Dan Scanlan
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 “DeSantis celebrates first responder bonuses with Jacksonville firefighters and police”
Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Powers (right) speaks on Monday before Gov. Ron DeSantis presented $1,000 bonus checks to local police and firefighters at a Craig Municipal Airport event. Governor's Office
September 18, 2023

DeSantis celebrates first responder bonuses with Jacksonville firefighters and police

Florida’s governor joined police and fire fighters in Jacksonville to talk about the state’s first responder bonuses.…

Featured image for “UNF poll: 51% say Jags should pay for stadium renovation with no city funding”
More than 69,000 people watched the Jaguars 2023 home opener at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. In its Stadium of the Future proposal shared earlier this year, the Jaguars indicated the team would like to provide shade over every seat in the city owned stadium. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 18, 2023

UNF poll: 51% say Jags should pay for stadium renovation with no city funding

Just over half of those polled oppose using public money on stadium upgrades, but support goes up when faced with…

Featured image for “Jaguars to host Community Huddles on stadium plans in Nassau and St. Johns counties this week”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have proposed renovating EverBank Stadium into the "Stadium of the Future."
September 18, 2023

Jaguars to host Community Huddles on stadium plans in Nassau and St. Johns counties this week

Negotiations on the new stadium are set to begin soon, and the team is asking to split the cost to…

Featured image for “Historic cars and historic fort unite for fundraiser”
Classic cars are arrayed under cannons that ring Fort Clinch during the annual fundraising car show. | Dan Scanlan WJCT News 89.9
September 18, 2023

Historic cars and historic fort unite for fundraiser

Visitors will pack Fort Clinch on Saturday to see an estimated 60 vintage and classic cars. The event supports the…

Featured image for “POW/MIA Day events honor missing military members”
September 14, 2023

POW/MIA Day events honor missing military members

Speakers will include Meghan Wagner, daughter of Navy Capt. Scott Speicher, the first American combat casualty of the Iraq War.…

Featured image for “Suspect in San Marco murders killed himself the next day”
Paige Pringle drove this Ford when she and Tara Baker were shot early Aug. 9 at a railroad crossing on Hendricks Avenue. | News4Jax
September 13, 2023

Suspect in San Marco murders killed himself the next day

Ty Christopher Head, 22, shot and killed two women at a rail crossing on Hendrick’s Avenue, police said.…

Featured image for “Contractor admits accidental paint spill on I-95”
Despite removal attempts Monday night, a yellow stripe remained on southbound Interstate 95. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
September 13, 2023

Contractor admits accidental paint spill on I-95

Acme Barricades has agreed to help remove a stripe that runs 22 miles across Duval and St. Johns counties, according…

Featured image for “Volunteers sought for Saturday’s Coastal Cleanup”
Jacksonville Beach. City of Jacksonville
September 13, 2023

Volunteers sought for Saturday’s Coastal Cleanup

Cleanups are planned Saturday at all along Jacksonville’s ocean- and riverfront shorelines.…

Featured image for “No injuries reported after parking garage partially collapses at St. Vincent’s Riverside hospital”
September 12, 2023

No injuries reported after parking garage partially collapses at St. Vincent’s Riverside hospital

JFRD & JSO responded to a partial parking garage collapse at Ascension St. Vincent’s hospital.…

Featured image for “Yellow line down I-95 from Jacksonville to St. Augustine will get an overnight scrub”
September 11, 2023

Yellow line down I-95 from Jacksonville to St. Augustine will get an overnight scrub

The yellow paint spill that’s confusing drivers on I-95 between Jacksonville and St. Augustine will get a scrubbing Monday night.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What are those natural gas tanks doing at Commodore Point?”
Two natural gas tanks await installation at the Fincantieri Marine Systems repair operation at Commodores Point. Dan Scanlan WJCT News 89.9
September 11, 2023

#AskJAXTDY | What are those natural gas tanks doing at Commodore Point?

Reader Steve C. asks why there’s been waterfront construction and the placing of liquified natural gas tanks at Commodores Point.…

Featured image for “It’s no game: Playing cards share cold case stories”
Project: Cold Case's second set of playing cards shows the victims of unsolved homicides from around Florida. | Dan Scanlan WJCT News 89.9
September 8, 2023

It’s no game: Playing cards share cold case stories

Project: Cold Case, a nonprofit based in Jacksonville, issues its second deck of cards to bring attention to the victims…

Featured image for “Pastors pledge to ‘Take Back the Mic’ from haters ”
The Rev. Alvin O'Neal Jackson with the Poor People's Campaign reads from the list of demands to be delivered Sept. 15 to the governor and Florida lawmakers.
September 7, 2023

Pastors pledge to ‘Take Back the Mic’ from haters 

A group of clergy holds Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature responsible for “spewing hate” like the racial mass murders…

Featured image for “JTA’s autonomous vehicles will motor through FSCJ Downtown”
A 10-passenger Gaussin Macnica autonomous vehicle like this one, shown on a street in Paris, will run a 1-mile loop around the Downtown campus of the Florida State College of Jacksonville. | Gaussin Macnica
September 6, 2023

JTA’s autonomous vehicles will motor through FSCJ Downtown

The program is a preview of JTA’s ultimate plan to replace the Skyway monorail with the Ultimate Urban Circulator, or…

Featured image for “Toddler dies in hot car at Jacksonville Beach child care”
Infant car seat. WJCT News 89.9
September 6, 2023

Toddler dies in hot car at Jacksonville Beach child care

The 2-year-old girl was found inside a van at Bethlehem Lutheran Preschool. She was the second child to die recently…

Featured image for “Camden residents angry over bridge replacements”
This bridge over White Oak Creek in Camden County is deteriorating, the state says. | Georgia Department of Natural Resources
September 5, 2023

Camden residents angry over bridge replacements

Some Camden County residents say a plan to replace three old bridges on U.S. 17 will force long detours and…

Featured image for “#ASKJAXTDY | Why are the lights off on half of the Hart Bridge?”
September 5, 2023

#ASKJAXTDY | Why are the lights off on half of the Hart Bridge?

Q: Why did the Hart Bridge go dark? A: Light repairs are coming.…

Featured image for “Boy killed after dog chases him into traffic”
Police block Lane Avenue South early Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, after a car hit and killed a child. | News4Jax
September 1, 2023

Boy killed after dog chases him into traffic

The 12-year-old boy and his brother were walking to a school bus stop on the Westside when a dog began…

Featured image for “Nassau deputy jailed after SWAT standoff”
A Nassau County sheriff's deputy was arrested after a SWAT standoff Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. | News4Jax
September 1, 2023

Nassau deputy jailed after SWAT standoff

Earise Ray Rhoden Jr. is accused of firing shots and pointing a gun at a deputy. He was arrested after…

Featured image for “‘Urban pioneer’ Rita Reagan dies at 83”
Rita Reagan shows the unrestored building of the Norman Studios complex on Arlington Road, before its renovation into a museum. | Norma Studios Silent Film Museum
September 1, 2023

‘Urban pioneer’ Rita Reagan dies at 83

Rita F. Reagan was a volunteer and a teacher, a preserver of Jacksonville’s historic communities as well as a historic…

Featured image for “Armor Health assailed over immigrant care at Baker jail”
The Baker County Sheriff's Office.
September 1, 2023

Armor Health assailed over immigrant care at Baker jail

Immigrants held in the Baker County jail are victims of “systemic and ongoing medical neglect,” the ACLU says in a…

Featured image for “800 low-income apartments planned in Jacksonville”
The Downtown East Apartments, formerly known as Franklin Arms, is on Franklin Street on the East side. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
August 31, 2023

800 low-income apartments planned in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Housing Authority intends to build or buy hundreds of apartments to help fill a critical need for affordable…

Featured image for “Condemned building collapses onto street during storm”
The second floor of a 1904-era building collapsed at East 1st and Walnut streets on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
August 30, 2023

Condemned building collapses onto street during storm

A condemned building partly collapsed Wednesday during the height of Hurricane Idalia’s wind and rain assault on Jacksonville. The former…

Featured image for “City Council legend E. Denise Lee dies at 71”
E. Denise Lee
August 30, 2023

City Council legend E. Denise Lee dies at 71

Local leaders remembered the longtime Northside councilwoman as a tireless champion for the community.…