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 “#AskJAXTDY l Was it cheaper to open a fire station in a renovated home?”
Marine Fire Station 68 in Mandarin. | News4Jax
April 3, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Was it cheaper to open a fire station in a renovated home?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders how much it would have cost to build a new marine fire station instead of…

Featured image for “Advocates bring awareness to rampant sexual violence”
Roshanda Jackson speaks Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at the kickoff of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Jacksonville. | News4Jax
April 2, 2024

Advocates bring awareness to rampant sexual violence

Dozens of community leaders gathered Tuesday to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “After 28 years, the murder of a Jacksonville mom is solved”
Valerie Ames was found dead Aug. 10, 1996, in a vacant apartment in Riverside. | Project: Cold Case via News4Jax
April 2, 2024

After 28 years, the murder of a Jacksonville mom is solved

A man in North Carolina has been arrested in the slaying of 31-year-old Valerie Ames in 1996.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Zoo elephant recovering after dental surgery”
Ali is a 34-year-old African elephant at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
March 29, 2024

Jacksonville Zoo elephant recovering after dental surgery

Ali, an African elephant once owned by musician Michael Jackson, had complex surgery to move the last part of his…

Featured image for “Mayor signs Heroes Act to help city employees in military”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks with City Council member Rory Diamond before signing his Heroes Act bill into law on Friday, March 29, 2024. | News4Jax
March 29, 2024

Mayor signs Heroes Act to help city employees in military

The Heroes Act triples the amount of time the city wil pay employees who are called for duty overseas.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville police officer jailed in sex case involving teen”
Josue Garriga III. | News4Jax
March 28, 2024

Jacksonville police officer jailed in sex case involving teen

Josue Garriga III is the same deputy who was cleared in the fatal shooting of Jaime Johnson in 2019.…

Featured image for “Marine fire station opens in renovated Mandarin home”
Fire boats sit at the new Marine Fire Station 68. | News4Jax
March 27, 2024

Marine fire station opens in renovated Mandarin home

Marine Fire Station 68 is situated in an area that has needed marine and shoreline fire protection for years.…

Featured image for “City’s oldest art festival returns this weekend in Mandarin”
Crowds wander through the Mandarin Art Festival. | Mandarin Art Festival
March 27, 2024

City’s oldest art festival returns this weekend in Mandarin

The Mandarin Art Festival has been an Easter weekend tradition in Jacksonville for more than five decades.…

Featured image for “JEA raises rates, but bills could fall”
A JEA crew member works on a power line. | JEA
March 27, 2024

JEA raises rates, but bills could fall

Although electric rates are rising, bills could fall because the cost of fuel for power plants has declined.…

Featured image for “USS Orleck celebrates 2nd anniversary as Jax Naval Museum with historic refit”
USS Orleck museum ship manager Greg Allen watches the new aft gun display. The display shows what it was like to fire the weapons during wartime. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
March 26, 2024

USS Orleck celebrates 2nd anniversary as Jax Naval Museum with historic refit

Two years after the 79-year-old destroyer found its new home on the St. Johns River, the Orleck has new displays…

Featured image for “Sex offender who hacked Jumbotron gets 220 years”
March 26, 2024

Sex offender who hacked Jumbotron gets 220 years

Samuel Arthur Thompson was sentenced for hacking into the Jaguars’ Jumbotron, possessing child pornography and failing to register as a…

Featured image for “Search for missing Putnam boy ends in tragedy”
Mason Newstead. | Putnam County Sheriff's Office
March 22, 2024

Search for missing Putnam boy ends in tragedy

Mason Newstead, a 4 year-old child with special needs, was found dead in the St. Johns River, about a block…

Featured image for “Personal data breached in Jacksonville Beach cyberattack”
Jacksonville Beach. | City of Jacksonville Beach Facebook
March 20, 2024

Personal data breached in Jacksonville Beach cyberattack

Cyber criminals who attacked Jacksonville Beach’s computer systems may have obtained people’s personal information, the city said.…

Featured image for “Jax Beach police seek videos from shootings”
A crowd packs Jacksonville Beach on Sunday, March 17, 2024. | News4Jax
March 20, 2024

Jax Beach police seek videos from shootings

Police have set up a digital site where people can upload videos of the violence that erupted Sunday.…

Featured image for “The Honey Dripper ice cream lady goes for a big treat”
Alice Kimbrough's Honey Dripper House ice cream truck. | Alice Kimbrough, Facebook
March 20, 2024

The Honey Dripper ice cream lady goes for a big treat

Alice Kimbrough, who operates the Honey Dripper House ice cream truck, is a national finalist for a $25,000 grant from…

Featured image for “Victim identified in Jacksonville Beach shooting”
Cellphone video shows large crowds of people on the beach Sunday night near the pier in Jacksonville Beach on March 17, 2024. Two people are seen fighting in the sand. | Jacksonville Beach Police Department
March 19, 2024

Victim identified in Jacksonville Beach shooting

James Jones III, 21, was killed in the third of three shootings Sunday night as partiers descended on Jacksonville Beach.…

Featured image for “1 dead and 3 others shot in Jacksonville Beach”
Police converge on downtown Jacksonville Beach on March 17 after multiple shootings left one person dead and three others injured. | News4Jax
March 18, 2024

1 dead and 3 others shot in Jacksonville Beach

Violence erupted as crowds packed Jax Beach for spring break, the Players Championship and St. Patrick’s Day.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Jazz Fest announces lineup at new site”
Fireworks explode during a recent Jacksonville Jazz Festival. | Jacksonville Jazz Festival
March 15, 2024

Jacksonville Jazz Fest announces lineup at new site

The 2024 Jacksonville Jazz Festival will return to Metropolitan Park with headliners like Joss Stone and Keiki Matsui.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who makes the colorful critters at the Beaches?”
One of Scotie Cousin's creations hangs in its natural habitat. | Scotie Cousin, Facebook
March 15, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Who makes the colorful critters at the Beaches?

A reader asks who’s putting little works of animal art with big expressive eyes on trees and lawns at the…

Featured image for “Tips for getting to the Players Championship this weekend”
A crowd packs the Players Championship on Friday, March 15, 2024. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 15, 2024

Tips for getting to the Players Championship this weekend

Parking is sold out for Friday and Saturday, but passes could still be available on the Players’ resale site. Or…

Featured image for “Nassau deputy’s killer argues he can’t get fair sentence”
The cruiser of Nassau County Deputy Josh Moyers is decorated with memorial flowers and messages after his fatal shooting in 2021. | News4Jax
March 14, 2024

Nassau deputy’s killer argues he can’t get fair sentence

Patrick Rene McDowell, who admitted shooting Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers, wants his sentencing moved outside Northeast Florida.…

Featured image for “Former Public Defender Matt Shirk disbarred”
Matt Shirk | News4Jax
March 14, 2024

Former Public Defender Matt Shirk disbarred

Shirk, the subject of repeated ethics investigations, was disbarred for praticing law after his license had been suspended.…

Featured image for “Volunteers needed for St. Johns River Celebration”
Volunteers clean a Jacksonville beachfront during a recent St. Johns River Celebration. | City of Jacksonville
March 13, 2024

Volunteers needed for St. Johns River Celebration

Volunteers are needed Saturday to clean up Jacksonville’s parks, boat ramps, waterways and neighborhoods.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Will Jax Beach explain its ‘cybersecurity event’?”
Jacksonville Beach City Hall | Google Maps
March 13, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Will Jax Beach explain its ‘cybersecurity event’?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders whether Jacksonville Beach is still experiencing the effects of an possible cyberattack in late January.…