Dan Scanlan Reporter, WJCT News 89.9 email
Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with almost 40 years as a radio, television and print reporter in the Jacksonville area, as well as years of broadcast work in the Northeast. An avid automobile enthusiast who has written about classic cars and events for national magazines, Dan began his broadcast career at radio stations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He moved to Jacksonville in the early 1980’s to be news director at a local station, then shifted to WJXT-TV as overnight and morning news anchor and reporter. That led to three years at the NBC station in Jacksonville as police reporter and morning news anchor, followed by time as a public relations and advertising director involved in a number of political campaigns. 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 WJCT News team.
Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does the city’s resilience office have any power?”
Jacksonville's chief resilience officer, Anne Coglianese, works at her desk.
7 hours ago

#AskJAXTDY | Does the city’s resilience office have any power?

A Jacksonville Today reader asks whether the city’s Office of Resilience is purely advisory and is City Hall listening?…

Featured image for “Enchantment Con will beguile Jax on Saturday”
Fans at last year's Enchantment Con gaze at a statue of a basilisk — a fictional serpent-like creature. | Enchantment Con
1 day ago

Enchantment Con will beguile Jax on Saturday

Enchantment Con will wrap together sci-fi, fantasy and cosplaying for lovers of all things fantastic.…

Featured image for “Suspected serial rapist arrested after three decades”
Sheriff T.K. Waters announces the arrest of a suspected serial rapist from the 1990s. State Attorney Melissa Nelson and other law enforcement staff joined Waters at a news conference Thursday, July 25, 2024. | News4Jax
1 day ago

Suspected serial rapist arrested after three decades

Advances in DNA testing led to the arrest of Calvin Dumas, 68. Police said he attacked women in their homes…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Can a judicial candidate advertise herself as ‘conservative’?”
2 days ago

#AskJAXTDY | Can a judicial candidate advertise herself as ‘conservative’?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why a judicial candidate can advertise as a conservative in a nonpartisan race.…

Featured image for “Members sought for first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board”
Mayor Donna Deegan announces the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board during a Pride Month event June 28, 2024, at City Hall. | city of Jacksonville
2 days ago

Members sought for first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board

Applications are open until Aug. 9 for the mayor’s inaugural LGBTQ+ Advisory Board…

Featured image for “Jacksonville unveils 12-point plan to battle homelessness”
Homeless people sit outside tents on East Adams Street in Downtown Jacksonville, near North Liberty Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 22, 2024

Jacksonville unveils 12-point plan to battle homelessness

The city’s plan attacks homelessness on multiple fronts and carries out a new state law that bans camping on public…

Featured image for “Danger Will Robinson: Robots rule in sci-fi museum”
A replica of the Robby the Robot that appeared in the 1950s sci-fi film "Forbidden Planet" lights up as it speaks lines from the film. A poster of the film is displayed near it. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 21, 2024

Danger Will Robinson: Robots rule in sci-fi museum

Collector Ozzie Bilotta has amassed a $7 million assortment of robots, vintage toys and science fiction artifacts.…

Featured image for “St. Marys Bridge will shut down next week for routine repairs”
The St. Marys Bridge on U.S. 17, at the Florida-Georgia border. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 19, 2024

St. Marys Bridge will shut down next week for routine repairs

Traffic will be detoured from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Florida-Georgia border.…

Featured image for “Keiser’s new simulator trains students for police careers”
Justin Kunst takes aim at a simulated school shooter during a drill at Keiser University. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 18, 2024

Keiser’s new simulator trains students for police careers

Keiser University in Jacksonville uses a new interactive simulator to put students in active shooter situations or other crises they…

Featured image for “Long-awaited widening begins on Old Middleburg Road”
The Better Jacksonville Plan will widen Old Middleburg Road from two to four lanes with other improvements. The project was first proposed 24 years ago. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 18, 2024

Long-awaited widening begins on Old Middleburg Road

Residents have been waiting more than two decades for the road to be widened from two lanes to four.…

Featured image for “Neighbors tire of humming generators at Downtown Hyatt”
Massive portable generators line the back of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel, five months after an electrical fire at the Downtown building. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 17, 2024

Neighbors tire of humming generators at Downtown Hyatt

The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel has been using generators since a fire five months ago.…

Featured image for “Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl”
Former Jacksonville police officer Josue Garriga III makes a court appearance in Clay County in March.
July 17, 2024

Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl

Josue Garriga III was accused of pursuing a relationship with a Clay County girl he had met in church.…

Featured image for “Yulee man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol breach”
A mob storms the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. | AP
July 16, 2024

Yulee man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Garth Walton is one of at least seven people from the Jacksonville area charged in connection with the breach of…

Featured image for “Suspect dies in custody; he’s the second in six days”
Two people have died in five days while in custody of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
July 16, 2024

Suspect dies in custody; he’s the second in six days

Joseph Lawson, 43, was arrested after scuffling with police and firefighters. He died at the hospital.…

Featured image for “Police reopen 34-year-old case of skeleton found in woods”
A police sketch shows how a man might have looked before his skeletal remains were found on Little Talbot Island in 1990. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 15, 2024

Police reopen 34-year-old case of skeleton found in woods

Cold case detectives say the man was never identified and there was no evidence of who killed him,.…

Featured image for “Region remains abnormally dry despite recent rain”
People are being asked to water their lawns only as needed. | Bill Bortzfield, Jacksonville Today
July 11, 2024

Region remains abnormally dry despite recent rain

JEA and the St. Johns River Water Management District are asking residents to conserve water until regular rainfall returns.…

Featured image for “Clay County Sheriff’s Office takes over school police”
A Clay County school district cruiser is displayed at the University of North Florida. | Clay County District School Police
July 10, 2024

Clay County Sheriff’s Office takes over school police

The move will provide for quicker response in the event of an emergency, Sheriff Michelle Cook says.…

Featured image for “Live music venue set for shuttered Sun-Ray Cinema”
Sun-Ray Cinema has shown its last movie in Five Points. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 8, 2024

Live music venue set for shuttered Sun-Ray Cinema

Marathon Live plans to renovate the Five Points space into a venue called FIVE.…

Featured image for “Traffic detoured for JEA work near stadium”
Traffic is detoured at A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and East Bay Street. | Bill Bortzfield, Jacksonville Today
July 8, 2024

Traffic detoured for JEA work near stadium

East Bay Street is closed at A. Philip Randolph Boulevard as JEA installs chilled water mains.…

Featured image for “More of Northbank Riverwalk to close as Downtown projects continue”
Planned city projects that will affect the Northbank Riverwalk. | City of Jacksonville
July 7, 2024

More of Northbank Riverwalk to close as Downtown projects continue

More of the Northbank Riverwalk will close as work progresses on Downtown Jacksonville bulkhead and park projects.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Will Jacksonville’s new morgue have a crematorium?”
The city's new medical examiner's office, now under construction off Golfair Boulevard and North Davis Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 5, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Will Jacksonville’s new morgue have a crematorium?

Will bodies be disposed of at the new medical examiner’s office? a reader wonders.…

Featured image for “Operation Continuing Promise mission departs Mayport for Jamaica, Central America”
Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, U.S. 4th Fleet Commander, (right) speaks to the crew of the U.S. Burlington before it embarks on its 2-month "Operation Continuing promise" to Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Panama. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 2, 2024

Operation Continuing Promise mission departs Mayport for Jamaica, Central America

The U.S. Navy’s USNS Burlington transport ship launched on Wednesday from Naval Station Mayport to bring Operation Continuing Promise, and…

Featured image for “Navy destroyer returns home to Mayport after helping fight Houthi rebels”
Family members greet the crew of the U.S.S. Mason at Naval Station Mayport after a nearly nine-month deployment. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 2, 2024

Navy destroyer returns home to Mayport after helping fight Houthi rebels

A crew of about 350 returned to Mayport Tuesday after a nine-month deployment to the Red Sea.…

Featured image for “Plan your July 4th: Jacksonville area events”
A recent Downtown fireworks display. | Visit Jacksonville
July 1, 2024

Plan your July 4th: Jacksonville area events

Fireworks will fly high over many parts of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida on Thursday, the 4th of July.…