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 “Childrens’ slayings leave Jacksonville stunned”
Sheriff T.K. Waters asks for the public's help to find those who have killed children and adults in a recent rash of murders. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
September 27, 2023

Childrens’ slayings leave Jacksonville stunned

Six slayings since last Friday — including a 3-year-old girl on Saturday and a 6-year-old on Wednesday — have left…

Featured image for “Putnam teen critical after lightning strike while hunting”
Lightning. Johannes Plenio/Unsplash
September 27, 2023

Putnam teen critical after lightning strike while hunting

Lightning hit a father and daughter as they were hunting near Bostwick. Police warned that lightning strikes have increased in…

Featured image for “Ex-Jacksonville cop gets 11 years for trying to entice teen”
September 27, 2023

Ex-Jacksonville cop gets 11 years for trying to entice teen

Prosecutors said Alejandro Carmona-Fonseca sent explicit photos to a teenage boy he met at a gym.…

Featured image for “Fire scorches St. Augustine beach club”
A fire destroyed part of the Atlantic Beach & Tennis Club early Tuesday. Sept. 26, 2023. | St. Johns Fire Rescue
September 26, 2023

Fire scorches St. Augustine beach club

A fire early Tuesday destroyed part of a 32-year-old Atlantic Beach & Tennis Club on Ocean Trace Road.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville attorney arrested on perjury charges”
The Duval County jail. | Jacksonville Daily Record
September 25, 2023

Jacksonville attorney arrested on perjury charges

Attorney Nah-Deh E.W. Simmons is accused of visiting a murder suspect in jail and encouraging her to lie in court.…

Featured image for “Tenured UNF faculty protest performance reviews”
The UNF board of trustees meets Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. | News4Jax
September 22, 2023

Tenured UNF faculty protest performance reviews

A new state law requires that tenured faculty undergo performance reviews every five years.…

Featured image for “Support appears strong for Jacksonville’s new top lawyer”
Michael Fackler has been appointed as Jacksonville's general counsel. | Milam Howard Nicandri & Gillam P.A
September 22, 2023

Support appears strong for Jacksonville’s new top lawyer

Michael Fackler seems to have sufficient support on City Council to become Jacksonville’s next general counsel.…

Featured image for “Duval students continue to get free JTA bus rides”
September 21, 2023

Duval students continue to get free JTA bus rides

The MyRide2School program will continue this school year for middle and high schools students at public, private or charter schools.…

Featured image for “Glowing blue obelisk dedicated as public art at JU main gate”
The new 20-foot glass-and-steel obelisk, created by artist Shan Shan Sheng ,glows blue in a traffic circle outside Jacksonville University, prior to its officials dedication on Wednesday. Jacksonville University
September 20, 2023

Glowing blue obelisk dedicated as public art at JU main gate

The Obelisk in front of Jacksonville University was officially dedicated as a public art piece on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.…

Featured image for “Public-private partnership OKd to manage The Amp, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall”
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. St. Johns County
September 20, 2023

Public-private partnership OKd to manage The Amp, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

St. Johns County’s two best-known concert venues will now be operated by a nonprofit, after commissioners approved a public-private partnership…

Featured image for “Going to St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Fest this weekend?”
A Sing Out Loud concert venue. Sing Out Loud
September 19, 2023

Going to St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Fest this weekend?

Parking and road closure info for the 2023 Sing Out Loud Festival in St. Augustine…

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…