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 “8 arrested in Hastings drug and gambling bust”
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office confiscated $400,000 in cash, gambling machines and drug paraphernalia at a store in Hastings. | St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
June 11, 2024

8 arrested in Hastings drug and gambling bust

Investigators seized gambling machines, drug paraphernalia and $400,000 cash in a raid at the 207 Express store.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l What’s the plan for fenced-off lot in Jax Beach?”
This fenced-in lot on 1st Street North will be reopned to parking in Jacksonville Beach. | Google
June 10, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l What’s the plan for fenced-off lot in Jax Beach?

A Jacksonville Today reader wants to know when Jacksonville Beach will do something about a fenced-off lot near the beach.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville firefighters reach contract agreement”
Jacksonville firefighters have reached a tentative contract agreeement.
June 7, 2024

Jacksonville firefighters reach contract agreement

The contract includes a 12% salary increase in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Retirement benefits for new enrollees would move to…

Featured image for “UNF students dig deep into the history of an ancient people”
University of North Florida history student Shawn Steiner meticulously sorts through a 1,000-year-old Timucua midden mound, looking for pottery shards and other artifacts at a dig site within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
June 7, 2024

UNF students dig deep into the history of an ancient people

University of North Florida students are uncovering Jacksonville’s Timucuan past during archaeological digs along the Intracoastal Waterway.…

Featured image for “Sheriff’s Office nears move to former Florida Blue site”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is leasing space inside the Florida Blue Riverside Office Complex at 532 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn. | Jacksonville Daily Record
June 6, 2024

Sheriff’s Office nears move to former Florida Blue site

Hundreds of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigators and staff will move to the Florida Blue Riverside Office Complex in the fall.…

Featured image for “Boater Skip Day floats into Bayard Point on Friday”
Boats cram Bayard Point during Clay County’s unofficial Boater Skip Day last year | 904 Happy Hour
June 5, 2024

Boater Skip Day floats into Bayard Point on Friday

Hundreds of boaters will skip work Friday and party on the St. Johns River in Clay County.…

Featured image for “Police test bodycams in Clay County”
Clay County Deputy Mike White is one of 12 officers testing bodycams in the department. The current unit being tested is an AXON Body 4. | Clay County Sheriff's Office
June 4, 2024

Police test bodycams in Clay County

Almost six years after the first police bodycams arrived in Northeast Florida, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is adopting them.…

Featured image for “Former Mayport commander had classified material at home”
USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul. | USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul LCS 21
May 31, 2024

Former Mayport commander had classified material at home

Gregory Edward McLean has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and possessing classified…

Featured image for “Jacksonville reopens roofing assistance program”
Jacksonville has reopened its housing assistance program.
May 30, 2024

Jacksonville reopens roofing assistance program

Homeowners can apply for almost $15,000 to repair eligible roofs through the Home Roof Rehabilitation Program.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Why spend more money on another septic tank study?”
JEA workers connect a home to a sewer line in 2014. | Peter Haden, Jacksonville Today
May 30, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Why spend more money on another septic tank study?

A Jacksonville Today reader questions a proposed $200,000 study of septic tanks in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Civil War graveyard restored, starting with one Black soldier”
This is the new headstone for Cpl. William Johnson, a member of the U.S. Colored Infantry who was buried in the 1890s in a small church graveyard on what is now Jacksonville University. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2024

Civil War graveyard restored, starting with one Black soldier

Jacksonville University, the Local Initiatives Support Coalition and others are restoring the historic African American graveyard in Arlington.…

Featured image for “It’s Jacksonville’s week in the spotlight on reality TV”
Victor Ritz is one of 10 UNF students who appear this week on “The College Tour” on Amazon Prime | Amazon Prime
May 28, 2024

It’s Jacksonville’s week in the spotlight on reality TV

“Botched Bariatrics” will feature a surgeon from Jacksonville, and “The College Tour” will include 10 students from the University of…

Featured image for “27 historic buildings considered endangered”
The historic Laura Street Trio redevelopment includes apartments, a hotel and restaurant. | Jacksonville Daily Record
May 24, 2024

27 historic buildings considered endangered

The Jacksonville History Center included the Laura Street Trio and many schools on its annual list of most endangered historic…

Featured image for “St. Johns County court clerk deploys overseas”
Brandon Patty, St. Johns County clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller. | St. Johns County clerk of the circuit court
May 22, 2024

St. Johns County court clerk deploys overseas

Brandon Patty, clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller, is shipping out to support U.S. Navy contingency operations in…

Featured image for “Archie the rhino recovering at zoo after tooth removal”
Archie the southern white rhino lies anesthetized during surgery to remove a tooth on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. | Curtis Dvorak
May 22, 2024

Archie the rhino recovering at zoo after tooth removal

Animal care experts came from around the state came to help remove Archie’s abscessed tooth at the Jacksonville Zoo and…

Featured image for “New owners buy Five Points Theater; Sun-Ray to close”
Sun-Ray Cinema has shown its last movie in Five Points. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 21, 2024

New owners buy Five Points Theater; Sun-Ray to close

Union South Partners plans $2 million in renovations to the historic four-story building, but the new owners are not renewing…

Featured image for “Local hate crime bill called ‘cheap political pandering’”
Jacksonville City Council member Terrance Freeman | News4Jax
May 20, 2024

Local hate crime bill called ‘cheap political pandering’

City Council member Terrance Freeman is opposing a proposed hate crime law in Jacksonville, calling it unnecessary and insulting to…

Featured image for “Ponte Vedra Beach man accused of COVID PPE fraud”
A woman wears a COVID-19 mask. | Alvaro Barrientos, AP
May 20, 2024

Ponte Vedra Beach man accused of COVID PPE fraud

James Elliott Davis II was indicted on charges of enticing people to invest more than $7 million in a phony…

Featured image for “School employee among 27 accused of soliciting children”
Two people have died in five days while in custody of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
May 20, 2024

School employee among 27 accused of soliciting children

A Duval school maintenance worker and a former professional baseball player are among the people arrested in an internet sting.…

Featured image for “Sheriff Office reexamines teenage girls’ slayings”
Jazmine Shelton, 13, and best friend Megan Simmons, 14, were shot and killed in August 2013 in a trailer home on Missouri Avenue. | MAD DADS
May 20, 2024

Sheriff Office reexamines teenage girls’ slayings

No leads ever emerged in the shootings of Jazmine Shelton, 13, and Megan Simmons, 14, on Aug. 10, 2013.…

Featured image for “Former Nassau deputy pleads guilty to drug charges”
Former Nassau County sheriff’s Sgt. James Hickox.
May 17, 2024

Former Nassau deputy pleads guilty to drug charges

James Hickox admitted to stealing marijuana and cocaine while working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.…

Featured image for “Trauma survivors cheer their saviors at Memorial Hospital”
Ponte Vedra High School senior Madison Schemitz, right, shoots a selfie with her mother, Jacqueline Rogue, and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Lt. Matt Avera. They were at the Trauma Survivors Day event Thursday, May 16, 2024, at HCA Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

Trauma survivors cheer their saviors at Memorial Hospital

Eight grateful patients reunited with teams at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital Jacksonville that saved their lives and in some cases…

Featured image for “It seems rainy lately, but we’re actually drier than normal”
Rain pours down on Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park during a thunderstorm Wednesday, May 15, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

It seems rainy lately, but we’re actually drier than normal

April was the third consecutive month of below-average rainfall for parts of the St. Johns River Water Management District.…

Featured image for “Two Mandarin Middle School staff accused of misconduct”
Mandarin Middle School | Google
May 15, 2024

Two Mandarin Middle School staff accused of misconduct

A school police officer was arrested and a security guard fired after two unrelated incidents.…