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 “Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain

Mayor Donna Deegan responded to criticism from Republican leaders after she assailed Donald Trump’s immigration plan.…

Featured image for “Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor”
Contractor Corey Binderim sits with his defense attorneys on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, as a jury recommended that he serve life in prison. | News4Jax
October 17, 2024

Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor

Contractor Corey Binderim was convicted of killing Susan Mauldin of Fleming Island in October 2019.…

Featured image for “Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks during an inteview Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, on Times Radio in London. | Times Radio
October 16, 2024

Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Donald Trump wants to create “concentration camps” to deport illegal immigrants.…

Featured image for “25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program”
A homeless camp in LaVilla. | Sydney Boles, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program

A pilot program between Ability Housing and the city of Jacksonville will help homeless people get off the streets and…

Featured image for “Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend”
The Blue Angels will perform Saturday and Sunday at NAS Jacksonville.
October 15, 2024

Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend

The Blue Angels will fly the skies Saturday and Sunday during the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Air Show.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?”
This stretch of eastbound Fort Caroline Road is under construction before the split where it becomes McCormick Road. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why an East Arlington road project is taking so long.…

Featured image for “Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville”
Corrections Officer Bradley McNew
October 14, 2024

Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville

Corrections Officer Bradley McNew was shot to death after intervening in an argument between a man and woman at a…

Featured image for “What to do if you have storm damage in St. Johns County”
The Matanzas River overflows into parts of historic St. Augustine during Hurricane Milton. | News4Jax
October 11, 2024

What to do if you have storm damage in St. Johns County

St. Johns County and St. Augustine officials say it is time to do damage assessments after Hurricane Milton.…

Featured image for “Historic Castillo de San Marcos closed to survey storm damage”
St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. | National Park Service
October 11, 2024

Historic Castillo de San Marcos closed to survey storm damage

The 351-year-old Castillo de San Marcos will reopen Saturday after an inspection showed no serious issues.…

Featured image for “Flooding could be a risk in Jacksonville, St. Johns County for days”
A car plows through tidal flooding in Ortega on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2024. | Heather Henderson, Jacksonville Today
October 10, 2024

Flooding could be a risk in Jacksonville, St. Johns County for days

Hurricane Milton’s effect on Jacksonville was limited, but tidal flooding could affect some streets during high tides.…

Featured image for “Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, but risks ease in Jacksonville”
October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, but risks ease in Jacksonville

The latest on Hurricane Milton’s expected impacts on the Jacksonville area, including shelters and evacuations.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville uses dams to hold back Milton’s floodwaters”
A Tiger Dam — a water-filled barrier against floodwaters — rings the city's drainage pump at San Marco Boulevard and Landon Avenue in San Marco in preparation for Hurricane Milton's impact. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 9, 2024

Jacksonville uses dams to hold back Milton’s floodwaters

The city is using Tiger Dams — large plastic tubes that can be filled with water to act as barriers…

Featured image for “Gasoline runs low during Milton, but more is on the way”
More gasoline is headed to stations in Florida. | AP file
October 9, 2024

Gasoline runs low during Milton, but more is on the way

Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than a million gallons of gasoline and diesel are staged around the state.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does the hefty mail-in ballot require extra postage?”
The November ballot is hefty this year. l Tiffany Tertipes via Unsplash.
October 8, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Does the hefty mail-in ballot require extra postage?

The November ballot is packed with candidates and issues. Who pays to mail it back?…

Featured image for “Hurricane Helene debris killed Duval toddler”
A police officer guides traffic around a fallen tree on Hogan Road the morning after Hurricane Helene passed near Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 4, 2024

Hurricane Helene debris killed Duval toddler

A new National Weather Service report details the impact of Hurricane Helene on Duval County…

Featured image for “Investigators reopen 36-year-old cold case in Murray Hill”
William Martin Brewer III, found shot to death early on May 4th, 1988. | JSO
October 3, 2024

Investigators reopen 36-year-old cold case in Murray Hill

As part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s regular revival of cold case homicides, a 1988 shooting death at Murray Hill Park…

Featured image for “Two accused of shooting 18 times at undercover detectives”
A police photo shows a bullet hole after a man fired 18 shots at the car of two undercover detectives. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 3, 2024

Two accused of shooting 18 times at undercover detectives

The detectives were unharmed in the shooting at Florida Avenue and East 22nd Street.…

Featured image for “Ellen Glasser withdraws from Atlantic Beach mayoral race”
Ellen Glasser has withdrawn from the race for Atlantic Beach mayor. | Ellen Glasser for Mayor, Facebook
October 3, 2024

Ellen Glasser withdraws from Atlantic Beach mayoral race

Glasser, a former Atlantic Beach mayor, said she does not have the stamina to continue in the race or govern.…

Featured image for “Remembering the racial killing of Johnnie Mae Chappell”
Florida's legislature approved the naming of part of New Kings Road north of Moncrief Road in honor of Johnnie Mae Chappell, who was shot to death there in 1964. | Google  
October 2, 2024

Remembering the racial killing of Johnnie Mae Chappell

A historic marker will honor a Jacksonville mother who was gunned down in 1964 by white men out to kill…

Featured image for “Duval’s domestic violence homicides hit 8-year low”
Hubbard House CEO Gail Patin speaks during the kickoff of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Flanking her are Kellie Franklin of St. Johns County's Betty Griffin Center and Julia Edwards of Clay County's Quigley House. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 1, 2024

Duval’s domestic violence homicides hit 8-year low

Advocates say much work remains as they kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Tuesday.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville kicks in $50M for new MOSH on Northbank”
MOSH plans an expanded museum on the Northbank.
October 1, 2024

Jacksonville kicks in $50M for new MOSH on Northbank

MOSH will receive the money over three years to move from the Southbank, its home since 1969.…

Featured image for “Firefighters aid homeless as anti-camping law takes effect”
People sit outside tents on East Adams Street in Downtown Jacksonville, near North Liberty Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 1, 2024

Firefighters aid homeless as anti-camping law takes effect

A new Florida law bars local governments from allowing homeless people to sleep or camp in public.…

Featured image for “Hybrid fire truck flushes flames in test at fire academy”
A hybrid fire truck extinguishes a diesel fuel fire at the city's fire academy during a demonstration Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 30, 2024

Hybrid fire truck flushes flames in test at fire academy

Jacksonsville is testing the diesel-electric fire truck as part of an effort to reduce emissions from city vehicles.…

Featured image for “Helene cleanup continues; Jacksonville mayor urges patience”
A fallen tree blocks Cedar Bend Drive in Clay County. | Jamie Valet, Jacksonville Today
September 27, 2024

Helene cleanup continues; Jacksonville mayor urges patience

More than 257,000 customers in Northeast Florida had no power Friday after Hurricane Helene came ashore late Thursday.…