Landon Harrar
News Reporter
Gainesville
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Landon had a different childhood than most as he spent most of his life before high school in Papua New Guinea. He graduated from High school in Lancaster Pennsylvania and attended a trade school for broadcasting in Maryland before obtaining a 4-year degree in communications at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Excited to start his new adventure as a news reporter he packed everything into his two-door Toyota Celica and moved 1800 miles to Wyoming where he spent two years as a bureau news reporter for KCWY13. There he covered all kinds of stories including being on the front line of forest fires, delving into Native American Reservation Politics, and even once driving a 60-tonne tank for a news story about a private collection turning into a U.S War Museum. Landon loves to try new things whether its food, outdoor adventures or just turning on an independently made movie hoping for the best. He's excited for all the opportunities in Gainesville, and of course not having to deal with winter temperatures of -25 and below. He is an avid sports fan and cheers on every professional Philadelphia team in all four major sports. A lover of seafood and weird flavors he loves to cook and experiment with ingredients he's not even sure what they are. He has one pet, a very old and sassy black cat named midnight.
Education
Updated: Oct. 28, 2020 at 5:46 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Both Chuck Clemons and Kayser Enneking spent some time to go over their platform and touch on why they believe their the right person for the job.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2020 at 5:46 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The new location is twice the size and is offering in-person classes again after being forced to go virtual due to the pandemic.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2020 at 9:21 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Iva Mclaughlan was born in Hawthorne and her family says her favorite things to do pre-pandemic were go out to eat where she gets whatever she wants and eats it all.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2020 at 9:14 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The bus is currently on a 15 state "We got the Power" tour.
Updated: Oct. 9, 2020 at 4:23 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The event typically draws upwards of 30,000 visitors to Downtown Ocala during the entire weekend.
Updated: Oct. 4, 2020 at 7:20 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Pets were blessed in honor of St. Francis who is celebrated on October 4th and was known for his love of plants and animals.
Updated: Oct. 3, 2020 at 8:21 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The first gator football home game of the season looked different than any before with no tailgating and fewer fans in the streets.
Updated: Oct. 2, 2020 at 5:44 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Gwen Lake has been overgrown and mostly drained due to a broken levy. Homeowners near the lake say it was once a beautiful spot people loved to hang out at and they want it restored to its former glory.
Updated: Sep. 27, 2020 at 6:03 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Students learned valuable skills and tactics using items you only have on you or find around you to help save lives.
Updated: Sep. 27, 2020 at 5:52 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Open every Friday and Saturday the doors will also be open the last Sunday of every month.
Updated: Sep. 26, 2020 at 9:47 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Dr. Timothy Garvey has spent more than 30 years working with what are considered the most difficult patients possible in the industry.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2020 at 5:01 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Victims of Hurricane Laura and Sally will get help from Alachua County but organizers are asking for donations.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2020 at 3:44 PM EDT
|By WCJB Staff and Landon Harrar
You can wear your lederhousen and bring the taste of Oktoberfest to your home this weekend.
Updated: Sep. 20, 2020 at 5:44 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
A Corso is a large breed mastiff that is said to make great service dogs because they never leave their master's side.
Updated: Sep. 19, 2020 at 9:38 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
A recognition ceremony held at Ocala's Veteran Memorial honored the servicemen and women who never made it home.
Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 5:02 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Buddy was destined for the slaughterhouse but managed to muscle his way free at the facility and escape into the woods where Police are still working to entice him with grain into a trailer so he can be caught.
Updated: Sep. 12, 2020 at 5:16 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The idea was to get volunteers on the river in a free kayak for the day and a pair of grabbers and a trash bag to collect as much trash as they could while still enjoying a day on the river.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2020 at 5:41 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Every penny made during the live music festival went right back to the local bands who got on stage.
Updated: Sep. 5, 2020 at 5:43 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The "protest party" started at 10 Friday night and went into early Saturday morning. Organizer Kenuel Gates says he left before 3 a.m. but couldn't shut the party down. Six people were then shot shortly after, leaving one in critical condition.
Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 6:31 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The protest is to fight the different narratives between violence at block parties with mostly black attendees and violence at parties with mostly white attendees.
Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 6:46 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Currently Missy has more than 50 squirrels, raccoons, and possums she is rehabbing until they can be released back into the wild.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2020 at 4:51 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Organizes say they believe the turnout was minimal because it rained most of the time while they were offering the free testing.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2020 at 4:39 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Students share their thoughts on a new school semester unlike any other before it.
Updated: Aug. 29, 2020 at 5:19 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The Hatchetbury is located at 213 NW 8th Avenue in Gainesville and is open every day. It's better, and cheaper, to book a time online than just show up in person.
Updated: Aug. 29, 2020 at 9:18 AM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Mark Wilson Jr. is accused of murdering two juvenile boys in a home near Melrose.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2020 at 6:30 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Family members of the two juvenile boys killed in Melrose on Wednesday speak up about how recent donations to a gofundme campaign will be used to help the family grieve and move past the tragic killings.
Updated: Aug. 27, 2020 at 6:14 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Law enforcement investigators are keeping most of the details close to the chest as they say they are trying to get justice for the two boys who died. They have mentioned they believe it to be an isolated incident with no threat to the community.
Updated: Aug. 23, 2020 at 5:34 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The cemetery located in Archer has been mostly forgotten but a grant through UF will soon help to recover some of its lost and buried history.
Updated: Aug. 22, 2020 at 5:38 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The group hopes to raise awareness of child trafficking, molestation, and the disappearance of thousands of children across the country.
Updated: Aug. 21, 2020 at 5:59 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The memorial is located at the intersection of 13th street and University right in front of a well-known entrance to the University of Florida
Updated: Aug. 19, 2020 at 12:20 AM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Yvonne Hayes Hinson won with a platform focusing on education and closing disparity gaps in reading and math.
Updated: Aug. 16, 2020 at 8:43 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Many North Central Florida non-profits will be taking part in the Amazing Give which is a 2-day fundraiser starting August 19th that can help them stay afloat in these difficult times.
Updated: Aug. 16, 2020 at 8:32 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
A handful of teachers want school administrators to delay the start of school or go fully virtual as they say there isn't a good worst-case scenario plan and its not safe to return to the classroom.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2020 at 9:39 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The event starts at 10 am and goes until 5 pm at Camp McConnell both Saturday and Sunday.
Updated: Aug. 12, 2020 at 9:57 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Mayor Kent Guinn vetoed the original mandate on August 10th but the city council voted to overrule the veto on Wednesday.
Updated: Aug. 9, 2020 at 7:09 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Mitch Capps fell off a 5 story parking garage on January 17th but has had a miraculous recovery and you would barely know the accident happened as he is today.
Updated: Aug. 7, 2020 at 6:57 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The contract for the new body cameras will cost 3 million dollars over 5 years but the cameras come with a few new perks including automatically turning on during specific circumstances.
Updated: Aug. 7, 2020 at 12:14 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Two Gainesville residents are trying to find a way to evict a tenant they say is abusing the governor's moratorium on evictions.
Updated: Aug. 2, 2020 at 5:16 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Racers got their first try at the new RC car track located near Ollie's Bargain Outlet in Gainesville. They spent most of the day using the carpeted track with jumps but there is also a cement track with no jumps available.
Updated: Aug. 1, 2020 at 5:58 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Much of Putnam County including Palatka are under a tropical storm warning as Isaias get closer to Florida.
Updated: Jul. 31, 2020 at 7:34 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Friday marked the last Community Relief day in Gainesville where thousands of people received free food. Organizers say although no more are planned for right now they are working towards possibly holding more in the future since there is clearly still a need.
Updated: Jul. 25, 2020 at 5:23 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
3000 backpacks filled with school supplies and an attached message to parents and students to keep violence out of schools and off the streets were handed out in a drive-thru style event.
Updated: Jul. 23, 2020 at 7:51 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
GCSO deputies learned not only how to neutralize an active shooter threat but also how to safely extract injured victims so they don't bleed out.
Updated: Jul. 19, 2020 at 7:38 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The Second Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church has just started to follow their peers and hold services outside "drive-thru" style instead of only offering them virtually.
Updated: Jul. 18, 2020 at 7:50 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Protesters originally planned to drive up to the jail and honk their horns for an hour but were blocked at the entrance by deputy vehicles. They want better sanitation protocols to be followed at the jail since multiple inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.
Updated: Jul. 17, 2020 at 7:33 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The non-emergency lines have been shut down due to a service denial attack, which means an unknown person uses a phone number to call the Sheriff's Office every tenth of a second tying up their phone lines. 911 is not affected.
Updated: Jul. 12, 2020 at 9:25 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
Ocala's mayor and a pastor at a church right across the street from Queen of Peace Catholic Church speak up about security measures after Saturday's church attack.
Updated: Jul. 9, 2020 at 7:36 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The Dean of UF's International Center is working to make sure all international students have at least one class they will attend physically to avoid any possible deportations.
Updated: Jul. 5, 2020 at 6:30 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The event featured local musicians and raised more than $1500 for the Female Veterans Network.
Updated: Jul. 3, 2020 at 6:47 PM EDT
|By Landon Harrar
The Cade Museum has opened its new ice-skating attraction to guests with no extra cost other than the price of admission.
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