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 “Hurricane season is near; Jax Ready Fest will get you ready”
JEA crews set up poles for demonstrations at this weekend’s Jax Ready Fest at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. | JEA
April 23, 2025

Hurricane season is near; Jax Ready Fest will get you ready

Jax Ready Fest offers demonstrations, hands-on learning and interactive exhibits to prepare for any emergency.…

Featured image for “JU students protest cuts as financial details emerge”
Jacksonville University's Rip Current Athletic Band held a concert Tuesday, April 22, 2025, outside the campus to protest the closure of the school's music and theater programs. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 22, 2025

JU students protest cuts as financial details emerge

Protests have continued since JU announced it will eliminate music and theater programs and cut 40 faculty jobs.…

Featured image for “Sea turtle season is coming. Here’s how you can help.”
A sea turtle hatchling near its nest. | Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol
April 21, 2025

Sea turtle season is coming. Here’s how you can help.

Coastal officials are asking the public to follow simple rules as sea turtle nesting season begins May 1.…

Featured image for “Autonomous vehicles move closer as control center opens”
JTA CEO Nat Ford looks at the command center of the new Autonomous Innovation Center during a grand opening Thursday, April 17, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 17, 2025

Autonomous vehicles move closer as control center opens

JTA opened a command center for autonomous vehicles that will soon shuttle people around Downtown.…

Featured image for “Art blooms at 57th Mandarin Art Festival”
Displays of paintings, blown glass, jewelry and other items will be set up under old oak trees at the 57th annual Mandarin Art Festival. | Mandarin Art Festival
April 17, 2025

Art blooms at 57th Mandarin Art Festival

Organizers expect 6,000 to 10,000 people at the art festival on Easter Weekend.…

Featured image for “UNF police could carry out ICE enforcement on campus”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers wait to detain a person, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. |AP Photo/Alex Brandon
April 16, 2025

UNF police could carry out ICE enforcement on campus

The university joins other local law enforcement agencies that have agreed to help ICE crack down on illegal immigration.…

Featured image for “JTA will reserve 100 self-driving Holon vehicles”
Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of Holon, announces plans for an autonomous vehicle plant on Jacksonville's Northside. The Holon autonomous vehicle is shown on the left. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 15, 2025

JTA will reserve 100 self-driving Holon vehicles

The vehicles will be produced at Holon’s new Jacksonville assembly plant for the Ultimate Urban Circulator.…

Featured image for “JU cuts 40 faculty and ends music and theater programs”
Jacksonville University theater and music students went to Terry Concert Hall on Tuesday to learn about the future of their program. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 15, 2025

JU cuts 40 faculty and ends music and theater programs

JU’s reorganization is intended to align the university’s courses with the needs of today’s working world.…

Featured image for “More details released on what led to Duval inmate’s death”
Charles Faggart of Chop it Charlie's. | gofundme
April 14, 2025

More details released on what led to Duval inmate’s death

A report details a struggle and medical emergency that ultimately led to the death of inmate Charles Faggart.…

Featured image for “Inmate dies of severe injuries suffered in Duval jail”
Charles Faggart of Chop it Charlie's food truck. | gofundme
April 10, 2025

Inmate dies of severe injuries suffered in Duval jail

Nine jail officers were suspended in an incident involving inmate Charles Faggart. The Sheriff’s Office has not explained what happened.…

Featured image for “Fernandina church secretary accused of embezzling $500K”
Amelia Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach. | Google
April 10, 2025

Fernandina church secretary accused of embezzling $500K

Police say Melissa Ganey English took money from Amelia Baptist Church for concerts, cruises, hotels and more.…

Featured image for “Developer closes on purchase of Regency Square Mall”
Regency
April 10, 2025

Developer closes on purchase of Regency Square Mall

Blackwater Development plans a mixed-use development on the site of the mostly vacant mall.…

Featured image for “Duval inmate severely injured; 9 officers suspended”
Charles Faggart of Chop it Charlie's. | gofundme
April 9, 2025

Duval inmate severely injured; 9 officers suspended

The Sheriff’s Office released no information about how the inmate was hurt. He remains hospitalized.…

Featured image for “Mayor pledges to work with ICARE on affordable housing”
More than 500 people from the community attended the ICARE Nehemiah Assembly on Monday, April 7, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 8, 2025

Mayor pledges to work with ICARE on affordable housing

Mayor Donna Deegan agreed to meet with ICARE to explore the possibility of an affordable housing trust fund.…

Featured image for “Cummer Museum’s CEO will retire May 1”
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee is CEO of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. | Cummer Museum
April 8, 2025

Cummer Museum’s CEO will retire May 1

Andrea Barnwell Brownlee will retire from the Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens after almost five years at the helm.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple planned in Mandarin”
A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple is planned on Loretto Road in Mandarin. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
April 8, 2025

Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple planned in Mandarin

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple will be built on a wooded site on Loretto Road.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | When will I-10 widening finally be done?”
FDOT's traffic camera at I-10 and U.S. 17 shows some of the widening underway.
April 7, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | When will I-10 widening finally be done?

FDOT has been working on the I-10 widening for almost five years. Why is it taking so long?…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Arboretum unveils next phase of development”
An illustration shows the children's garden planned at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. | Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
April 7, 2025

Jacksonville Arboretum unveils next phase of development

A children’s garden will be the first part of a new master plan to give the Jacksonville Arboretum a botanical…

Featured image for “Student-built electric race cars will square off at FSCJ”
Student drivers from Florida high schools and colleges compete in last year's Electrathon race at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Downtown campus. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 4, 2025

Student-built electric race cars will square off at FSCJ

Drivers in 160-pound race cars will compete in the Electrathon racing series on Saturday at FSCJ Downtown.…

Featured image for “Wheel-to-wheel go-kart action aids spina bifida charity”
Go-kart racers tackle the winding 103rd Street Sports Complex in 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 3, 2025

Wheel-to-wheel go-kart action aids spina bifida charity

For more than two decades, a go-kart race at the city’s only track has raised money for Spina Bifida of…

Featured image for “Duval DOGE launches web page to track committee’s work”
Jacksonville City Hall
April 3, 2025

Duval DOGE launches web page to track committee’s work

The DOGE committee plans to deliver a report by June 23 about the city’s services, finances and government.…

Featured image for “Deegan lets immigration bill take effect without her signature”
Mayor Donna Deegan announces Wednesday, April 2, 2025, that she is allowing a controversial immigration bill to take effect without her signature. | News4Jax
April 2, 2025

Deegan lets immigration bill take effect without her signature

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan praised the city’s immigrants and said she would not sign a bill she found objectionable.…

Featured image for “Sexual assaults reach ‘alarming’ levels on First Coast”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan speaks during an observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Jacksonville City Hall. | City of Jacksonville
April 1, 2025

Sexual assaults reach ‘alarming’ levels on First Coast

The number of sexual assaults in Clay County has risen, but it could be partly a result of more awareness.…

Featured image for “The Clay County Fair is back … and so is the traffic”
Crowds line the Clay County Fair's midway during a recent event. | Clay County Fair
March 31, 2025

The Clay County Fair is back … and so is the traffic

The Clay County Fair’s 11-day run brings big concerts, pig racing, new rides and irritating traffic jams.…