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 “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.…

Featured image for “Unleashed dog kills 23 sea turtle hatchlings”
A sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the ocean in July 2024. | Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol
August 22, 2025

Unleashed dog kills 23 sea turtle hatchlings

Other nests on the First Coast were lost to waves produced by Hurricane Erin.…

Featured image for “Fernandina moves forward with paid parking downtown”
A view of Centre Street in Fernandina Beach, where paid parking would be installed. | Google
August 20, 2025

Fernandina moves forward with paid parking downtown

Despite heavy opposition, the City Commission hired an outside company to set up a paid parking system.…

Featured image for “‘Sextortion’ on the rise among Northeast Florida youngsters”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, left, talks about online threats and sextortion issues on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. He is joined by Jason Carley, FBI Jacksonville special agent in charge, and Jackson Short, Duval County Public Schools police chief. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 19, 2025

‘Sextortion’ on the rise among Northeast Florida youngsters

Law enforcement is alerting parents, guardians and school leaders about how to protect children online.…

Featured image for “Ceremony will remember Dollar General shooting victims”
A makeshift memorial outside Dollar General honors the three people killed there Aug. 26, 2023 — Jerrald Gallion, Angela Carr and "AJ" Laguerre. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 18, 2025

Ceremony will remember Dollar General shooting victims

Community members will reflect Sunday on the racially motivated shooting two years ago.…

Featured image for “Teen becomes Jacksonville’s 100th traffic death of year”
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department critical care rescue unit. | JFRD
August 15, 2025

Teen becomes Jacksonville’s 100th traffic death of year

The 100 deaths surpass the 88 at this time last year. The teen was the 19th pedestrian killed.…

Featured image for “Baptist prepares for increase in high-risk pregnancies”
One of the new labor and delivery rooms at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. | Baptist Medical Center
August 14, 2025

Baptist prepares for increase in high-risk pregnancies

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville is midway through an expansion of maternal and fetal care.…

Featured image for “Mom accused of putting gun in child’s backpack”
A mother in Clay County was jailed on charges of putting a gun in her child's backpack. | Clay County Sheriff's Office
August 14, 2025

Mom accused of putting gun in child’s backpack

Police said the child found the gun in the backpack and told a teacher.…

Featured image for “DeSantis announces ‘Deportation Depot’ in Baker County”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference about immigration enforcement on May 1, 2025, in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP file
August 14, 2025

DeSantis announces ‘Deportation Depot’ in Baker County

The state will set up its second immigration detention center at a vacant Baker County correctional facility.…

Featured image for “State attorney explains why cops were cleared in violent arrest”
An image from Officer D. Bowers' bodycam shows William McNeil Jr. in his seat just after the traffic stop. | State Attorney's Office
August 13, 2025

State attorney explains why cops were cleared in violent arrest

Officers took control because Will McNeil Jr. refused to follow instructions, a new memorandum concludes.…

Featured image for “Police officer fatally shoots man armed with knife”
A portion of Buckman Street was shut down Wednesday after police shot and killed a man. | News4Jax
August 13, 2025

Police officer fatally shoots man armed with knife

Police said the man refused to put down the knife, even when threatened with a police dog.…

Featured image for “Construction starts on new Blount Island fire station”
Jacksonville Fire Chief Percy Golden II speaks Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, before the groundbreaking for new Fire Station 48 on Blount Island Boulevard. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 11, 2025

Construction starts on new Blount Island fire station

Jacksonville’s biggest port facility will soon have a bigger fire station and a better fire boat dock.…

Featured image for “Reminder: The Main Street Bridge is closed this week”
The Main Street Bridge. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 11, 2025

Reminder: The Main Street Bridge is closed this week

The bridge will close for a mechanical evaluation, ahead of a longer shutdown in two years.…

Featured image for “Camden County sergeant indicted over use of force”
Camden County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Buck Aldridge's police car video showing him stopping Leonard Cure for speeding in 2023 on Interstate 95 in Kingsland. Following a violent roadside scuffle, Aldridge shot him to death. | Camden County Sheriff's Office
August 7, 2025

Camden County sergeant indicted over use of force

Sgt. Buck Aldridge is the same officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop in 2023.…

Featured image for “Firehouse Subs to reopen 2 years after fiery crash”
The renovated Firehouse Subs on University Boulevard South will reopen Wednesday. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 7, 2025

Firehouse Subs to reopen 2 years after fiery crash

The restaurant has been closed since a car crashed into the building and killed two people.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is one traffic signal always out on Southside Boulevard?”
A traffic signal frequently malfunctions at the intersection of Southside Boulevard and the service road. | Google
August 6, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why is one traffic signal always out on Southside Boulevard?

A Jacksonville Today reader says the traffic signal malfunctions about once a week.…