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. 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…

Featured image for “19th century shipwreck reappears on Little Talbot Island”
December 2, 2022

19th century shipwreck reappears on Little Talbot Island

A hunk of wooden hull from the 1800s lies among wave-flattened grasses on a beach of Little Talbot Island, uncovered…

Featured image for “Police on the hunt for drunken holiday drivers”
December 2, 2022

Police on the hunt for drunken holiday drivers

Be forewarned: Police plan an aggressive campaign to target and stop impaired drivers over the Christmas holiday. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s…

Featured image for “Jacksonville man imprisoned for defrauding bank with phony IDs”
December 1, 2022

Jacksonville man imprisoned for defrauding bank with phony IDs

A Jacksonville man used phony IDs to open bank accounts and, in one case, take out a $20,000 loan, according…

Featured image for “2 endangered tortoises stolen from alligator farm”
December 1, 2022

2 endangered tortoises stolen from alligator farm

Two juvenile Galapagos tortoises have been stolen from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Farm officials are asking everyone to be…

Featured image for “Crime rate falls in Duval County, but details are scant”
December 1, 2022

Crime rate falls in Duval County, but details are scant

The total crime rate dropped in Duval County lasts year, mirroring a decline statewide, but exactly what type of crimes…

Featured image for “Free Saturdays will continue at Cummer museum”
December 1, 2022

Free Saturdays will continue at Cummer museum

Free Saturdays will continue at Jacksonville’s Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens — even as the current program comes to…

Featured image for “Squawking PETA protest targets schools and chicken restaurants”
November 30, 2022

Squawking PETA protest targets schools and chicken restaurants

A national animal rights group, dissuading people from eating chicken, will protest this week outside Jacksonville restaurants that serve the…

Featured image for “Georgia school threats among hundreds of hoaxes across US”
November 30, 2022

Georgia school threats among hundreds of hoaxes across US

Twelve Georgia school districts saw beefed-up police presence Wednesday morning after they received threats that turned out to be hoaxes,…

Featured image for “Jacksonville University plans city’s first 4-year medical school”
November 30, 2022

Jacksonville University plans city’s first 4-year medical school

Jacksonville’s first four-year medical school program is coming to a private university on the banks of the St. Johns River.…

Featured image for “Atlantic Beach enacts homeless restrictions — along with measures of help”
November 29, 2022

Atlantic Beach enacts homeless restrictions — along with measures of help

A new ordinance in Atlantic Beach restricts where homeless people are allowed to sleep or camp out, but supporters believe…

Featured image for “Clay County buses: How much do you know?”
Clay County
November 28, 2022

Clay County buses: How much do you know?

Survey says: Are you aware of JTA’s Clay Community Transportation services? Then the JTA’s new community questionnaire on its Clay…

Featured image for “FDOT hearings give the lowdown on upcoming road projects”
November 28, 2022

FDOT hearings give the lowdown on upcoming road projects

Information on major state road projects that could affect residents all over the First Coast will be presented at two…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s homegrown stores seek local love on Small Business Saturday”
November 23, 2022

Jacksonville’s homegrown stores seek local love on Small Business Saturday

They are open in Avondale and Atlantic Beach, as well as San Marco, Riverside and all over shopping districts in…

Featured image for “Historic Jacksonville church returns splendor to pipe organ and sanctuary”
November 22, 2022

Historic Jacksonville church returns splendor to pipe organ and sanctuary

The mighty music thunders from the hundreds of pipes at the back of the historic nave of Jacksonville’s Basilica of…

Featured image for “Hundreds line up for Thanksgiving food baskets”
November 21, 2022

Hundreds line up for Thanksgiving food baskets

The end was near for Tanya May, after waiting in a long line of cars in front of the Mandarin…

Featured image for “USS Orleck may move down the river”
November 21, 2022

USS Orleck may move down the river

The historic warship once known as the “Grey Ghost” may be moving down the St. Johns River to another temporary…

Featured image for “Multispecialty surgery center opens on Jacksonville’s Southside”
November 18, 2022

Multispecialty surgery center opens on Jacksonville’s Southside

A new medical complex incorporating a multispecialty surgery center and multiple medical offices was officially opened Friday afternoon near Butler…