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 “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…

Featured image for “Flooded San Marco worries about what’s next”
City crews work to clear storm drains after flooding on Old St. Augustine Road at San Jose Boulevard on Friday morning, Sept. 6, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 6, 2024

Flooded San Marco worries about what’s next

In some ways, residents say, the flooding this week was worse than a hurricane.…

Featured image for “Last piece added at Norman Studios silent film site”
This is the two-story film set building on Commerce Street when Eagle Studios used it. The building also had an outdoor film stage, as seen in this early 1900s image, as well as a pool, now buried along Arlington Road. | Norman Studios Silent Film Museum
September 5, 2024

Last piece added at Norman Studios silent film site

Jacksonville has purchased a two-story film stage at the Norman Studios museum, preserving one of the last fully intact silent…

Featured image for “Jacksonville lands Florida’s first autonomous vehicle plant”
Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of Holon, announces plans for an autonomous vehicle plant on Jacksonville's Northside. The Holon autonomous vehicle is shown on the left. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 5, 2024

Jacksonville lands Florida’s first autonomous vehicle plant

Holon, a German company, will build autonomous vehicles that will be used on Jacksonville’s Ultimate Urban Circulator.…

Featured image for “FDOT wants us to stop trashing our roads”
Someone discarded a sofa along Butler Boulevard in Jacksonville. | Florida Department of Transportation
August 30, 2024

FDOT wants us to stop trashing our roads

A new campaign called “Litter Less Live More” is trying to educate drivers about the damage caused by littering.…

Featured image for “Laser strikes threaten aircraft in Jacksonville”
An FAA simulation of what a laser shot at an aircraft cockpit looks like. | FAA
August 30, 2024

Laser strikes threaten aircraft in Jacksonville

Pilots have reported at least 65 laser strikes at Jacksonville International Airport this year.…

Featured image for “Climate action plan begins to form in Jacksonville”
Ashantae Green, Jacksonville’s sustainability manager, speaks at a meeting Thursday to kick off Jacksonville's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 29, 2024

Climate action plan begins to form in Jacksonville

A roundtable discussion Thursday began months of groundwork to create a Clean Air Northeast Florida Climate Action Plan. More ideas…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Is the city fixing the smashed fence at Memorial Park?”
A new support wall was being laid Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, at Memorial Park. The metal fence damaged in a vehicle crash remained to be fixed. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 28, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Is the city fixing the smashed fence at Memorial Park?

A Jacksonville Today reader asks about repairs she saw at Memorial Park – now underway by the city.…

Featured image for “You can now ride a driverless vehicle to lunch in Brooklyn”
JTA will use the EV Star Passenger Van to transport people in Brooklyn. | GreenPower Motor Co.
August 27, 2024

You can now ride a driverless vehicle to lunch in Brooklyn

JTA is testing autonomous vehicles along Riverside Avenue in advance of launching its Ultimate Urban Circulator next summer.…

Featured image for “Shigella infection kills 2 bonobos at Jacksonville zoo”
Two bonobos at the Jacksonville zoo — Jenga and Jumanji — have succumbed to the Shigella bacteria. | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
August 27, 2024

Shigella infection kills 2 bonobos at Jacksonville zoo

The deaths of brothers Jumanji and Jenga comes just four days after a western lowland gorilla died from the infection.…

Featured image for “JU law school opens at new Downtown site”
Jacksonville University’s new College of Law is housed in more than 50,000 square feet on four floors of the former Atlantic Bank Building, built in 1909 at 121 W. Forsyth St. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
August 26, 2024

JU law school opens at new Downtown site

Jacksonville’s only law school has officially opened its home in the historic former Atlantic Bank Building.…