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 “‘Devastating’ fire damages Hamburger Mary’s in Jacksonville”
Autographed photos and other memorabilia hang charred and melted on a wall at Hamburger Mary's Jax after a Wednesday night fire. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
October 12, 2023

‘Devastating’ fire damages Hamburger Mary’s in Jacksonville

A late night fire devastated Jacksonville’s Hamburger Mary’s restaurant, seriously damaging the 13-year-old spot known for its drag shows and…

Featured image for “Repairs coming to storm-ravaged Memorial Park – after city determines who should pay”
Shattered concrete columns and pieces of railing littered Memorial Park as St. Johns River waves pounded Memorial Park during Hurricane Idalia's flight through Jacksonville on Aug. 30. Dan Scanlan WJCT News
October 11, 2023

Repairs coming to storm-ravaged Memorial Park – after city determines who should pay

The shattered concrete has been removed after Hurricane Idalia ravaged the riverfront balustrade at Jacksonville’s historic Memorial Park in late…

Featured image for “Pigmental animation and film studio premieres in St. Marys, Georgia”
October 11, 2023

Pigmental animation and film studio premieres in St. Marys, Georgia

Pigmental Studios, with offices in LA, opens its newest animation and film studio at the former St. Marys Airport, with…

Featured image for “Le’Keian Woods’ mother tells Mayor Deegan he isn’t getting ‘the help that he needs’ in jail”
Cellphone video of the arrest of Le’Keian Woods shows him on the ground after being handcuffed. | Wukela Communications
October 10, 2023

Le’Keian Woods’ mother tells Mayor Deegan he isn’t getting ‘the help that he needs’ in jail

The mother of the man injured during a recent arrest asked Mayor Donna Deegan to intervene because he’s not getting…

Featured image for “Scammers get $1.1 million from St. Johns County”
Brandon Patty, St. John's County clerk of circuit court and county comptroller, presenting information on hackers at this week's county commission meeting. | St. Johns County
October 6, 2023

Scammers get $1.1 million from St. Johns County

The county apparently transferred money digitally to someone posing as a contractor. Some of the money was recovered, but not…

Featured image for “19th century ship found buried in St. Augustine”
Remains of a 19th century ship were found under State Road A1A in downtown St. Augustine during a drainage project. | Florida Department of Transportation
October 6, 2023

19th century ship found buried in St. Augustine

State transportation crews stumbled onto the ship while digging for a drainage project on State Road A1A.…

Featured image for “New History Center will hail Jacksonville’s music history”
City officials and history buffs gathered Thursday for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Jacksonville Historical Society's new history center. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
October 6, 2023

New History Center will hail Jacksonville’s music history

The Jacksonville Historial Society is renovating the century-old Florida Casket Co. building into a new history center.…

Featured image for “Residents pick design for new Hastings library”
Drawings show the design for the new Hastings public library and community center. | St. Johns County
October 4, 2023

Residents pick design for new Hastings library

More than 150 residents voted on the design for their new public library and community center.…

Featured image for “Two very different accounts of the arrest of Le’Keian Woods”
An image from a police bodycam shows Le'Keian Woods on the ground after an officer hit him with two Taser shots.
October 3, 2023

Two very different accounts of the arrest of Le’Keian Woods

The young man’s family is seeking a federal investigation of his violent arrest. The sheriff says the use of force…

Featured image for “Domestic abuse kills 19 for second straight year”
Hubbard House CEO Gail Patin plants a row of purple flags in front of the Duval County Courthouse on Sept. 29, 2023. Each flag represented a victim of domestic abuse who filed an injunction against their abuser. | Dan Scanlan
October 2, 2023

Domestic abuse kills 19 for second straight year

The numbers were included in a report released Monday as police and Hubbard House officials recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month.…

Featured image for “Kent Stermon coerced young woman, investigation shows”
September 29, 2023

Kent Stermon coerced young woman, investigation shows

Prominent Republican donor Kent Stermon used Taylor Swift tickets to force a young woman to expose herself, an investigation shows.…

Featured image for “Sheriff’s Office drops unreliable cocaine testing kit”
A Jacksonville sheriff's deputy shot a suspect who led police on a chase.
September 29, 2023

Sheriff’s Office drops unreliable cocaine testing kit

After more than a decade, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has stopped using a field testing kit for cocaine because it…

Featured image for “UNF settles dispute over post-tenure reviews for professors”
September 28, 2023

UNF settles dispute over post-tenure reviews for professors

The University of North Florida and the faculty union have reached agreement on a review process required by the state.…

Featured image for “Palatka teen dies after lightning strike”
Baylee Holbrook. | Trinity Baptist Church
September 28, 2023

Palatka teen dies after lightning strike

Sixteen-year-old Baylee Holbrook was hit by lighting while hunting with her father on Tuesday afternoon.…

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…