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 “Jacksonville Light Boat Parade flows downtown on Thanksgiving weekend”
November 16, 2022

Jacksonville Light Boat Parade flows downtown on Thanksgiving weekend

Illuminated boats with glowing holiday themes will cruise around the St. Johns River on Nov. 26 as the annual Jacksonville…

Featured image for “The holidays are closer than you think, and so are these holiday events”
November 16, 2022

The holidays are closer than you think, and so are these holiday events

Frightfully chilly weather is coming, and so are some of the most popular outdoor holiday events. Foremost is Saturday’s 6…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s soon-to-be sheriff files to run again in 2023”
November 15, 2022

Jacksonville’s soon-to-be sheriff files to run again in 2023

Jacksonville Sheriff-elect T.K. Waters officially takes the oath of office on Sunday, after winning the Nov. 8 special election against…

Featured image for “School janitor jailed on multiple sexual battery charges”
November 15, 2022

School janitor jailed on multiple sexual battery charges

A 62-year-old janitor who has worked for the Duval County School district for almost 30 years is behind bars on…

Featured image for “NASCAR star Jeff Gordon will highlight The Amelia in March”
November 15, 2022

NASCAR star Jeff Gordon will highlight The Amelia in March

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon will serve as honoree of The Amelia concours d’elegance on the first weekend of…

Featured image for “Atlantic Beach may ban homeless from sleeping in public”
Jacksonville has more than 4,200 homeless people.
November 14, 2022

Atlantic Beach may ban homeless from sleeping in public

A proposed ordinance in Atlantic Beach would restrict where the homeless could sleep or camp out. Introduced for its first…

Featured image for “Floodwaters remain on Ken Knight Drive after flowing through homes”
November 11, 2022

Floodwaters remain on Ken Knight Drive after flowing through homes

Matt Mitchell walked to the back of the home he is renovating on Ken Knight Drive to show how far…

Featured image for “Flood warning continues in Nicole’s wake”
November 11, 2022

Flood warning continues in Nicole’s wake

Muddy remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole’s flooding pooled Friday morning on Riverside and San Marco streets, and a flood warning…

Featured image for “Military lounge will replace USO at Jacksonville airport”
November 11, 2022

Military lounge will replace USO at Jacksonville airport

The airport lounge for traveling U-S military and their families will have a new place to relax at Jacksonville International…

Featured image for “Subtropical Storm Nicole could mirror Ian on the First Coast”
November 7, 2022

Subtropical Storm Nicole could mirror Ian on the First Coast

More wind, rain and possible storm surges are coming our way as the Atlantic hurricane season aims one more punch…

Featured image for “Three sentenced in Duval County voting schemes”
November 4, 2022

Three sentenced in Duval County voting schemes

Sentences were handed down in Jacksonville this week in two voting-related crimes, according to the State Attorney’s Office. And a…

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…