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 “‘Pull the crews out.’ Dramatic video captures Rise Doro fire”
A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department drone shows the Rise Doro fire at its height. after the roof had burned out and floors collapsed inside. | Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
February 22, 2024

‘Pull the crews out.’ Dramatic video captures Rise Doro fire

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department released a video showing the fire growing out of control at the Rise Doro…

Featured image for “Whitey’s Fish Camp for sale after 60 years”
Whitey's Fish Camp, with restaurant, bar, marina and RV park. | Stephen Dirksen/Whitey's Fish Camp Facebook
February 22, 2024

Whitey’s Fish Camp for sale after 60 years

The owners say they just want to retire. They hope the buyer will keep everything just as it is.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why are trucks making Jacksonville Beach’s 3rd Street into a truck stop?”
An empty truck parked on 3rd Street in Jacksonville Beach. | Google Maps
February 21, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Why are trucks making Jacksonville Beach’s 3rd Street into a truck stop?

A reader wonders why so many semis park along 3rd Street in Jacksonville Beach. Police and a former trucker respond.…

Featured image for “Apartment complex sued after 2-year-old dies in pond”
Musiq Jordan-Dye, 2, died in a retention pond. Her family is suing the apartment complex for negligence.
February 21, 2024

Apartment complex sued after 2-year-old dies in pond

The family of Musiq Jordan-Dye is suing the Paradise Island complex off Southside Boulevard, claiming management should have fenced off…

Featured image for “Opposition grows to climate bill from Palatka lawmaker”
Flooding at the Castillo de San Marco's parking lot in St. Augustine.
February 21, 2024

Opposition grows to climate bill from Palatka lawmaker

A bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Bobby Payne of Palatka would eliminate references to climate change in state statutes.…

Featured image for “Billie Jean King Cup is coming to Amelia Island”
Canada's Leylah Fernandez returns the ball to the Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova during their semifinal singles match at the Billie Jean King Cup finals at La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Saturday, on Nov. 11, 2023.
February 20, 2024

Billie Jean King Cup is coming to Amelia Island

Top female tennis players from the Ukraine and Romania will play in Northeast Florida because of the war in Ukraine.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville University honors former Sheriff Nat Glover”
Nat Glover is a former Sheriff of Duval County
February 16, 2024

Jacksonville University honors former Sheriff Nat Glover

Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute will name its Master in Public Policy Minority Fellowship Program in honor of former Sheriff…

Featured image for “Investigation into stepbrothers’ murders revived after 12 years”
These are Project: Cold Case posters for step-brothers John Franklin Ragin Jr. , left, and Eric Dwayne Stubbs. They were found dead in a home in 2011. | Project Cold Case
February 15, 2024

Investigation into stepbrothers’ murders revived after 12 years

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is trying to solve the murders of John Franklin Ragin Jr. and Eric Dwayne Stubbs in…

Featured image for “Pro basketball will return to Jax on Sunday”
The Jacksonville 95ers will play at Jacksonville University's Swisher Gym.
February 14, 2024

Pro basketball will return to Jax on Sunday

The Jacksonville 95ers, the city’s new pro basketball team, will play its first exhibition game Sunday afternoon at Jacksonville University’s…

Featured image for “Nonprofit merger helps fill need for menstrual products”
Menstrual products were part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day food bank event. | Feeding Northeast Florida
February 13, 2024

Nonprofit merger helps fill need for menstrual products

Feeding Northeast Florida has merged with longtime partner Renewing Dignity, which works to eliminate “period poverty.”…

Featured image for “Jacksonville International Auto Show rumbles into town”
Dozens of new cars, trucks and other vehicles will be shown at this weekend's 38th annual Jacksonville International Auto Show. | Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association
February 13, 2024

Jacksonville International Auto Show rumbles into town

The 38th annual Jacksonville International Auto Show will take place Friday through Sunday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What are road crews doing along Arlington Expressway?”
The Arlington Expressway service road east of Arlington Road, is closed for FDOT road and bridge repair. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 13, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | What are road crews doing along Arlington Expressway?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why a service road along the Arlington Expressway has been closed.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Zoo’s geriatric giraffe has died”
Spock, a 22-year-old giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, has died. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
February 13, 2024

Jacksonville Zoo’s geriatric giraffe has died

Spock was one of two animals to die at the zoo this week of age-related issues. The other was a…

Featured image for “Utility lineworkers will test their skills at Metro Park”
JEA crews install dozens of power poles Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Metropolitan Park in advance of this weekend's Florida Lineman Competition | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 12, 2024

Utility lineworkers will test their skills at Metro Park

The public is invited to set up lawn chairs and munch on food truck fare as lineworkers demonstrate their skill…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission”
R. Brett James is Jacksonville's new Director of Planning. | NAVFAC Southwest
February 9, 2024

Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission

R. Brett James, a former Navy civilian director, took over this week as Jacksonville’s chief of planning and development.…

Featured image for “Remembering Harriet Beecher Stowe in her former community”
A photograph of Harriet Beecher Stowe and her family in front of their Mandarin Road cottage. | Mandarin Community Club
February 6, 2024

Remembering Harriet Beecher Stowe in her former community

A pavilion along Mandarin Road will mirror the architecture of the long-gone cottage where one of Mandarin’s most historic figures…

Featured image for “The open road: Shands Bridge work is done”
Work on the Shands Bridge has been completed. | The Jaxson
February 6, 2024

The open road: Shands Bridge work is done

The Shands Bridge won’t close next weekend after all. Roadwork that shut down the bridge the past two weekends has…

Featured image for “Brew flows again at Intuition Ale Works after fire shutdown”
The demolition at the fire-ravaged Rise Doro apartment building can be seen behind Intuition Ale Works, which has reopened a week after the fire. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 5, 2024

Brew flows again at Intuition Ale Works after fire shutdown

Life is slowly returning to normal around the fire-ravaged Rise Doro apartment complex as demolition continues.…

Featured image for “Friendship Fountain will glow again on Feb. 15”
City crews conducted a test run on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, of Friendship Fountain's new synchronized water, light and music program. | News4Jax
February 2, 2024

Friendship Fountain will glow again on Feb. 15

The fountain, under renovation for two years, will return during the next Sip and Stroll on the Southbank.…

Featured image for “Meet Mina, the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo”
The public chose the name Mina for the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
February 2, 2024

Meet Mina, the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo

The zoo just announced Mina’s name, which was chosen in a public vote over two weeks.…

Featured image for “Rise Doro’s walls start tumbling down”
A crane from ELEV8 tears pieces of wall off the Rise Doro facade on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Kitchens with stoves and cabinets are visible inside. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 2, 2024

Rise Doro’s walls start tumbling down

Demolition of the burned-out apartment building Downtown is expected to take eight to 10 weeks. The developer, Rise: A Real…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s trans community fears new driver’s license rule”
Samples of Florida driver's licenses and learner permit. | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
January 31, 2024

Jacksonville’s trans community fears new driver’s license rule

Florida is mandating that the gender listed on a driver’s license must match a person’s sex at birth.…

Featured image for “Demolition permit set for burned-out apartments”
Safety fencing goes up on Wednesday around the Rise Doro apartment building as the city prepares to demolish most of it after a fire gutted the structure. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 31, 2024

Demolition permit set for burned-out apartments

The city says demolition will occur “as switly as possible” at Rise Doro apartments Downtown.…

Featured image for “Jax Beach services returning after ‘cybersecurity event’”
Jacksonville Beach City Hall | Google
January 31, 2024

Jax Beach services returning after ‘cybersecurity event’

Jacksonville Beach has released few details about why its information systems collapsed, but staff are restoring systems as quickly as…