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 “St. Johns River Ferry halts service for maintenance”
December 28, 2022

St. Johns River Ferry halts service for maintenance

The Jean Ribault faces mandatory maintenance, and it will make the trip across the St. Johns River more difficult. The…

Featured image for “HCA Florida opens emergency room in Middleburg”
December 28, 2022

HCA Florida opens emergency room in Middleburg

Middleburg residents have a new option for emergency medical care as HCA Florida opens its new ER at 2560 Blanding…

Featured image for “Haleigh Cummings’ father jailed on multiple charges”
December 27, 2022

Haleigh Cummings’ father jailed on multiple charges

Just two months after his release from 12 years in state prison on multiple drug convictions, the father of a…

Featured image for “Ex-JSO dispatcher gets 60 years for child sex abuse recordings”
December 23, 2022

Ex-JSO dispatcher gets 60 years for child sex abuse recordings

A former emergency dispatcher for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty…

Featured image for “Pack your patience: Travel from Jax could be a challenge this holiday”
December 22, 2022

Pack your patience: Travel from Jax could be a challenge this holiday

The rush to head over the river and through the clouds to grandmother’s house is in full swing with Hanukkah,…

Featured image for “Bear shot and killed after attacking Jacksonville zookeeper”
December 22, 2022

Bear shot and killed after attacking Jacksonville zookeeper

A zookeeper at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens was injured Wednesday night when a bear attacked her after escaping his…

Featured image for “MOSH releases new views of its planned Northbank museum”
December 21, 2022

MOSH releases new views of its planned Northbank museum

A sneak peek of what’s planned inside the second generation of Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History has been released…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s new sheriff promises more openness”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters.
December 20, 2022

Jacksonville’s new sheriff promises more openness

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced major updates Tuesday to the way his department passes on information to the public. The…

Featured image for “Safety improvements done on Jacksonville’s West 5th Street”
December 19, 2022

Safety improvements done on Jacksonville’s West 5th Street

The ribbon was cut early Monday to officially open on one of the final Jacksonville Transportation Authority MobilityWorks projects that…

Featured image for “Sunburn Cannabis opens its doors in Jacksonville”
December 19, 2022

Sunburn Cannabis opens its doors in Jacksonville

The first of a planned wave of renewed medical marijuana retail sites in Florida has opened in Jacksonville Beach. Sunburn…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Children’s Chorus prepares to move Downtown”
December 19, 2022

Jacksonville Children’s Chorus prepares to move Downtown

The ring of hammers and the staccato of power saws greets those who take a peek at the future home…

Featured image for “Ex-cop admits he tried to entice teenage boy”
December 16, 2022

Ex-cop admits he tried to entice teenage boy

Former Jacksonville police officer Alejandro Carmona-Fonseca has pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of a teenage boy he had met…

Featured image for “Just for them: Kids with special needs get customized new wheels”
December 15, 2022

Just for them: Kids with special needs get customized new wheels

Blake Barber was hanging with Santa Claus on Thursday at the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters hall when the jolly old…

Featured image for “Jacksonville firefighters honor those who have died in the line of duty”
December 14, 2022

Jacksonville firefighters honor those who have died in the line of duty

Beth Rodgers admits there are still some sad times 22 years after her fire lieutenant husband died from a heart…

Featured image for “Activist Ben Frazier arrested while protesting Confederate monuments”
December 14, 2022

Activist Ben Frazier arrested while protesting Confederate monuments

A Jacksonville civil rights leader was pulled out of the City Council chambers and arrested Tuesday night as he and…

Featured image for “Costs rise for Shad Khan’s Four Seasons project”
December 13, 2022

Costs rise for Shad Khan’s Four Seasons project

The costs of Shad Khan’s office and hotel development on the riverfront have increased substantially, City Council members learned this…

Featured image for “Gunman critical after police shooting; second man found dead inside home”
December 12, 2022

Gunman critical after police shooting; second man found dead inside home

Jacksonville police said they shot a man who pointed a gun at them Monday and then found another man dead…

Featured image for “St. Marys Councilman-elect Danny Riggins dies”
St. Marys City Councilman-elect Danny Riggins.
December 12, 2022

St. Marys Councilman-elect Danny Riggins dies

One of the new members of the St. Marys City Council has died before he could take office. The city…

Featured image for “JSO was investigating prominent local political donor found dead”
December 9, 2022

JSO was investigating prominent local political donor found dead

A prominent Northeast Florida businessman and political donor has died. Atlantic Beach police said they found Kent Stermon, 50, late…

Featured image for “USS Orleck causes riverfront hotel ‘significant’ financial hit; Council poised to move it”
December 8, 2022

USS Orleck causes riverfront hotel ‘significant’ financial hit; Council poised to move it

Efforts to move an historic warship parked on Jacksonville’s Downtown waterfront to its permanent home accelerated during City Council committee…

Featured image for “20th annual Jacksonville Gingerbread Extravaganza brings builders from far and wide”
More than 40 gingerbread and icing creations, from local landmarks to Christmas fantasy scenes, decorate the interior of the Old St. Andrew's Church during the 20th annual Gingerbread Extravaganza. | Dan Scanlan
December 7, 2022

20th annual Jacksonville Gingerbread Extravaganza brings builders from far and wide

The aroma of gingerbread fills the air inside the historic sanctuary of Old St. Andrews Church as Paisley Engram looks…

Featured image for “Jacksonville airport opens military lounge 2 months after USO shut center there”
December 7, 2022

Jacksonville airport opens military lounge 2 months after USO shut center there

Bob Henning smiled as he looked around the comfortable living room-like lounge on Wednesday morning, a Christmas tree and fake…

Featured image for “Plane flies Confederate flag and message to Mayor Curry after his window is apparently shot”
December 6, 2022

Plane flies Confederate flag and message to Mayor Curry after his window is apparently shot

A bullet appears to have been shot at Mayor Lenny Curry’s office window at City Hall this week. As the…

Featured image for “$9K reward offered for tips in 13-year-old’s drive-by shooting death”
December 5, 2022

$9K reward offered for tips in 13-year-old’s drive-by shooting death

With anger in his voice, Jacksonville’s new sheriff vowed Monday evening to add more investigators on the Saturday night shooting…