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 “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.…

Featured image for “This Jacksonville tiger cub still needs a name”
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is seeking a name for this Malayan tiger cub. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
January 17, 2024

This Jacksonville tiger cub still needs a name

The zoo welcomed three of the critically endangered Malayan cats in November. The community can vote to name one of…

Featured image for “FSCJ narrows possible mascots to three. Vote for your choice.”
A kraken, a legendary sea monster, is one of three potential mascots at Florida State College at Jacksonville. | PBS
January 17, 2024

FSCJ narrows possible mascots to three. Vote for your choice.

Florida State College at Jacksonville wants you to vote for its new mascot: a kraken, a manta ray or a…

Featured image for “Exonerated prisoner dies after release in 1976 murder”
Clifford “Boonie” Williams, 81, died late Thursday, according to his daughter. | Anne Schindler, WJCT News 89.9
January 16, 2024

Exonerated prisoner dies after release in 1976 murder

Clifford “Boonie” Williams was released from prison after serving 43 years for a murder he didn’t commit.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville roof program shuts down applications”
January 16, 2024

Jacksonville roof program shuts down applications

The Home Roof Rehabilitation pilot program reached its maximum number oa applications within hours.…

Featured image for “St. Johns commission to discuss censure in private”
St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Joseph waves an American flag as she begins her comments during a meeting Nov. 21, 2023. | St. Johns County
January 12, 2024

St. Johns commission to discuss censure in private

The commission will consider a private law firm’s report regarding Commissioner Krista Joseph, who was censured for comments she made…

Featured image for “Corrections officer accused of domestic battery”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks at a news conference.
January 12, 2024

Corrections officer accused of domestic battery

Romeo Kei, a Jacksonville corrections officer, was arrested after a fight with a family member, Sheriff T.K. Waters said.…

Featured image for “Otis Mason: Beloved St. Johns County educator passes away”
Otis A. Mason | St. Augustine High School
January 11, 2024

Otis Mason: Beloved St. Johns County educator passes away

A St. Augustine native, Mason rose to become St. Johns County’s first Black superintendent of schools after decades as a…

Featured image for “Library lands $1 million grant for Black history collection”
This is part of the Jacksonville Main Library’s African American History Collection. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
January 10, 2024

Library lands $1 million grant for Black history collection

The grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation is the largest private donation in the library’s history.…

Featured image for “Affordable rental homes called critical in West Augustine”
This space will become home to Villages of New Augustine, an affordable housing development in St. Johns County. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 8, 2024

Affordable rental homes called critical in West Augustine

A 92-unit apartment complex offering affordable rents will start construction Wednesday in West Augustine.…

Featured image for “Bookseller says it’s giving away books removed from Duval schools”
These are some of the 22,500 books that Firestorm Books says were removed from Duval schools. | Firestorm Books
January 5, 2024

Bookseller says it’s giving away books removed from Duval schools

Firestorm Books of Asheville, North Carolina, says it obtained more than 22,000 books that had been removed from Duval County…

Featured image for “Trash pickup reduced in Fernandina Beach”
WM will pick up trash once a week in Fernandina Beach. | Waste Management
January 5, 2024

Trash pickup reduced in Fernandina Beach

The city’s new contract with WM reduces pickup from twice a week to once beginning Monday.…

Featured image for “14 busted in undercover drug sting; 13 more sought”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks at a news conference.
January 3, 2024

14 busted in undercover drug sting; 13 more sought

Operation Players Club also seized 26 guns as well as 118 pounds of methamphetamine, 12.5 kilos of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana…

Featured image for “Duval awarded $32 million to renourish beaches”
A sign warns of dune restoration at Little Talbot Island in 2016. | Blake Allen, WHCT News 89.9
January 2, 2024

Duval awarded $32 million to renourish beaches

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ grant will pay to renourish critically eroded beachfront in Atlantic, Neptune and Jacksonville beaches.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County PAL plans 37-acre sports complex for kids”
The first phase of the St. Johns County Police Athletic League's new athletic complex in Elkton will include three football fields, one encircled by a running track. | St. Johns PAL
December 29, 2023

St. Johns County PAL plans 37-acre sports complex for kids

The Police Athletic League ultimately plans to handle a variety of events including football, soccer, baseball, track and field, even…