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 “Rutherford rejects calls for town hall meetings”
Rep. John Rutherford, R-Jacksonville, is in his fifth term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 3, 2025

Rutherford rejects calls for town hall meetings

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford said town hall meetings are not productive. He offered to meet with anyone at his office.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY: Why can’t I report a dog bite directly to Animal Control?”
Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services office on Forest Street. | Google
February 28, 2025

#AskJAXTDY: Why can’t I report a dog bite directly to Animal Control?

A Jacksonville Today reader says she couldn’t get answers from Animal Control after a dog bit her.…

Featured image for “Distressed pilot lands with help from St. Johns police helicopter”
Infrared camera images from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office show the private plane after landing. | St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Facebook
February 27, 2025

Distressed pilot lands with help from St. Johns police helicopter

A Sheriff’s Office helicopter lit up a landing strip in the dark so a private pilot could land.…

Featured image for “Camden County cop won’t be charged in fatal shooting”
Leonard Cure places his hands on the back of his truck as Sgt. Buck Aldridge prepares to fire his Taser during a traffic stop Oct. 16, 2023, in Camden County, Georgia. | Camden County Sheriff's Office
February 25, 2025

Camden County cop won’t be charged in fatal shooting

A Georgia prosecutor says Sgt. Buck Aldridge was justified when he shot Leonard Cure during a traffic stop.…

Featured image for “Monopoly, Jax style: Want to buy Friendship Fountain?”
Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville and the Main Street bridge are at the center of the new game, along with images of Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 25, 2025

Monopoly, Jax style: Want to buy Friendship Fountain?

The new Jacksonville version of Monopoly includes 22 cultural and historical landmarks.…

Featured image for “Work is underway to convert Adams and Forsyth streets”
Forsyth Street has been reduced to one lane in front of the Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
February 24, 2025

Work is underway to convert Adams and Forsyth streets

Downtown drivers can expect months of delays as crews begin to convert Adams and Forsyth streets back to two-way traffic.…

Featured image for “Historic Mandarin farmhouse may survive after all”
The 145-year-old Henry Arpen farmhouse as it stands now on rented property off Linjohn Road in Mandarin. The farmhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 24, 2025

Historic Mandarin farmhouse may survive after all

A City Council committee recommended demolishing the 145-year-old farmhouse, but an alternative may be in the works.…

Featured image for “Johnnie Mae Chappell honored 61 years after her murder”
Shelton Chappell, left; Jacqueline Williams and Alonzo Chappell are among the surviving children of Johnnie Mae Chappell. Racists murdered their mother March 23, 1964, nine days after Jacqueline turned 13. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 21, 2025

Johnnie Mae Chappell honored 61 years after her murder

A memorial marker now stands where racists gunned down the 35-year-old Black woman on March 23, 1964.…

Featured image for “Panel allows demolition of historic Mandarin farmhouse”
The Henry Arpen farmhouse as it appears now in Mandarin. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 20, 2025

Panel allows demolition of historic Mandarin farmhouse

A City Council committee said the 145-year-old farmhouse is too deteriorated to save.…

Featured image for “Weekend options: World of Nations, Black history and more”
Big Bounce America is returning to Jacksonville. | Jodie Bark / Big Bounce America
February 20, 2025

Weekend options: World of Nations, Black history and more

This weekend includes a plethora of events, from international culture to bounce houses to food and wine.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why not put power lines under the river at Jaxport?”
Power lines are shown near cranes at Jaxport. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 20, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why not put power lines under the river at Jaxport?

Jaxport and JEA are raising power lines to accommodate bigger ships. Is that the best alternative?…

Featured image for “Land swap paving way for UF campus, riverfront tower wins DIA approval”
Part of the city land sawp deal considered by the Downtown Investment Authority would see this 1-acre site next to the Main Street bridge used by Gateway Jax for a 17-story mixed-use tower. | DIA
February 19, 2025

Land swap paving way for UF campus, riverfront tower wins DIA approval

Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority board on Wednesday approved a land swap deal to ensure the University of Florida can open…

Featured image for “Top Jax area federal prosecutor announces departure”
Roger Handberg, former U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, at the Intercept Task Force news conference in April. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.
February 18, 2025

Top Jax area federal prosecutor announces departure

U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg is leaving the top prosecutor’s post in Florida’s Middle District, which includes Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Preservationists fight to save 145-year-old Mandarin farmhouse”
The Henry C. Arpen farmhouse sits on Linjohn Road. The 19th century farmhouse is being recommended for local landmark designation. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 18, 2025

Preservationists fight to save 145-year-old Mandarin farmhouse

The Henry C. Arpen farmhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, but the owner wants to demolish it.…

Featured image for “UNF poll finds support for Casey DeSantis as governor”
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis unveils the Florida Cancer Connect initiative at the Ackerman Cancer Center in Jacksonville on Aug. 3, 2022. | Raymon Troncoso, Jacksonville Today
February 18, 2025

UNF poll finds support for Casey DeSantis as governor

Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis had a 30% favorable rating in a new poll from the University of North Florida.…

Featured image for “DeSantis seeks pay raises for state police and firefighters”
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a push for pay raises for state law enforcement and firefighters during a Friday speech in Ponte Vedra Beach. | Governor's Office
February 14, 2025

DeSantis seeks pay raises for state police and firefighters

Speaking in Ponte Vedra Beach, Gov. Ron Desantis said he will push for 20% to 25% pay raises.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville auto show opens with tariffs looming”
New Toyotas are arranged on protective plastic on Thursday in preparation for this weekend's 2025 annual Jacksonville International Auto Show in the Prime Osborn Convention Center. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 14, 2025

Jacksonville auto show opens with tariffs looming

Jacksonville’s annual auto show takes place this weekend at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.…

Featured image for “Buried beneath Lincolnville: a 240-year-old British fort”
City archaeologists work on the site of an 18th century British redoubt — or fort — in the Lincolnville part of the historic city. | St. Augustine Archaeology Program
February 12, 2025

Buried beneath Lincolnville: a 240-year-old British fort

St. Augustine archaeologists have uncovered a first of its kind on a Lincolnville lot – a small British redoubt, or…

Featured image for “FDLE officer shoots teen as he plays ‘Senior Assassin’”
This is the water gun that teens were using during a game of Senior Assassins. | Nassau County Sheriff's Office
February 12, 2025

FDLE officer shoots teen as he plays ‘Senior Assassin’

Teens play the game using water guns to “assassinate” one another. The FDLE officer thought the gun was real.…

Featured image for “Adams and Forsyth will soon become 2-way streets again”
Adams Street, along with Forsyth Street, will soon become a two-way street. | Google
February 11, 2025

Adams and Forsyth will soon become 2-way streets again

Resurfacing could begin as early as this week as the one-way streets revert to two-way traffic.…

Featured image for “Downtown’s resurrection is on the horizon, city says”
Construction crews continue building Phase 1 of Riverfront Plaza. The foundations for a cafe with rooftop garden and other parts are underway. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 10, 2025

Downtown’s resurrection is on the horizon, city says

Riverfront Plaza will open late this year, one of several projects coming together on the Downtown waterfront, city officials say.…

Featured image for “Inductions are next week for Florida Artists Hall of Fame”
Lynyrd Skynyrd performs at TIAA Bank Field. | Bill Bortzfield, Jacksonville Today
February 10, 2025

Inductions are next week for Florida Artists Hall of Fame

Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and St. Augustine artist Roger Bansemer will be inducted into the Artists Hall of Fame.…

Featured image for “Couple sues after Sea-Doo pontoon flips on toddler”
Vianca Grullon in a life preserver. | Provided by attorney Judd Rosen
February 6, 2025

Couple sues after Sea-Doo pontoon flips on toddler

Fifteen-month-old Vianca Grullon was trapped under the Sea-Doo Switch after it flipped on Black Creek.…

Featured image for “Jags hire new offensive coordinator from Vikings”
Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Grant Udinski as its new Offensive Coordinator. | Jacksonville Jaguars
February 6, 2025

Jags hire new offensive coordinator from Vikings

The Jaguars’ new offensive coordinator is Grant Udinski, who was assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach in Minnesota.…