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 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 “UPDATE: Hurricane Helene grows to 120 mph winds”
September 26, 2024

UPDATE: Hurricane Helene grows to 120 mph winds

Helene is one of the biggest hurricanes on record, with effects spreading hundreds of miles toward Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Police officer accused of touching woman on traffic stop”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks to reporters about the arrest of police officer Reginald McKinney. | News4Jax
September 25, 2024

Police officer accused of touching woman on traffic stop

Reginald Reynard McKinney became the 14th Jacksonville police officer arrested this year.…

Featured image for “Rumored school shooting locks down Englewood High”
Englewood High School on Barnes Road. | Google
September 24, 2024

Rumored school shooting locks down Englewood High

Rumors of a school shooting came a day after a 17-year-old was arrested when guns were found in his car.…

Featured image for “Tropical Storm Helene grows; First Coast prepares”
September 24, 2024

Tropical Storm Helene grows; First Coast prepares

Northeast Florida is preparing for high winds and possibly heavy rain as Tropical Storm Helene gains strength.…

Featured image for “Assault rifle found in student’s car at Englewood High”
Guns and ammunition were found in a student's car at Englewood High School. | Duval County Public Schools
September 23, 2024

Assault rifle found in student’s car at Englewood High

A student was arrested after a police dog detected an assault rifle and other guns in a vehicle.…

Featured image for “Former Putnam school deputy gets life in sex case”
A former Putnam County school resource officer was sentenced to life in prison for a sexual relationship with a child.
September 23, 2024

Former Putnam school deputy gets life in sex case

Joshua Herren was sentenced to life in prison plus 235 years for a sexual relationship with a minor.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why does Sans Pareil neighborhood still have dirt roads?”
A garbage truck plows through a flooded road in the city's Sans Pareil neighborhood. | News4Jax
September 23, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Why does Sans Pareil neighborhood still have dirt roads?

The dirt roads in the Sans Pareil community often flood during heavy rains. Here’s why the city doesn’t fix them.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville advocates join crime survivors’ march on Washington”
Jacksonville police searching for evidence during a July 2023 investigation on a Southside road. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 22, 2024

Jacksonville advocates join crime survivors’ march on Washington

Local crime victims and advocates left for Washington, D.C., early Sunday on a bus from Families of Slain Children’s North…

Featured image for “JTA leases 2 sites for workforce housing development”
The JTA's Kings Avenue Skyway station, with parking garage nearby, along with one of two Transit-Oriented Development sites. | Google
September 20, 2024

JTA leases 2 sites for workforce housing development

The JTA has authorized two leases of its land for conversion into workforce housing apartments.…

Featured image for “‘Game-changer’: JTA bus converted to prevent opioid overdoses”
The new “Safety on the Move”-branded bus, a mobile opioid education classroom unveiled on Thursday, Sept. 19 by a coalition that includes the JTA and Drug Free Duval. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 19, 2024

‘Game-changer’: JTA bus converted to prevent opioid overdoses

A first-in-the-nation mobile opioid education unit will be deployed to neighborhoods that need it most.…

Featured image for “12 sewer overflows due to heavy rain this month that ‘overwhelmed’ JEA’s system”
The Jacksonville School for Autism was flooded by a sewer overflow on Sept. 4 | Jacksonville School for Autism
September 18, 2024

12 sewer overflows due to heavy rain this month that ‘overwhelmed’ JEA’s system

Recent storms have caused a dozen separate JEA sanitary sewer overflows this month.…

Featured image for “What’s in store for the I-95/Emerson Street interchange”
The proposed median U-turn at the I-95/Emerson Street interchange. | FDOT
September 17, 2024

What’s in store for the I-95/Emerson Street interchange

FDOT has started a project to widen I-95 north of Emerson Street. The plan also adds a Median U-Turn interchange…

Featured image for “Help name FSCJ’s new manta ray mascot”
FSCJ's new manta ray mascot will be named Rayzor Ray. | FSCJ
September 17, 2024

Help name FSCJ’s new manta ray mascot

FSCJ just unveiled its new mascot, a blue manta ray. Submit name suggestions through Sept. 27.…

Featured image for “JTA wins grant to buy second St. Johns River Ferry boat”
The St. Johns River Ferry. | JTA
September 16, 2024

JTA wins grant to buy second St. Johns River Ferry boat

A federal grant means the JTA can purchase a second ship to augment service on the St. Johns River Ferry.…

Featured image for “Jax area rainfall already above average before September deluge”
Heavy rains on Sept. 5 in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 16, 2024

Jax area rainfall already above average before September deluge

Even before the extremely wet beginning of September, August in North Florida had marked a return to above-average rainfall across…

Featured image for “Kids’ soccer camp offered before Jags game on Oct. 6”
Sporting JAX co-owner Fred Taylor, left, and technical director Mauricio Ruiz watch a soccer demonstration by members of the All Nations Soccer Academy on Tuesday, June 25. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 13, 2024

Kids’ soccer camp offered before Jags game on Oct. 6

The one-day kids’ soccer camp will be held a the Flex Field ahead of the Colts vs. Jaguars game on…

Featured image for “Veteran Jacksonville police officer charged with kidnapping, stalking woman”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters discusses the arrest of Officer Brian Housend on Thursday, Sept. 12. | News4Jax
September 13, 2024

Veteran Jacksonville police officer charged with kidnapping, stalking woman

A veteran Jacksonville police officer remains jailed on $1.25 million bail in Nassau County after his arrest.…

Featured image for “FSCJ opens Nassau County’s first state college commercial truck training center”
Some of the trucks that students at FSCJ's new Commercial Vehicle Driving program will train on at the Nassau Center. | FSCJ
September 12, 2024

FSCJ opens Nassau County’s first state college commercial truck training center

Florida State College at Jacksonville has cut the ribbon on its new Commercial Vehicle Driving program in Nassau County.…

Featured image for “5 Duval students arrested for threatening schools, the youngest 11 years old”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters (left) joined Duval County School Supt. Christopher Bernier and School Board Police Chief Jackson Short at Wednesday's news conference. | News4Jax
September 11, 2024

5 Duval students arrested for threatening schools, the youngest 11 years old

The sheriff and school superintendent jointly announced the arrests of five young students on charges of making threats against their…

Featured image for “Permanent fire station coming to Jacksonville’s Cedar Point”
Design illustration of new Fire Station 76. | Stellar and PQH
September 11, 2024

Permanent fire station coming to Jacksonville’s Cedar Point

Ground was broken on Fire Station 76, which will replace a temporary station in Northeast Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “After 32 years, iconic British pub in St. Augustine to close Sunday”
The Kings Head British Pub on U.S. 1 near St. Augustine. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 11, 2024

After 32 years, iconic British pub in St. Augustine to close Sunday

The King’s Head British Pub owner says a drop-off in customers means she can’t cover her costs some days.…

Featured image for “Jax coding program graduates first class, who created city services dashboard”
September 9, 2024

Jax coding program graduates first class, who created city services dashboard

Twenty-two teens and young adults are now graduates of the city’s new Jax Code 4 Change program, aimed at harnessing…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | When will the city replace Five Points trash cans?”
One of the new trash cans stands on Park Street in Five Points. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 6, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | When will the city replace Five Points trash cans?

A Jacksonville Today reader says trash cans in the Five Points area are still causing problems.…

Featured image for “Nassau County contractor indicted on fraud charges”
Craig Seabrooks posted this image of his unfinished home in Hilliard on his GoFundMe page. The contractor on the home, Nassau County builder Michael Chad Reed, was arrested on 12 charges related to construction fraud, according to his arrest warrant. | GoFundMe
September 6, 2024

Nassau County contractor indicted on fraud charges

A contractor from Hilliard has been arrested on a 12-count indictment that alleges he failed to complete homes that customers…