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 “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 ten-unrestored building of the Norman Studios complex on Arlington Road, before its renovation into a museum. | Norman 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.…

Featured image for “Memorial Park balustrade falls victim to another hurricane”
Waves smash the balustrade at Memorial Park in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
August 30, 2023

Memorial Park balustrade falls victim to another hurricane

The winds from Hurricane Idalia once again destroyed the concrete balustrade at Memorial Park in the Riverside neighborhood — a…

Featured image for “Dollar General shooter may have targeted another store”
This is the Dollar General store in Jacksonville where three people were shot to death Aug. 26, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 28, 2023

Dollar General shooter may have targeted another store

Ryan Christopher Palmeter drove first to a Family Dollar store but left when he saw a security guard, the sheriff…

Featured image for “Closings mount ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia”
Members of the Tampa, Fla., Parks and Recreation Dept., help residents with sandbags Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. | Chris O'Meara, AP
August 28, 2023

Closings mount ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

Duval County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and all after-school activities will be canceled.…

Featured image for “Three dead in racial shooting at Dollar General in Jacksonville”
Police seal off the area after a shooting Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at a Dollar General Store in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
August 26, 2023

Three dead in racial shooting at Dollar General in Jacksonville

Sheriff T.K. Waters said the gunman killed three Black individuals and then turned the gun on himself.…

Featured image for “Rare Sumatran tiger dies at Jacksonville zoo”
Lucy, a Sumatran tiger at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, died at age 12. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
August 25, 2023

Rare Sumatran tiger dies at Jacksonville zoo

Lucy, who was 12, likely died of a bloodborne infection, the zoo said. Lucy was one of the first tigers…

Featured image for “Clay County’s Touch-A-Truck comes to county fairgrounds”
Emergency vehicles were set up for last year's ouch-A-Truck event in Clay County. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
August 25, 2023

Clay County’s Touch-A-Truck comes to county fairgrounds

Everything from police cars and SWAT units to fire engines and even garbage trucks will swarm to the Clay County…

Featured image for “Florida Theatre tapestry found, two weeks after disappearing”
This is the Florida Theatre's missing tapestry. | Florida Theatre
August 24, 2023

Florida Theatre tapestry found, two weeks after disappearing

The nearly 100-year-old tapestry was lost on the way to a restoration facility in New York. FedEx found it in…

Featured image for “JU opens renovated tech and arts institute”
This is one of the high-tech classrooms at Jacksonville University's renovated STEAM facility. | Jacksonville University
August 24, 2023

JU opens renovated tech and arts institute

The STEAM program offers training in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.…

Featured image for “Auto thefts soar in Duval; group of children arrested”
Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been targeted by thieves across the country. | David Zalubowski/, AP
August 23, 2023

Auto thefts soar in Duval; group of children arrested

Thefts of Kias and Hyundais have skyrocketed in Duval County as they have across the country. Seven youngsters, ages 10…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why are gas prices all over the place in Jacksonville?”
August 23, 2023

#AskJAXTDY | Why are gas prices all over the place in Jacksonville?

Why is there a difference of 20 to 30 cents in the price of gas depending on your location within…

Featured image for “Army Corps rebuilds Vilano Beach to protect coastline”
Bulldozers build up part of Vilano Beach during a renourishment project in 2021. | News4Jax
August 22, 2023

Army Corps rebuilds Vilano Beach to protect coastline

The project will rebuild the beach and dune lines to replace what was lost in a nor’easter in late 2021,…

Featured image for “St. Augustine reconsiders permits for late-night bars”
A bar in St. Augustine. | News4Jax
August 21, 2023

St. Augustine reconsiders permits for late-night bars

The City Commission will reconsider an ordinance that would require bars to get permits to operate between midnight and 2…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What’s being developed in Jax Beach, the Westside?”
August 20, 2023

#AskJAXTDY | What’s being developed in Jax Beach, the Westside?

Questions about pending developments in the Jacksonville area are answered in this #AskJAXTDY.…