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 “Harriet Beecher Stowe – bronze and life-size – returns to Mandarin”
The hands of one of the Harriet Beecher Stowe installation's children poke through their protective wrap on Friday. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 8, 2024

Harriet Beecher Stowe – bronze and life-size – returns to Mandarin

Famed 19th century abolitionist/author’s lifesize bronze likeness will be unveiled Sunday.…

Featured image for “Clay Sheriff Michelle Cook lists her priorities for 2nd term”
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook. | Clay County Sheriff's Office
November 6, 2024

Clay Sheriff Michelle Cook lists her priorities for 2nd term

Sheriff Michelle Cook won a second term with almost 80% of the vote in Tuesday’s election.…

Featured image for “Incumbent congressmen win reelection in Northeast Florida”
U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2024

Incumbent congressmen win reelection in Northeast Florida

Three Republican incumbents from Northeast Florida will return to the U.S. House of Representatives.…

Featured image for “Beaten man sues police over arrest that went viral”
Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels announces a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. With him are Le’Keian Woods and his mother, Natassia Woods. | News4Jax
October 31, 2024

Beaten man sues police over arrest that went viral

Le’Keian Woods was severely beaten after running from officers who suspected a drug deal. They said he resisted arrest.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville cop charged with false imprisonment”
Chief Mike Kee speaks Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, about the arrest of a Jacksonville police officer. | News4Jax
October 31, 2024

Jacksonville cop charged with false imprisonment

Officer John C. Burgos was arrested early Thursday on charges of false imprisonment and battery.…

Featured image for “2 developments get underway in Jacksonville’s urban core”
The first phase of Springfield's Emerald Station officially opened Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, on North Liberty Street. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 30, 2024

2 developments get underway in Jacksonville’s urban core

The Emerald Station and Gateway Jax developments will transform neglected parts of the city with meeting spaces, offices and residences.…

Featured image for “Teen accused of machete threat at Beaches polling site”
A voter enters the polling place at the Beaches Branch Library in October 2024.
October 30, 2024

Teen accused of machete threat at Beaches polling site

Police said an 18-year-old man threatened Harris-Walz supporters with a machete at a voting site in Neptune Beach.…

Featured image for “Florida-Georgia game could reveal its future soon”
EverBank Stadium is always filled for the Florida-Georgia football game. | Georgia-Florida Football Game Facebook
October 29, 2024

Florida-Georgia game could reveal its future soon

The historic football game will take over EverBank Stadium on Saturday, but the future is in question after next year.…

Featured image for “Police kill man threatening family with butter knife”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, right, and Director Mark Romano discuss the shooting Monday night, Oct. 28, 2024, in the Durkeeville area. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 29, 2024

Police kill man threatening family with butter knife

Officers said the man pulled a knife and appeared to make stabbing motions.…

Featured image for “Amendment 3 marijuana issue fires up people on both sides”
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis speaks against Amendment 3 on Thursday at Jacksonville's FOP lodge. Joining her are Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, right, and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. | News4Jax
October 25, 2024

Amendment 3 marijuana issue fires up people on both sides

Ron and Casey DeSantis are agressively fighting Amendment 3. Critics say they shouldn’t use tax money to fight the marijuana…

Featured image for “Clay County installing 500 defibrillators in public places”
Clay County will get these Stryker Lifepak CR2 defibrillators for use in outdoor sites like parks and sports complexes. | Stryker
October 24, 2024

Clay County installing 500 defibrillators in public places

The county is installing defibrillators at parks, sports complexes, senior centers and other public venues.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | We answer your questions about early voting”
Campaign signs line Hendricks Avenue outside the San Marco library polling site. An orange cone indicates the 150-foot buffer where signs are not allowed. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 24, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | We answer your questions about early voting

Jacksonville Today readers ask about paper ballots and campaign signs at voting sites. Here are the answers.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s resiliency strategy nets national award”
Tidal flooding is shown in Downtown Jacksonville during a recent hurricane. | City of Jacksonville
October 23, 2024

Jacksonville’s resiliency strategy nets national award

A national planning association honored Jacksonville for taking steps to enhance resiliency.…

Featured image for “DeSantis assails Amendment 4 at Jacksonville church”
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke in Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Jacksonville. | Governor’s Rumble page
October 22, 2024

DeSantis assails Amendment 4 at Jacksonville church

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appearance in Jacksonville was part of his public campaign against the Amendment 4 abortion issue.…

Featured image for “UNF Coggin School of Business launches $26.3M expansion”
UNF Coggin College of Business interim dean Albert Loh, right, speaks at a groundbreaking Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 22, 2024

UNF Coggin School of Business launches $26.3M expansion

The business school expansion will provide more space for classrooms, labs and fintech programs to meet the region’s need for…

Featured image for “Campaign aims to keep infants safe while they sleep”
Health experts at Wolfson Children's Hospital demonstrate the safest way to put an infant to sleep, on its back wrapped in a swaddle (at right) versus the most dangerous: on its side with toys, pillows and blankets. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 21, 2024

Campaign aims to keep infants safe while they sleep

Police, doctors and child safety advocates are trying to educate families about practices that put infants at risk.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville sheriff releases video of fatal police shooting”
Police bodycam video shows Dejuane Hayden being treated after an officer shot him during a chase in Arlington on Oct. 10. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 18, 2024

Jacksonville sheriff releases video of fatal police shooting

Bodycam videos from police show an officer shooting DeJuane Aki Haden after he ran from police.…

Featured image for “Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Deegan stands by comment on ‘concentration camps,’ but regrets causing pain

Mayor Donna Deegan responded to criticism from Republican leaders after she assailed Donald Trump’s immigration plan.…

Featured image for “Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor”
Contractor Corey Binderim sits with his defense attorneys on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, as a jury recommended that he serve life in prison. | News4Jax
October 17, 2024

Jury recommends life sentence for Clay County contractor

Contractor Corey Binderim was convicted of killing Susan Mauldin of Fleming Island in October 2019.…

Featured image for “Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks during an inteview Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, on Times Radio in London. | Times Radio
October 16, 2024

Republicans slam Deegan for labeling Trump’s immigration plan as ‘concentration camps’

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Donald Trump wants to create “concentration camps” to deport illegal immigrants.…

Featured image for “25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program”
A homeless camp in LaVilla. | Sydney Boles, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

25 homeless people will get a path into housing under Jacksonville program

A pilot program between Ability Housing and the city of Jacksonville will help homeless people get off the streets and…

Featured image for “Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend”
The Blue Angels will perform Saturday and Sunday at NAS Jacksonville.
October 15, 2024

Blue Angels return to NAS Jax this weekend

The Blue Angels will fly the skies Saturday and Sunday during the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Air Show.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?”
This stretch of eastbound Fort Caroline Road is under construction before the split where it becomes McCormick Road. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 15, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Why is McCormick Road torn up again?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why an East Arlington road project is taking so long.…

Featured image for “Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville”
Corrections Officer Bradley McNew
October 14, 2024

Off-duty corrections officer killed in Jacksonville

Corrections Officer Bradley McNew was shot to death after intervening in an argument between a man and woman at a…