved their lives and in some cases…

Featured image for “It seems rainy lately, but we’re actually drier than normal”
Rain pours down on Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park during a thunderstorm Wednesday, May 15, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

It seems rainy lately, but we’re actually drier than normal

April was the third consecutive month of below-average rainfall for parts of the St. Johns River Water Management District.…

Featured image for “Two Mandarin Middle School staff accused of misconduct”
Mandarin Middle School | Google
May 15, 2024

Two Mandarin Middle School staff accused of misconduct

A school police officer was arrested and a security guard fired after two unrelated incidents.…

Featured image for “‘Core-2-Coast’: Urban trail would lead to the beach”
The Fuller Warren Shared Use Path is 12 feet wide, designed for bicycle and walkers. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 14, 2024

‘Core-2-Coast’: Urban trail would lead to the beach

A survey is trying to assess whether residents want a walking and biking trail from the urban core to the…

Featured image for “Autonomous people movers could roll by June 2025”
Balfour Beatty LLC official Kevin Wishnacht, left, talks to City Council President Ron Salem during a community update Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Main Library. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 13, 2024

Autonomous people movers could roll by June 2025

JTA says the first phase of its Ultimate Urban Circulator, or U2C, could carry people down Bay Street in a…

Featured image for “Construction begins on new concourse at Jax airport”
An American Airlines jet is parked at a gate at Jacksonville International Airport on Friday, May 10, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 10, 2024

Construction begins on new concourse at Jax airport

Concourse B will bring six new gates to the terminal, adding to the 20 on Concourses A and C.…

Featured image for “Crescent Beach body finally identified after 39 years”
A family photo of Mary Alice Pultz, whose remains were discovered in 1985 in a shallow grave on Crescent Beach. | St. Johns County Sheriff's office
May 9, 2024

Crescent Beach body finally identified after 39 years

The body of Mary Alice Pultz was discovered in a sand dune in 1985, but her identity was unknown until…

Featured image for “New Northside fire station could lower insurance costs”
A fire engine, tanker and rescue unit sit in front of the new Fire Station 47, which officially opened Thursday, May 9, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 9, 2024

New Northside fire station could lower insurance costs

Homeowners in the Pecan Park area will get better protection and save possibly 50% or more on insurance with a…

Featured image for “Shipyards West Park: Here’s what’s planned”
Senior volunteers from the USS Orleck maritime museum, on the west side of the planned Shipyards West Park, look at design drawings for the site. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 8, 2024

Shipyards West Park: Here’s what’s planned

The plans, 60% complete, include a cafe, open lawn for events, boardwalk, sports courts, kayak and boat rental, and more.…

Featured image for “Roundabout nearly done at Edgewood and Roosevelt”
The new Edgewood Avenue roundabout and medians are under construction. The Roosevelt Boulevard overpass is shown in the background. | Florida Department of Transportation
May 8, 2024

Roundabout nearly done at Edgewood and Roosevelt

State transportation officials say the project should improve traffic flow for drivers entering or exiting Roosevelt Boulevard.…

Featured image for “Jaguars stadium deal to be revealed Tuesday”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have proposed the team and city share the cost of renovating EverBank Stadium. | Jacksonville Jaguars
May 8, 2024

Jaguars stadium deal to be revealed Tuesday

A long-awaited agreement on the Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is ready to go to the City Council for review.…

Featured image for “Service dogs help law enforcement carry the load”
Buster, one of four Jacksonville Sheriff's Office service dogs, sits during a news conference Tuesday, May 7, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 7, 2024

Service dogs help law enforcement carry the load

First responders from around the First Coast gathered Tuesday to honor their station dogs as part of Mental Health Awareness…

Featured image for “Baptist Health agrees to $1.5 million settlement”
Baptist Medical Center. | Sky Lebron, Jacksonville Today
May 6, 2024

Baptist Health agrees to $1.5 million settlement

Baptist settled allegations from the federal government involving discounts offered to some Medicare beneficiaries.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville aims to curb its mental health issues”
Mayor Donna Deegan announces the city's new mental health initiatives on Monday, May 6, 2024. | News4Jax
May 6, 2024

Jacksonville aims to curb its mental health issues

Mayor Donna Deegan announced three new programs to address Jacksonville’s higher-than-average mental health problems.…

Featured image for “LaVilla Link goes green as first stretch of Emerald Trail opens”
A walker strolls over part of the 1.3-mile LaVilla Link, just after it officially opened Monday, May 6, as the first leg of the planned 34-mile-long Emerald Trail in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 6, 2024

LaVilla Link goes green as first stretch of Emerald Trail opens

The first link in the 30-mile biking and walking trail opened Monday, the first step to connect parts of Downtown…

Featured image for “UNF explains arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters”
Jacksonville police officers lead away some of the 16 people arrested Thursday, May 2, 2024, during a pro-Palestine protest at the University of North Florida. | News4Jax
May 3, 2024

UNF explains arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters

Sixteen pro-Palestine supporters were arrested late Thursday after ignoring school demands to leave before a 10 p.m. deadline.…

Featured image for “Fried crustaceans will lure thousands to Fernandina”
Thousands of people are expected at this weekend's Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. | Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
May 2, 2024

Fried crustaceans will lure thousands to Fernandina

Some 150,000 people are expected to attend the 59th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival this weekend in Fernandina…