Dan Scanlan Reporter 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 1980s 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.
Featured image for “‘Rough couple of days’: Jacksonville police involved in 3 shootings in 3 days”
Bodycam video showed an officer-involved shooting in February, when Officer Benjamin McEwan shot Michael Youmans after a chase ended on Gossett Street. | JSO
2 days ago

‘Rough couple of days’: Jacksonville police involved in 3 shootings in 3 days

Jacksonville police are investigating three officer-involved shootings that occurred back to back over three days.…

Featured image for “4 arrested in January shooting death of 7-year-old Breon Allen”
Breon Allen Jr., 7, shot to death in late January outside a Commonwealth Avenue home. | JSO
2 days ago

4 arrested in January shooting death of 7-year-old Breon Allen

Four gang members or associates are behind bars in the murder of a 7-year-old Westside boy, who was walking with…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Zoo mourns death of oldest southern white rhino in human care”
Archie, the oldest southern white rhinoceros in human care, has died at age 55 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
2 days ago

Jacksonville Zoo mourns death of oldest southern white rhino in human care

The oldest southern white rhino in human care, Archie, has passed away at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.…

Featured image for “Trash hauling agreement would avoid lawsuit, mayor says”
A Meridian Waste garbage truck. | Meridian Waste
3 days ago

Trash hauling agreement would avoid lawsuit, mayor says

City Hall and Meridian Waste have reached a tentative agreement on its garbage hauling contract for Arlington after months of…

Featured image for “JSO lieutenant fires at truck after ‘contact’ on I-95”
Southbound traffic on I-95 near Atlantic Boulevard was snarled for hours on Monday night after a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office lieutenant fired at a commercial truck after some kind of contact, police said. | News4Jax
3 days ago

JSO lieutenant fires at truck after ‘contact’ on I-95

The investigation continues into what led up to a Jacksonville police lieutenant firing multiple shots into a truck after reported…

Featured image for “REVIEW | 2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce”
The 2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
March 10, 2025

REVIEW | 2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce

Alfa Romeo’s Italian “jewel” Giulia Veloce is an almost practical sports sedan with enough power, great handling and a bit…

Featured image for “Stroke treatment ambulance could come to Jacksonville under UF Health-JFRD partnership”
March 10, 2025

Stroke treatment ambulance could come to Jacksonville under UF Health-JFRD partnership

A mobile stroke treatment unit is being planned for Jacksonville as part of a collaborative effort by the city and…

Featured image for “Italian curves and British racer lead awards at 30th Amelia Concours”
Winners raise glasses of champagne after receiving top awards at Saturday's The Amelia concours - Alejandro Tonda-Keller's Best of Show/Concours d’Elegance-winning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 (left), and Chris MacAllister's Best of Show/Concours de Sport winner - a 1967 Lotus 49 Formula 1 race car. | Dan Scanlan,Jacksonville Today
March 8, 2025

Italian curves and British racer lead awards at 30th Amelia Concours

Thousand turned out for The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, held a day early due to rain on Sunday.…

Featured image for “Update: Amelia concours d’elegance moved to Saturday”
Thousands of people annually attend The Amelia concours d'elegance outside the Ritz-Carlton, viewing 250-plus classic, speciality and race cars like this 1970's Alfa Romeo Montreal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
March 7, 2025

Update: Amelia concours d’elegance moved to Saturday

The Amelia concours d’elegance, Florida’s largest classic car event, celebrates its 30th anniversary this weekend.…

Featured image for “Sloths get a new home at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens”
Chata, a 29-year-old female Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, hangs upside down at the Jacksonville Zoo. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
March 5, 2025

Sloths get a new home at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

The zoo will introduce sloths Baby Ruth and Chata to the public when the new Sloth Crossing opens Saturday.…

Featured image for “REVIEW | 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD”
The 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
March 5, 2025

REVIEW | 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD

New body, interior and tech match its new attitude – comfortable, roomy, stable, fairly efficient and quick – but it…

Featured image for “JTA tests self-driving vans along Bay Street”
One of JTA's new autonomous electric vans is tested along East Bay Street. An attendant is on board just in case anything goes wrong. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
March 5, 2025

JTA tests self-driving vans along Bay Street

The tests are a step toward creating a fleet of autonomous vehicles that will serve Downtown Jacksonville and nearby areas.…

Featured image for “Former Mayport sailor accused of trying to buy Navy ID cards”
March 3, 2025

Former Mayport sailor accused of trying to buy Navy ID cards

The Navy reservist bought two ID cards for $3,500, federal officials said. He was charged with bribery.…

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?…