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 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 “Jacksonville Zoo’s geriatric giraffe has died”
Spock, a 22-year-old giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, has died. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
February 13, 2024

Jacksonville Zoo’s geriatric giraffe has died

Spock was one of two animals to die at the zoo this week of age-related issues. The other was a…

Featured image for “Utility lineworkers will test their skills at Metro Park”
JEA crews install dozens of power poles Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Metropolitan Park in advance of this weekend's Florida Lineman Competition | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 12, 2024

Utility lineworkers will test their skills at Metro Park

The public is invited to set up lawn chairs and munch on food truck fare as lineworkers demonstrate their skill…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission”
R. Brett James is Jacksonville's new Director of Planning. | NAVFAC Southwest
February 9, 2024

Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission

R. Brett James, a former Navy civilian director, took over this week as Jacksonville’s chief of planning and development.…

Featured image for “Remembering Harriet Beecher Stowe in her former community”
A photograph of Harriet Beecher Stowe and her family in front of their Mandarin Road cottage. | Mandarin Community Club
February 6, 2024

Remembering Harriet Beecher Stowe in her former community

A pavilion along Mandarin Road will mirror the architecture of the long-gone cottage where one of Mandarin’s most historic figures…

Featured image for “The open road: Shands Bridge work is done”
Work on the Shands Bridge has been completed. | The Jaxson
February 6, 2024

The open road: Shands Bridge work is done

The Shands Bridge won’t close next weekend after all. Roadwork that shut down the bridge the past two weekends has…

Featured image for “Brew flows again at Intuition Ale Works after fire shutdown”
The demolition at the fire-ravaged Rise Doro apartment building can be seen behind Intuition Ale Works, which has reopened a week after the fire. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 5, 2024

Brew flows again at Intuition Ale Works after fire shutdown

Life is slowly returning to normal around the fire-ravaged Rise Doro apartment complex as demolition continues.…

Featured image for “Friendship Fountain will glow again on Feb. 15”
City crews conducted a test run on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, of Friendship Fountain's new synchronized water, light and music program. | News4Jax
February 2, 2024

Friendship Fountain will glow again on Feb. 15

The fountain, under renovation for two years, will return during the next Sip and Stroll on the Southbank.…

Featured image for “Meet Mina, the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo”
The public chose the name Mina for the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
February 2, 2024

Meet Mina, the new tiger cub at the Jacksonville Zoo

The zoo just announced Mina’s name, which was chosen in a public vote over two weeks.…

Featured image for “Rise Doro’s walls start tumbling down”
A crane from ELEV8 tears pieces of wall off the Rise Doro facade on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Kitchens with stoves and cabinets are visible inside. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
February 2, 2024

Rise Doro’s walls start tumbling down

Demolition of the burned-out apartment building Downtown is expected to take eight to 10 weeks. The developer, Rise: A Real…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s trans community fears new driver’s license rule”
Samples of Florida driver's licenses and learner permit. | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
January 31, 2024

Jacksonville’s trans community fears new driver’s license rule

Florida is mandating that the gender listed on a driver’s license must match a person’s sex at birth.…

Featured image for “Demolition permit set for burned-out apartments”
Safety fencing goes up on Wednesday around the Rise Doro apartment building as the city prepares to demolish most of it after a fire gutted the structure. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 31, 2024

Demolition permit set for burned-out apartments

The city says demolition will occur “as switly as possible” at Rise Doro apartments Downtown.…

Featured image for “Jax Beach services returning after ‘cybersecurity event’”
Jacksonville Beach City Hall | Google
January 31, 2024

Jax Beach services returning after ‘cybersecurity event’

Jacksonville Beach has released few details about why its information systems collapsed, but staff are restoring systems as quickly as…

Featured image for “Demolition looms for fire-ravaged Rise Doro complex”
The fire-ravaged Rise Doro shows where parts of the seventh floor walls collapsed due to damage from the fire that hit it late Sunday. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 30, 2024

Demolition looms for fire-ravaged Rise Doro complex

Firefighters continue to hose down hotspots inside the apartment complex, two days after the fire struck.…

Featured image for “Massive fire torches Rise Doro apartments Downtown”
More than 100 firefighters battle a fire Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the $65 million Rise Doro apartments. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 29, 2024

Massive fire torches Rise Doro apartments Downtown

The fire dealt a blow to Downtown development just a month before the new apartment building was set to open.…

Featured image for “Riverfront Plaza construction is about to begin at Landing site”
Contractors install construction fencing Friday around the city's planned Riverfront Plaza. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 26, 2024

Riverfront Plaza construction is about to begin at Landing site

Fences have been erected as work begins to transform the fomer Jacksonville Landing into a waterfront park.…

Featured image for “Electric racers to zap around FSCJ’s Cecil Center”
Electric race cars lined up for the first Electrathon of Florida race on Jan. 20, 2024, at Middleton High School. | Electrathon of Florida
January 26, 2024

Electric racers to zap around FSCJ’s Cecil Center

High school and college students will buzz around in the next round of Electrathon, a competition of single-seat electric race…

Featured image for “Record passengers flying through Jacksonville’s airport”
January 25, 2024

Record passengers flying through Jacksonville’s airport

A total of 7.5 million people flew in or out of Jacksonville International Airport in 2023.…

Featured image for “Drag racing is returning to Northeast Florida”
Callahan Speedway's current oval go-cart track, at top, joins other facilities at the site. The drag strip will be built to the south. | Callahan Speedway
January 24, 2024

Drag racing is returning to Northeast Florida

A drag strip planned for Callahan would be the first of its kind in Northeast Florida since 2017.…

Featured image for “Ex-Fire Rescue chief claims he was ‘coerced’ to resign”
Jacksonville's former chief of emergency preparedness, Todd Smith, speaks at a news conference. | City of Jacksonville
January 23, 2024

Ex-Fire Rescue chief claims he was ‘coerced’ to resign

Todd Smith, Jacksonville’s former chief of emergency preparedness, alleges he was forced out after raising concerns about a contractor’s spending.…

Featured image for “Jaxport marine company will triple its space”
Jaxport’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal. | Jaxport
January 22, 2024

Jaxport marine company will triple its space

Enstructure will take over space of Southeast Toyota Distributors, which is moving to the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.…

Featured image for “Former Duval School Board chair will take over OneJax”
OneJax CEO Elizabeth Andersen. | OneJax
January 22, 2024

Former Duval School Board chair will take over OneJax

Elizabeth Andersen has been a member of OneJax’s board. She will begin as CEO on Feb. 5.…

Featured image for “Duval rated low for children’s well-being; St. Johns is best”
Children play at James Weldon Johnson Park. | Peter Haden, WJCT News 89.9
January 18, 2024

Duval rated low for children’s well-being; St. Johns is best

A Florida Policy Institute study ranks Duval far below some neighboring counties like Clay, Nassau and St. Johns.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County adopts state law for youths driving golf carts”
Golf cart drivers now must be at least 18 years old. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 18, 2024

St. Johns County adopts state law for youths driving golf carts

Driving a golf cart on designated roads in St. Johns County now requires the driver to be at least 18…

Featured image for “Eastside and Hastings picked as Main Street communities”
The Jacksonville Melanin Market takes place on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. | LIFT JAX
January 17, 2024

Eastside and Hastings picked as Main Street communities

The Historic Eastside and downtown Hastings expect that the designation will help them redevelop their communities.…