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 “Jacksonville’s resiliency strategy nets national award”
Tidal flooding is shown in Downtown Jacksonville during a recent hurricane. | City of Jacksonville
4 hours ago

Jacksonville’s resiliency strategy nets national award

A national planning association honored Jacksonville for taking steps to enhance resiliency.…

Featured image for “DeSantis assails Amendment 4 at Jacksonville church”
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke in Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Jacksonville. | Governor’s Rumble page
1 day ago

DeSantis assails Amendment 4 at Jacksonville church

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appearance in Jacksonville was part of his public campaign against the Amendment 4 abortion issue.…

Featured image for “UNF Coggin School of Business launches $26.3M expansion”
UNF Coggin College of Business interim dean Albert Loh, right, speaks at a groundbreaking Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
1 day ago

UNF Coggin School of Business launches $26.3M expansion

The business school expansion will provide more space for classrooms, labs and fintech programs to meet the region’s need for…

Featured image for “Campaign aims to keep infants safe while they sleep”
Health experts at Wolfson Children's Hospital demonstrate the safest way to put an infant to sleep, on its back wrapped in a swaddle (at right) versus the most dangerous: on its side with toys, pillows and blankets. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

Campaign aims to keep infants safe while they sleep

Police, doctors and child safety advocates are trying to educate families about practices that put infants at risk.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville sheriff releases video of fatal police shooting”
Police bodycam video shows Dejuane Hayden being treated after an officer shot him during a chase in Arlington on Oct. 10. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 18, 2024

Jacksonville sheriff releases video of fatal police shooting

Bodycam videos from police show an officer shooting DeJuane Aki Haden after he ran from police.…

Featured image for “Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain

Mayor Donna Deegan responded to criticism from Republican leaders after she assailed Donald Trump’s immigration plan.…

Featured image for “Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor”
Contractor Corey Binderim sits with his defense attorneys on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, as a jury recommended that he serve life in prison. | News4Jax
October 17, 2024

Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor

Contractor Corey Binderim was convicted of killing Susan Mauldin of Fleming Island in October 2019.…

Featured image for “Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks during an inteview Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, on Times Radio in London. | Times Radio
October 16, 2024

Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Donald Trump wants to create “concentration camps” to deport illegal immigrants.…

Featured image for “25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program”
A homeless camp in LaVilla. | Sydney Boles, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program

A pilot program between Ability Housing and the city of Jacksonville will help homeless people get off the streets and…

Featured image for “Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend”
The Blue Angels will perform Saturday and Sunday at NAS Jacksonville.
October 15, 2024

Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend

The Blue Angels will fly the skies Saturday and Sunday during the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Air Show.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?”
This stretch of eastbound Fort Caroline Road is under construction before the split where it becomes McCormick Road. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why an East Arlington road project is taking so long.…

Featured image for “Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville”
Corrections Officer Bradley McNew
October 14, 2024

Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville

Corrections Officer Bradley McNew was shot to death after intervening in an argument between a man and woman at a…

Featured image for “What to do if you have storm damage in St. Johns County”
The Matanzas River overflows into parts of historic St. Augustine during Hurricane Milton. | News4Jax
October 11, 2024

What to do if you have storm damage in St. Johns County

St. Johns County and St. Augustine officials say it is time to do damage assessments after Hurricane Milton.…

Featured image for “Historic Castillo de San Marcos closed to survey storm damage”
St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. | National Park Service
October 11, 2024

Historic Castillo de San Marcos closed to survey storm damage

The 351-year-old Castillo de San Marcos will reopen Saturday after an inspection showed no serious issues.…

Featured image for “Flooding could be a risk in Jacksonville, St. Johns County for days”
A car plows through tidal flooding in Ortega on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2024. | Heather Henderson, Jacksonville Today
October 10, 2024

Flooding could be a risk in Jacksonville, St. Johns County for days

Hurricane Milton’s effect on Jacksonville was limited, but tidal flooding could affect some streets during high tides.…

Featured image for “Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, but risks ease in Jacksonville”
October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, but risks ease in Jacksonville

The latest on Hurricane Milton’s expected impacts on the Jacksonville area, including shelters and evacuations.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville uses dams to hold back Milton’s floodwaters”
A Tiger Dam — a water-filled barrier against floodwaters — rings the city's drainage pump at San Marco Boulevard and Landon Avenue in San Marco in preparation for Hurricane Milton's impact. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 9, 2024

Jacksonville uses dams to hold back Milton’s floodwaters

The city is using Tiger Dams — large plastic tubes that can be filled with water to act as barriers…

Featured image for “Gasoline runs low during Milton, but more is on the way”
More gasoline is headed to stations in Florida. | AP file
October 9, 2024

Gasoline runs low during Milton, but more is on the way

Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than a million gallons of gasoline and diesel are staged around the state.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does the hefty mail-in ballot require extra postage?”
The November ballot is hefty this year. l Tiffany Tertipes via Unsplash.
October 8, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Does the hefty mail-in ballot require extra postage?

The November ballot is packed with candidates and issues. Who pays to mail it back?…

Featured image for “Hurricane Helene debris killed Duval toddler”
A police officer guides traffic around a fallen tree on Hogan Road the morning after Hurricane Helene passed near Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 4, 2024

Hurricane Helene debris killed Duval toddler

A new National Weather Service report details the impact of Hurricane Helene on Duval County…

Featured image for “Investigators reopen 36-year-old cold case in Murray Hill”
William Martin Brewer III, found shot to death early on May 4th, 1988. | JSO
October 3, 2024

Investigators reopen 36-year-old cold case in Murray Hill

As part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s regular revival of cold case homicides, a 1988 shooting death at Murray Hill Park…

Featured image for “Two accused of shooting 18 times at undercover detectives”
A police photo shows a bullet hole after a man fired 18 shots at the car of two undercover detectives. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 3, 2024

Two accused of shooting 18 times at undercover detectives

The detectives were unharmed in the shooting at Florida Avenue and East 22nd Street.…

Featured image for “Ellen Glasser withdraws from Atlantic Beach mayoral race”
Ellen Glasser has withdrawn from the race for Atlantic Beach mayor. | Ellen Glasser for Mayor, Facebook
October 3, 2024

Ellen Glasser withdraws from Atlantic Beach mayoral race

Glasser, a former Atlantic Beach mayor, said she does not have the stamina to continue in the race or govern.…

Featured image for “Remembering the racial killing of Johnnie Mae Chappell”
Florida's legislature approved the naming of part of New Kings Road north of Moncrief Road in honor of Johnnie Mae Chappell, who was shot to death there in 1964. | Google  
October 2, 2024

Remembering the racial killing of Johnnie Mae Chappell

A historic marker will honor a Jacksonville mother who was gunned down in 1964 by white men out to kill…