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 “Newfangled roundabout planned in Murray Hill”
The Florida Department of Transportation is proposing a bean-shaped roundabout that crosses a railroad track in two spots and eliminates multiple traffic signals. | FDOT
April 24, 2024

Newfangled roundabout planned in Murray Hill

The Florida Department of Transportation plans an unusual bean-shaped roundabout with train tracks running through the middle of it.…

Featured image for “Torch Run raises $3,300 for Special Olympics”
More than 100 law enforcement officers carry the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” through Jacksonville on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Chief Jonathan Barrier leads the way with the flame. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Torch Run raises $3,300 for Special Olympics

The annual law enforcement run raised money for Special Olympics athletes who will compete at the state Summer Games in…

Featured image for “Battling hate crime: City leaders aim to triple penalties”
City Council member Rahman Johnson speaks about new anti-hate legislation with co-sponsor Reggie Gaffney Jr., left, on Monday, April 22, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Battling hate crime: City leaders aim to triple penalties

New legislation in Jacksonville could triple fines and jail time for people who commit hate crimes.…

Featured image for “Mom’s emotional plea opens Victims’ Rights Week”
Rose DeVoe speaks at Monday's Victims’ Rights Week kickoff at City Hall, remembering the unsolved murder of her son, Gabriel John DeVoe, in 2022. | News4Jax
April 22, 2024

Mom’s emotional plea opens Victims’ Rights Week

Rose DeVoe spoke about her son’s slaying as Jacksonville kicked off events for Crime Victims’ Rights Week.…

Featured image for “Ex-cop in sex case now faces federal charge”
Josue Garriga III. | News4Jax
April 19, 2024

Ex-cop in sex case now faces federal charge

Josue Garriga III, a former officer at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, is accused of using a cellphone to coerce a…

Featured image for “Photography couple earns Miss Aggie award in Mandarin”
Photographers Olis and Jo Garber are the, 2024 Miss Aggie Day award winners. | Mandarin Museum
April 19, 2024

Photography couple earns Miss Aggie award in Mandarin

The award, named after one-time Postmistress Agnes Grace Jones, will honor photographers Olis and Jo Garber for their contributions to…

Featured image for “Public offers suggestions to ‘reimagine’ Metro Park”
Metropolitan Park is seen looking east, where a stage once sat. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 18, 2024

Public offers suggestions to ‘reimagine’ Metro Park

The city is seeking suggestions on how to develop the riverfront park into a “part of the everyday experience.”…

Featured image for “Classic motorcycle show rolls to new site at car museum”
Classic British motorcycles were part of a recent Riding Into History motorcycle concours 'd'elegance. | Dohms Creative, Riding Into History
April 18, 2024

Classic motorcycle show rolls to new site at car museum

The 24th annual Riding Into History Motorcycle Concours is set for Saturday at the Classic Car Museum of St Augustine.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Riverfront Plaza design questions”
The plan for Riverfront Plaza, including a cafe with rooftop playground and a planned waterfront restaurant. | Downtown Investment Authority
April 17, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Riverfront Plaza design questions

We answer: Where will people park at Riverfront Plaza? & Will the park will be built on a concrete platform?…

Featured image for “DeSantis returns to Jax to sign limits on textbook challenges”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a wide-ranging education bill Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Jacksonville Classical Academy. | News4Jax
April 16, 2024

DeSantis returns to Jax to sign limits on textbook challenges

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will limit challenges to schoolbooks and ease the process for charter schools to…

Featured image for “Putnam jail director on leave after complaint”
Maj. Scott Surrency, director of the Putnam County jail, has been placed on leave.
April 11, 2024

Putnam jail director on leave after complaint

Maj. Scott Surrency was put on leave Tuesday during an internal investigation and audit.…

Featured image for “Tornado damages homes in St. Johns County”
High wind damaged this home in the Samara Lake subdivision. | News4Jax
April 11, 2024

Tornado damages homes in St. Johns County

An apparent tornado damaged fences, windows and playground equipment Thursday morning near World Golf Village.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville pledges $10M for affordable housing”
The Lofts at Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville are an affordable housing development using Sadowski trust funds.
April 10, 2024

Jacksonville pledges $10M for affordable housing

The city says the money would jump-start a loan fund for developers that could lead to more than 1,000 new…

Featured image for “ICARE lays murder toll at sheriff’s doorstep”
ICARE board member Geneva Pittman lays a flower atop others on the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office steps. The 124 carnations represented how many people were murdered in 2023 in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
April 8, 2024

ICARE lays murder toll at sheriff’s doorstep

ICARE again implored Sheriff T.K. Waters to adopt the Group Violence Intervention program to stem murders in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Ex-trooper faces prison for drugs, firearms and fraud”
Former Florida Highway Patrol trooper Joshua Earrey. | News4Jax
April 8, 2024

Ex-trooper faces prison for drugs, firearms and fraud

Joshua Grady Earrey pleaded guilty to federal drug and fraud charges. A related investigation of former Nassau County Sgt. James…

Featured image for “State Attorney Melissa Nelson files for reelection”
Melissa Nelson is state attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit. | News4Jax
April 5, 2024

State Attorney Melissa Nelson files for reelection

Nelson filed for election to a third term in the 4th Judicial Circuit, which includes Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties.…

Featured image for “The solar eclipse: Here’s what we’ll see in Jacksonville”
Photos of different types of solar eclipses — partial, annular and total solar eclipse. | NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
April 5, 2024

The solar eclipse: Here’s what we’ll see in Jacksonville

People in Northeast Florida will see about 70% of the sun’s disc missing — like a bite out of a…

Featured image for “Wheel-to-wheel go-kart racing helps longtime charity”
Go-kart teams will compete wheel to wheel Saturday at the 22nd Jacksonville Grand Prix to benefit Spina Bifida of Jacksonville. | Spina Bifida of Jacksonville
April 4, 2024

Wheel-to-wheel go-kart racing helps longtime charity

The annual Jacksonville Grand Prix, featuring professional and amateur drivers, raises money for Spina Bifida of Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Pigs, snow cones, traffic jams: It’s fair time in Clay County”
The sun sets over the Clay County Agricultural Fair. | Clay County Agricultural Fair
April 4, 2024

Pigs, snow cones, traffic jams: It’s fair time in Clay County

The Clay County Agricultural Fair opens Thursday, with up to 200,000 people expected this year.…

Featured image for “US 17 bridge to close Thursday at Florida-Georgia line”
The St. Marys Bridge crosses the St. Marys River at the Florida/Georgia state line. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
April 3, 2024

US 17 bridge to close Thursday at Florida-Georgia line

The historic St. Marys Bridge on U.S. 17 will be closed for inspections from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Was it cheaper to open a fire station in a renovated home?”
Marine Fire Station 68 in Mandarin. | News4Jax
April 3, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Was it cheaper to open a fire station in a renovated home?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders how much it would have cost to build a new marine fire station instead of…

Featured image for “Advocates bring awareness to rampant sexual violence”
Roshanda Jackson speaks Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at the kickoff of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Jacksonville. | News4Jax
April 2, 2024

Advocates bring awareness to rampant sexual violence

Dozens of community leaders gathered Tuesday to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “After 28 years, the murder of a Jacksonville mom is solved”
Valerie Ames was found dead Aug. 10, 1996, in a vacant apartment in Riverside. | Project: Cold Case via News4Jax
April 2, 2024

After 28 years, the murder of a Jacksonville mom is solved

A man in North Carolina has been arrested in the slaying of 31-year-old Valerie Ames in 1996.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Zoo elephant recovering after dental surgery”
Ali is a 34-year-old African elephant at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
March 29, 2024

Jacksonville Zoo elephant recovering after dental surgery

Ali, an African elephant once owned by musician Michael Jackson, had complex surgery to move the last part of his…