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 “Main Street Bridge closed northbound until mid-October”
Crews from the Florida Department of Transportation inspect the Main Street Bridge aftera tugboat hit the bridge Aug. 19, 2025. | FDOT
September 15, 2025

Main Street Bridge closed northbound until mid-October

Northbound lanes on the bridge will be closed for repairs after a tugboat hit the structure last month.…

Featured image for “2 dead after gunfire erupts in Clay County home”
The Clay County Sheriff's Office investigated a shooting early on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, inside a home on Pine Oaks Lane. | News4Jax
September 15, 2025

2 dead after gunfire erupts in Clay County home

Two people were killed and two hospitalized after gunfire in the Oakleaf area, the Sheriff’s Office said.…

Featured image for “Pieces of 1880 shipwreck wash ashore on Matanzas Beach”
Chuck Meide, maritime program director for the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program, looks at a piece of 19th century shipwreck that washed ashore on Matanzas Beach. | St. Johns County
September 12, 2025

Pieces of 1880 shipwreck wash ashore on Matanzas Beach

Archaeologists believe the fragments are from the shipwrecked Caroline Eddy, which ran aground during a hurricane.…

Featured image for “Metropolitan Park redesign could be approved next year”
An aerial depiction of the redesigned Metropolitan Park shows a large central performance lawn, riverfront walkways, child play areas and more. | City of Jacksonville
September 12, 2025

Metropolitan Park redesign could be approved next year

The most recent park design includes a performance lawn, play areas, added trees and more.…

Featured image for “Peg Leg Pete declared unsafe for public display”
The 47-year-old Peg Leg Pete statue stands at 102 Centre St. in Fernandina Beach. | Amelia Island Tourist Development Council
September 11, 2025

Peg Leg Pete declared unsafe for public display

Engineers recommend moving the Peg Leg Pete statue in Fernandina Beach or protecting it from people climbing on it.…

Featured image for “Some Northeast Florida police are allowing open carry of guns”
Gun owners display their guns in holsters. | File image
September 11, 2025

Some Northeast Florida police are allowing open carry of guns

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is the latest to instruct its officers not to enforce Florida’s open carry ban.…

Featured image for “Sci-fi and cosplay beam back to Ancient City Con this weekend”
Cosplayers wearing replica Mandalorian Beskar bounty hunter costumes pose for photos on a copy of the original Star Trek TV series bridge at last year's Ancient City Con. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 10, 2025

Sci-fi and cosplay beam back to Ancient City Con this weekend

An estimated 6,000 fans are expected at the 17th edition of Ancient City Con in St. Augustine.…

Featured image for “Business leaders urge ‘prudence’ on tax cut proposal”
Members of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee debate lowering the city’s property tax millage rate on Sept. 2, 2025, at City Hall. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
September 8, 2025

Business leaders urge ‘prudence’ on tax cut proposal

The Jacksonville Civic Council says reducing revenue would be “inconsistent” with the city’s goals.…

Featured image for “Metro Park redesign to be shared with public this week”
Metropolitan Park as it looks now, from where the stage used to be. The cranes are being used to build the Four Seasons Hotel in the background. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 8, 2025

Metro Park redesign to be shared with public this week

A design shown in December showcased a lot of trees and an updated version of the big central lawn.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s first responders lobby against tax cut”
Firefighters at Station 22 in Jacksonville salute as the station's flag is raised on July 31, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 5, 2025

Jacksonville’s first responders lobby against tax cut

The chiefs of the fire and police unions say cutting tax revenue will hurt public safety.…

Featured image for “E-bike injuries doubled in a year — and they’re still rising”
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up enforcement and education efforts about e-bikes. | News4Jax
September 4, 2025

E-bike injuries doubled in a year — and they’re still rising

The AAA auto club has begun a campaign stressing the risks for e-bike riders and cautioning auto drivers.…

Featured image for “Legendary Raines coach inducted into hall of fame”
James Day, Raines High School track coach from 1965 to 1997, is one of eight new inductees into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame. | News4Jax
September 3, 2025

Legendary Raines coach inducted into hall of fame

The late James Day was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.…

Featured image for “Publix is coming to Pearl Square in Downtown Jax”
An illustration shows the Publix planned at 119 W. Beaver St., part of a new building that will include a 15-story residential tower and 400 parking spaces. | Gateway/Pearl Square
September 3, 2025

Publix is coming to Pearl Square in Downtown Jax

Publix will become part of Gateway Jax’s redevelopment of 28 city blocks in the city’s north core.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville adds security cameras and Wi-Fi at parks”
A new security camera is mounted on a wall at the Clanzel T. Brown Park on Moncrief Road in Jacksonville. | City of Jacksonville
September 2, 2025

Jacksonville adds security cameras and Wi-Fi at parks

The city has installed cameras at 10 busy parks and Wi-Fi at four, with more to come.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville exotic-car dealer charged with fraud”
Karma Automotive Dealer Principal Vladimir Ranguelov joined Karma Automotive President Marques McCammon at the opening of the Jacksonville dealership in March 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 2, 2025

Jacksonville exotic-car dealer charged with fraud

Vladimir Anguelov Ranguelov, owner of the closed Karma Automotive dealership, was accused of dealing in stolen property.…

Featured image for “Mystery in Fernandina: Does Peg Leg Pete contain human ashes?”
The 47-year-old Peg Leg Pete statue stands at 102 Centre St. in Fernandina Beach. | Amelia Island Tourist Development Council
August 29, 2025

Mystery in Fernandina: Does Peg Leg Pete contain human ashes?

The possibility has stalled plans to move the iconic pirate statue to a museum.…

Featured image for “Jax airport says parking is no problem despite fire”
A row of vehicles are gutted in a parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport after a fire May 16, 2025. | Jacksonville Aviation Authority
August 29, 2025

Jax airport says parking is no problem despite fire

Airport officials say travelers on the busy holiday weekend shouldn’t have a problem finding spaces.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s painted crosswalks will be wiped away”
Artist Ansley Randall’s mural on San Marco Boulevard, done by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, is one of six street art projects the city will remove under FDOT mandates. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 28, 2025

Jacksonville’s painted crosswalks will be wiped away

The city says it will cost almost $22,000 to remove artwork under orders of the Florida Department of Transportation.…

Featured image for “Rayonier demands $6.6M for denial of bioethanol plant”
The Rayonier Advanced Materials plant on Gum Street near downtown Fernandina Beach. | Google
August 27, 2025

Rayonier demands $6.6M for denial of bioethanol plant

Rayonier Advanced Materials says Fernandina Beach cost the company market value by wrongfully rejecting the plant.…

Featured image for “Bolles alum to bring ‘Eyes of the World’ to Jacksonville”
John Monsky, creator of "The Eyes of the World," is shown during a performance this year at The Orpheum Theatre in New York City. | American History Unbound
August 27, 2025

Bolles alum to bring ‘Eyes of the World’ to Jacksonville

The multimedia presentation recounts World War II’s final months through the eyes of authors and photographers.…

Featured image for “Police kill man after standoff in Atlantic Beach”
Police work the scene where officers shot a man Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, on Mayport Road near Dutton Island Road West. | News4Jax
August 26, 2025

Police kill man after standoff in Atlantic Beach

Nine officers fired on the man after he holed up in his car and reached for a gun case.…

Featured image for “Beaver Street Fisheries in Jax joins FDA shrimp recall”
Beaver Street Fisheries has served as a importer, exporter, manufacturer and distributor of frozen seafood in Jacksonville since 1950. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 25, 2025

Beaver Street Fisheries in Jax joins FDA shrimp recall

The Food and Drug Administration advises that some shrimp provided to Walmart may have radioactive contamination.…

Featured image for “Improvements begin on State Road 16 near World Golf Village”
The current intersection of State Road 16 and International Golf Parkway. | Google
August 25, 2025

Improvements begin on State Road 16 near World Golf Village

A groundbreaking signaled the start of a $25 million project to widen SR 16 and reduce traffic congestion.…

Featured image for “Road rage leads to shooting at Middleburg Walmart”
A shooting occurred in the parking lot of Walmart Neighborhood Market in Middleburg. | Google
August 22, 2025

Road rage leads to shooting at Middleburg Walmart

Police said the shooter followed another driver into the parking lot and shot at his car after an argument.…