Dan Scanlan Reporter, WJCT News 89.9 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 1980’s 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 before joining the WJCT News team.
Featured image for “Norwood Plaza owner assailed over leaks and potholes”
Dozens of potholes pockmark the Norwood Plaza parking lot. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 8, 2024

Norwood Plaza owner assailed over leaks and potholes

City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman joined business owners to demand repairs.…

Featured image for “Black Creek flooding could drive out residents”
The Black Creek floods Lazy Acres Road in Clay County on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. | Clay County
August 6, 2024

Black Creek flooding could drive out residents

The north prong of Black Creek had reached 20 feet deep as of Tuesday afternoon — 4 feet above flood…

Featured image for “Debby downgraded; rain and wind continue on First Coast”
A car splashes through the flooded San Marco Boulevard intersection with LaSalle Street on Monday morning, Aug. 5, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 5, 2024

Debby downgraded; rain and wind continue on First Coast

Hurricane Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm late Monday morning, but the effects were continuing across Northeast Florida.…

Featured image for “Sheriff’s Office survey judges department’s work”
Photo: Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
August 2, 2024

Sheriff’s Office survey judges department’s work

A majority of people think the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is doing a good job, but many Black people fear police…

Featured image for “Makeover complete on historic Green Cove street”
The redesign of Walnut Street in downtown Green Cove Springs shows brick paving and other improvements from Palmetto to Orange Avenue. | City of Green Cove Springs
August 2, 2024

Makeover complete on historic Green Cove street

The work on Walnut Street is the first of several projects to make downtown Green Cove Springs more of a…

Featured image for “Downtown street could be renamed to honor Ben Frazier”
The late Ben Frazier speaks in mid-January 2023, pressing City Council members to get rid of the city’s Confederate monuments. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 1, 2024

Downtown street could be renamed to honor Ben Frazier

Legislation before Jacksonville City Council would rename Confederate Street as Frazier Place.…

Featured image for “Newest fire station opens on Lenox Avenue”
Fire Station 22 firefighters salute as the station's flag is raised for the first time on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 31, 2024

Newest fire station opens on Lenox Avenue

The latest Jacksonville fire station replaces a 58-year-old facility that originally opened for volunteers.…

Featured image for “New skate park is ready to roll under Fuller Warren Bridge”
Despite "no trespassing" signs, skateboarders try out the Artist Walk Skatepark in Riverside on Monday, July 29, 2024. The skate park will open in early August. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 30, 2024

New skate park is ready to roll under Fuller Warren Bridge

The $8.8 million skate park will open in early August between Riverside Avenue and Park Street, but skateboarders are already…

Featured image for “4 arrested in slaying of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio”
Charles Jones, also known as Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio. | News4Jax
July 29, 2024

4 arrested in slaying of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio

The rapper was ambushed outside a hotel in Tampa while celebrating his 26th birthday.…

Featured image for “Aviator’s remains identified 79 years after WWII crash”
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey, 24, of Jacksonville. | Find A Grave
July 29, 2024

Aviator’s remains identified 79 years after WWII crash

Alfred Hamwey of Jacksonville was shot down in 1945 while fighting Japanese forces in New Guinea.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does the city’s resilience office have any power?”
Jacksonville's chief resilience officer, Anne Coglianese, works at her desk.
July 26, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Does the city’s resilience office have any power?

A Jacksonville Today reader asks whether the city’s Office of Resilience is purely advisory and is City Hall listening?…

Featured image for “Enchantment Con will beguile Jax on Saturday”
Fans at last year's Enchantment Con gaze at a statue of a basilisk — a fictional serpent-like creature. | Enchantment Con
July 25, 2024

Enchantment Con will beguile Jax on Saturday

Enchantment Con will wrap together sci-fi, fantasy and cosplaying for lovers of all things fantastic.…

Featured image for “Suspected serial rapist arrested after three decades”
Sheriff T.K. Waters announces the arrest of a suspected serial rapist from the 1990s. State Attorney Melissa Nelson and other law enforcement staff joined Waters at a news conference Thursday, July 25, 2024. | News4Jax
July 25, 2024

Suspected serial rapist arrested after three decades

Advances in DNA testing led to the arrest of Calvin Dumas, 68. Police said he attacked women in their homes…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Can a judicial candidate advertise herself as ‘conservative’?”
A former Putnam County school resource officer was sentenced to life in prison for a sexual relationship with a child.
July 24, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Can a judicial candidate advertise herself as ‘conservative’?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why a judicial candidate can advertise as a conservative in a nonpartisan race.…

Featured image for “Members sought for first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board”
Mayor Donna Deegan announces the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board during a Pride Month event June 28, 2024, at City Hall. | city of Jacksonville
July 24, 2024

Members sought for first LGBTQ+ Advisory Board

Applications are open until Aug. 9 for the mayor’s inaugural LGBTQ+ Advisory Board…

Featured image for “Jacksonville unveils 12-point plan to battle homelessness”
People sit outside tents on East Adams Street in Downtown Jacksonville, near North Liberty Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 22, 2024

Jacksonville unveils 12-point plan to battle homelessness

The city’s plan attacks homelessness on multiple fronts and carries out a new state law that bans camping on public…

Featured image for “Danger Will Robinson: Robots rule in sci-fi museum”
A replica of the Robby the Robot that appeared in the 1950s sci-fi film "Forbidden Planet" lights up as it speaks lines from the film. A poster of the film is displayed near it. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 21, 2024

Danger Will Robinson: Robots rule in sci-fi museum

Collector Ozzie Bilotta has amassed a $7 million assortment of robots, vintage toys and science fiction artifacts.…

Featured image for “St. Marys Bridge will shut down next week for routine repairs”
The St. Marys Bridge on U.S. 17, at the Florida-Georgia border. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 19, 2024

St. Marys Bridge will shut down next week for routine repairs

Traffic will be detoured from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Florida-Georgia border.…

Featured image for “Keiser’s new simulator trains students for police careers”
Justin Kunst takes aim at a simulated school shooter during a drill at Keiser University. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 18, 2024

Keiser’s new simulator trains students for police careers

Keiser University in Jacksonville uses a new interactive simulator to put students in active shooter situations or other crises they…

Featured image for “Long-awaited widening begins on Old Middleburg Road”
The Better Jacksonville Plan will widen Old Middleburg Road from two to four lanes with other improvements. The project was first proposed 24 years ago. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 18, 2024

Long-awaited widening begins on Old Middleburg Road

Residents have been waiting more than two decades for the road to be widened from two lanes to four.…

Featured image for “Neighbors tire of humming generators at Downtown Hyatt”
Massive portable generators line the back of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel, five months after an electrical fire at the Downtown building. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 17, 2024

Neighbors tire of humming generators at Downtown Hyatt

The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel has been using generators since a fire five months ago.…

Featured image for “Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl”
Former Jacksonville police officer Josue Garriga III makes a court appearance in Clay County in March.
July 17, 2024

Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl

Josue Garriga III was accused of pursuing a relationship with a Clay County girl he had met in church.…

Featured image for “Yulee man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol breach”
A mob storms the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. | AP
July 16, 2024

Yulee man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Garth Walton is one of at least seven people from the Jacksonville area charged in connection with the breach of…

Featured image for “Suspect dies in custody; he’s the second in six days”
Two people have died in five days while in custody of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
July 16, 2024

Suspect dies in custody; he’s the second in six days

Joseph Lawson, 43, was arrested after scuffling with police and firefighters. He died at the hospital.…