Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

FOLLOW ON

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Waldorf, MD
Breaking News
Murderer Serving Life Gets More Time For Deaths Of His Infant Son, Young Daughter In Maryland Murderer Serving Life Gets More Time For Deaths Of His Infant Son, Young Daughter In Maryland Murderer Serving Life Gets More Time For Deaths Of His Infant Son, Young Daughter In Maryland
Murderer Serving Life Gets More Time For Deaths Of His Infant Son, Young Daughter In Maryland A murderer already serving life in prison was given additional prison time after admitting to his role in his young children's deaths in Maryland years ago, authorities announced. Joseph Michael Norman, 53, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of his two children, Brandon Myron Norman in 1997, and Maddison Tanice Norman in September 2001, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. Brandon died after being found unresponsive in his crib on Aug. 26, 1997. He was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite lifesaving efforts. Investi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Odenton, MD
Breaking News
Police Release Photo After Black Lives Matter, Anti-Racism Signs Damaged At Odenton Church Police Release Photo After Black Lives Matter, Anti-Racism Signs Damaged At Odenton Church Police Release Photo After Black Lives Matter, Anti-Racism Signs Damaged At Odenton Church
Police Release Photo After Black Lives Matter, Anti-Racism Signs Damaged At Odenton Church A Maryland church’s anti-racism message was targeted in the dark. Now, police are asking for help identifying the person they say was caught on camera damaging signs outside Arc and Dove Presbyterian Church in Anne Arundel County. The vandalism happened around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at the church on Piney Orchard Parkway in Odenton, according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Investigators say the suspect damaged a “Black Lives Matter” sign and a “Dismantle Racism” sign outside the church. Police released images of the suspect on Tuesday, June 24, hoping someone wou…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Reston, VA
Breaking News
Who Is He? Fairfax Detectives Release Sketch After Chilling Reston Robbery Who Is He? Fairfax Detectives Release Sketch After Chilling Reston Robbery Who Is He? Fairfax Detectives Release Sketch After Chilling Reston Robbery
Who Is He? Fairfax Detectives Release Sketch After Chilling Reston Robbery A newly released sketch may be the key to solving a bizarre Virginia robbery that began with a stranger yelling at a woman in traffic and ended with a threat against her family. Fairfax County detectives say the encounter happened around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, near the intersection of Parcher Avenue and Springer Drive in Reston. According to police, the woman was driving alone when a man approached her vehicle at the intersection and began yelling. She pulled over and rolled down her window, leading to a brief conversation. Investigators say the man then demanded money and threate…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Annapolis, MD
Your Community
Maryland Voters Set Up Potential Moore-Cox Rematch After Lopsided Primary Results Maryland Voters Set Up Potential Moore-Cox Rematch After Lopsided Primary Results Maryland Voters Set Up Potential Moore-Cox Rematch After Lopsided Primary Results
Maryland Voters Set Up Potential Moore-Cox Rematch After Lopsided Primary Results Maryland voters didn't leave much room for suspense. Gov. Wes Moore steamrolled his Democratic primary Tuesday, June 23, while former Republican nominee Dan Cox emerged from a crowded GOP field, according to unofficial results released Wednesday morning. With 1,975 of 1,979 precincts reporting as of 9:30 a.m. on June 24, Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller captured 361,620 votes (87.79 percent) of the Democratic vote statewide. The lopsided victory positions Moore for a second-term bid and sets up what could become one of Maryland's most closely watched races this fall. Across Maryland, voter…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Middle River, MD
Your Community
'Best Father's Day Gift Ever': Bella Cooper Opens Her Eyes After Catastrophic Crash In Maryland 'Best Father's Day Gift Ever': Bella Cooper Opens Her Eyes After Catastrophic Crash In Maryland 'Best Father's Day Gift Ever': Bella Cooper Opens Her Eyes After Catastrophic Crash In Maryland
'Best Father's Day Gift Ever': Bella Cooper Opens Her Eyes After Catastrophic Crash In Maryland The best Father's Day gift Evan Cooper could have received came from a hospital bed. After days on life support, multiple surgeries, and a community-wide prayer campaign, Bella Cooper opened her eyes and gave her father the sign he had been waiting for. Across Maryland, family, friends, teammates, Girl Scouts, and strangers have been rallying around the young Essex-area athlete since she was struck by an SUV while riding her bike on Tuesday, June 16. Now, there are signs of hope. "Bella has opened her eyes multiple times," Renae Greensfelder wrote in an update shared Monday, June 22. "Eva…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Upper Marlboro, MD
Obituaries
From Peru To Maryland: Mi Peru Founder Walter Huaman Sr. Leaves Lasting Legacy At 72 From Peru To Maryland: Mi Peru Founder Walter Huaman Sr. Leaves Lasting Legacy At 72 From Peru To Maryland: Mi Peru Founder Walter Huaman Sr. Leaves Lasting Legacy At 72
From Peru To Maryland: Mi Peru Founder Walter Huaman Sr. Leaves Lasting Legacy At 72 One cooking competition changed Walter Huaman Sr.'s life forever. On Tuesday, June 23, family and friends gathered in Gaithersburg to say goodbye to the founder of Mi Peru Restaurant, a Peruvian chef whose journey carried him from the mountains of Peru to Montgomery County, where he built a restaurant legacy, raised seven children, and inspired those around him through decades of perseverance. Huaman died Thursday, June 18, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville following complications from a heart attack. He was 72. Born on Nov. 20, 1953, in Tarma, Peru, Huaman discovered a passio…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Annandale, VA
Breaking News
Attempted Abduction Suspect Captured Less Than 48 Hours After Annandale Trail Attack Attempted Abduction Suspect Captured Less Than 48 Hours After Annandale Trail Attack Attempted Abduction Suspect Captured Less Than 48 Hours After Annandale Trail Attack
Attempted Abduction Suspect Captured Less Than 48 Hours After Annandale Trail Attack He didn't stay a mystery for long. Less than two days after Fairfax County Police released a composite sketch of a man accused of trying to drag a woman into the woods at a busy Annandale park, detectives say the suspect is now in custody. Police announced Tuesday evening, June 23, that the alleged predator wanted in connection with an attempted abduction and indecent exposure at Wakefield Park had been arrested. Authorities have not yet released the suspect's identity or any charges. Police said there is no ongoing threat to the community. The arrest comes after detectives publicly relea…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Capitol Heights-District Heights, MD
Obituaries
Prom, Graduation, Then Tragedy: Daijah Cherry Remembered After Capitol Heights Shooting Prom, Graduation, Then Tragedy: Daijah Cherry Remembered After Capitol Heights Shooting Prom, Graduation, Then Tragedy: Daijah Cherry Remembered After Capitol Heights Shooting
Prom, Graduation, Then Tragedy: Daijah Cherry Remembered After Capitol Heights Shooting Prom photos. Graduation pictures. A diploma still fresh in her hands. Less than two weeks later, Maryland detectives were investigating the killing of 18-year-old Daijah Cherry. The recent H.D. Woodson High School graduate from Washington, DC, was fatally shot late Friday, June 19, outside a home in the 1400 block of Doewood Lane in Capitol Heights, according to Prince George's County Police. Officers responded to the area at approximately 11:05 p.m. and found Cherry suffering from gunshot wounds outside the residence. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died. Now, as detectives…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Sterling, VA
Breaking News
Maryland Man Arrested At Dulles After Child Porn, Bestiality Material Found On Phone: CBP Maryland Man Arrested At Dulles After Child Porn, Bestiality Material Found On Phone: CBP Maryland Man Arrested At Dulles After Child Porn, Bestiality Material Found On Phone: CBP
Maryland Man Arrested At Dulles After Child Porn, Bestiality Material Found On Phone: CBP Border protection officers made an unexpected seizure at Dulles International Airport over the weekend, landing a Maryland man behind bars. Chesapeake Beach resident Matthew Hunter Stewart, 28, was charged in Virginia for possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material after officers discovered the imagery on his cellphone on Sunday, June 21, federal authorities announced. Stewart was referred to a secondary CBP examination after he arrived on a flight from Keflavik, Iceland, officials said. In addition to a baggage examination, CBP officers searched Stewart's electronic …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fredericksburg, VA
Breaking News
Suspect Who Lit Fredericksburg Mulch Fires Tracked To Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Officials Suspect Who Lit Fredericksburg Mulch Fires Tracked To Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Officials Suspect Who Lit Fredericksburg Mulch Fires Tracked To Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Officials
Suspect Who Lit Fredericksburg Mulch Fires Tracked To Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Officials It started with burning mulch. It ended with an arrest at a mall. A 42-year-old man with no fixed address is facing charges after allegedly setting multiple mulch fires, according to the Fredericksburg Fire Department. Crews were called shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 22, to the 3000 block of Plank Road in Fredericksburg, where multiple mulch fires had been reported, officials said. While firefighters were responding, witnesses told emergency personnel they had seen someone intentionally ignite one of the fires and gave authorities a description of the suspect. That kicked off a s…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Prev Page 176 of 3975 174 175 176 177 178 Next
1,751 - 1,760 of 39,741 articles