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 “Candlelight vigil fights rash of antisemitic messages”
November 4, 2022

Candlelight vigil fights rash of antisemitic messages

Flames flickered in the hands of dozens Thursday night at James Weldon Johnson Park as community groups gathered with local…

Featured image for “Police confronted antisemitic protesters on I-10, report shows”
November 2, 2022

Police confronted antisemitic protesters on I-10, report shows

The day before someone splashed antisemitic messages around Downtown Jacksonville, police confronted a small group of men hanging similar banners…

Featured image for “Jacksonville homicides hit high point two months before 2023”
November 2, 2022

Jacksonville homicides hit high point two months before 2023

The victims range from a 15-year-old boy shot dead on March 12 on 103rd Street, to an 82-year-old woman who…

Featured image for “Volunteer group establishes beachhead in Jax to help veteran-owned businesses”
November 1, 2022

Volunteer group establishes beachhead in Jax to help veteran-owned businesses

Military veterans with a solid plan for a new business have a new volunteer-run organization to help them get it…

Featured image for “Cumberland Island seeks feedback on visitor plan”
November 1, 2022

Cumberland Island seeks feedback on visitor plan

A management plan that will help visitors better enjoy the 40-square-mile Cumberland Island National Seashore barrier island off St. Marys,…

Featured image for “Nassau County adds 20th park — a ‘dream come true’”
November 1, 2022

Nassau County adds 20th park — a ‘dream come true’

The first 40-acre phase of Nassau County’s 20th park officially opens Tuesday on Edwards Road, just west of Interstate 95.…

Featured image for “Prosecution unlikely for antisemitic messages around Jacksonville”
October 31, 2022

Prosecution unlikely for antisemitic messages around Jacksonville

The antisemitic messages plastered around Jacksonville over the weekend were disturbing and distasteful, but they probably weren’t criminal, legal experts…

Featured image for “More conflict roils Jacksonville sheriff race”
October 28, 2022

More conflict roils Jacksonville sheriff race

The debate over whether a former Jacksonville sheriff’s candidate traded his endorsement for a job got deeper and more confusing…

Featured image for “Florida family scammed by fake real estate deal in Jacksonville”
October 27, 2022

Florida family scammed by fake real estate deal in Jacksonville

A fake real estate agent scammed a Port Charlotte family into leasing a Northwest Jacksonville home that it had no…

Featured image for “Gators and Dawgs descend on Jacksonville; what you need to know to get around.”
October 27, 2022

Gators and Dawgs descend on Jacksonville; what you need to know to get around.

Football fans descending on TIAA Bank Field for Saturday’s classic Georgia-Florida game will find familiar surroundings: lots of traffic and…

Featured image for “Black pastors demand meeting with sheriff over sergeant’s tweets”
October 26, 2022

Black pastors demand meeting with sheriff over sergeant’s tweets

A group of Jacksonville clergy are demanding that the Sheriff’s Office take action against the sergeant who apparently posted disparaging…

Featured image for “‘Part of the fabric of Jacksonville’: Contract talks loom for Florida-Georgia game”
October 25, 2022

‘Part of the fabric of Jacksonville’: Contract talks loom for Florida-Georgia game

It is a college pigskin classic that annually nets about $20 million for Jacksonville’s economy as fans from Florida and…

Featured image for “Democrat Ken Jefferson crosses party lines to endorse T.K. Waters for sheriff”
October 24, 2022

Democrat Ken Jefferson crosses party lines to endorse T.K. Waters for sheriff

A Democrat who ran and lost his primary race for Jacksonville sheriff crossed party lines Monday and endorsed Republican candidate…

Featured image for “Free shuttles are back for St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights”
October 24, 2022

Free shuttles are back for St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights

Navigating to and from the winter holiday’s Nights of Lights in St. Augustine will get easier beginning on Nov. 19,…

Featured image for “Debate pits Jacksonville candidates for sheriff before Nov. 8 runoff”
October 21, 2022

Debate pits Jacksonville candidates for sheriff before Nov. 8 runoff

With the election just over two weeks away, the candidates to be Jacksonville’s next sheriff squared off in a lively…

Featured image for “USO center closes permanently at Jacksonville’s airport”
October 20, 2022

USO center closes permanently at Jacksonville’s airport

The USO has shut down a longtime resting spot for soldiers and sailors flying in and out of Jacksonville International…

Featured image for “Honoring two former mayors: New names proposed for park and community center”
October 19, 2022

Honoring two former mayors: New names proposed for park and community center

A permanent memorial for one of Mandarin’s favorite sons is being considered by the Jacksonville City Council — renaming the…

Featured image for “New fire rescue units hit the streets in Jacksonville”
October 18, 2022

New fire rescue units hit the streets in Jacksonville

The first of more planned advanced Critical Care Rescue Units are operating on Jacksonville’s streets now, funded from Jacksonville’s 2023…