Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

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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

Ellicott City, MD
Breaking News
Former Police Chief With ‘Target List’ Sentenced For Multi-County Arson Spree In Maryland Former Police Chief With ‘Target List’ Sentenced For Multi-County Arson Spree In Maryland Former Police Chief With ‘Target List’ Sentenced For Multi-County Arson Spree In Maryland
Former Police Chief With ‘Target List’ Sentenced For Multi-County Arson Spree In Maryland A former Maryland police chief who investigators say kept a “Target List” of victims on his phone has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for a string of intentionally set fires spanning nearly a decade. David Michael Crawford, 74, of Ellicott City, pleaded guilty Friday, Feb. 13, in Montgomery County Circuit Court to two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson. Judge James Bonifant sentenced Crawford to 55 years in prison, to run concurrent with a sentence he is already serving for convictions in Howard County. Prosecutors said the Montgomery County charges s…

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by Zak Failla
Waldorf, MD
Breaking News
$222K In Illegal THC, Cannabis Seized In Massive Charles County Vape Shop Crackdown: Sheriff $222K In Illegal THC, Cannabis Seized In Massive Charles County Vape Shop Crackdown: Sheriff $222K In Illegal THC, Cannabis Seized In Massive Charles County Vape Shop Crackdown: Sheriff
$222K In Illegal THC, Cannabis Seized In Massive Charles County Vape Shop Crackdown: Sheriff More than $222,000 worth of illegal cannabis and THC products were pulled from six tobacco and vape shops in Maryland after a five-month narcotics investigation. Search and seizure warrants were served in December at shops in La Plata, Waldorf, White Plains and Bryans Road, Charles County Sheriff’s Office officials announced this week. The seizure was massive. Detectives began the investigation in August 2025 after receiving information about illegal cannabis sales at local tobacco and vape stores. At one point, a parent reported their elementary school-aged child may have purchased a THC…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
VDH Issues Water Advisory For 72.5-Mile Stretch Of Potomac River After Sewage Spills VDH Issues Water Advisory For 72.5-Mile Stretch Of Potomac River After Sewage Spills VDH Issues Water Advisory For 72.5-Mile Stretch Of Potomac River After Sewage Spills
VDH Issues Water Advisory For 72.5-Mile Stretch Of Potomac River After Sewage Spills The Virginia Department of Health is now officially warning residents to stay out of a 72.5-mile stretch of the Potomac River after weeks of sewage spill fallout. VDH issued a recreational water advisory on Friday, Feb. 13, warning Virginia residents to avoid swimming, wading, tubing, white-water canoeing, or kayaking in affected areas of the river. The sewage overflow at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. DC Water The advisory follows a sewage spill reported Jan. 19 and a second discharge reported Saturday, Feb. 7, according to health officials. Repairs…

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by Zak Failla
National Interest
Au Pair Helped Convict Lover In Reston Love Triangle Murder — Still Gets Max Sentence Au Pair Helped Convict Lover In Reston Love Triangle Murder — Still Gets Max Sentence Au Pair Helped Convict Lover In Reston Love Triangle Murder — Still Gets Max Sentence
Au Pair Helped Convict Lover In Reston Love Triangle Murder — Still Gets Max Sentence The Brazilian au pair who helped carry out a twisted murder plot inside a Virginia home is going to prison. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 25, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for shooting and killing 39-year-old Joseph Ryan on Feb. 24, 2023, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced Friday, Feb. 13. Magalhaes was working as an au pair for Brendan and Christine Banfield in Reston when she began a romantic affair with Brendan, prosecutors said. According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, she and Banfield “hatched an elaborate plot to kill Christine.” Together, th…

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
Murder, Rape Convict Under Removal Order Since 2005 Arrested By ICE In Hagerstown Murder, Rape Convict Under Removal Order Since 2005 Arrested By ICE In Hagerstown Murder, Rape Convict Under Removal Order Since 2005 Arrested By ICE In Hagerstown
Murder, Rape Convict Under Removal Order Since 2005 Arrested By ICE In Hagerstown A Guatemalan national convicted of second-degree murder and rape — and under a final removal order since 2005 — has been arrested in Maryland, federal authorities announced. Manuel Matta-Reyes, 55, a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested upon his release from MCI–Hagerstown after the facility honored an ICE immigration detainer, officials said. His criminal history includes convictions for second-degree murder in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and rape in Prince George’s County, according to ICE Baltimore. ICE said Matta will remain in federal custody pending his removal from the United S…

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by Zak Failla
Waldorf, MD
Breaking News
Man Killed In White Plains Police Shooting Identified After Charging Deputies With Machete: AG Man Killed In White Plains Police Shooting Identified After Charging Deputies With Machete: AG Man Killed In White Plains Police Shooting Identified After Charging Deputies With Machete: AG
Man Killed In White Plains Police Shooting Identified After Charging Deputies With Machete: AG The man shot and killed by Charles County deputies while allegedly charging at them with a machete has now been identified — along with the officers who opened fire. Demarcus Irish, 36, of Clinton, was identified as the person killed in the fatal police-involved shooting in White Plains on Wednesday, according to the Maryland Attorney General's Office. The announcement came two days after the deadly incident. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, officers were in the area of Newport Circle and Cobbler Place in White Plains attempting to arrest Irish, who had an active arrest warrant and pr…

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by Zak Failla
Alexandria, VA
Your Community
Rep. John McGuire’s District Director Matt Colt Hall In ICU As Virginia Leaders Ask For Prayers Rep. John McGuire’s District Director Matt Colt Hall In ICU As Virginia Leaders Ask For Prayers Rep. John McGuire’s District Director Matt Colt Hall In ICU As Virginia Leaders Ask For Prayers
Rep. John McGuire’s District Director Matt Colt Hall In ICU As Virginia Leaders Ask For Prayers A key member of a congressional team in Virginia is fighting for his health — and leaders across the Commonwealth are asking for prayers. Matt Colt Hall, District Director for Congressman John McGuire, is currently hospitalized following unexpected medical issues, according to friends, family, and elected officials. “Our amazing District Director Matt Hall has been struggling with unexpected medical issues over the last week and could really use your prayers,” Congressman McGuire wrote on Tuesday, Feb. 11. “I believe in the power of prayer. Please join me and my wife, Tracy, in asking God’s…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Barricaded Woman Stabs Guard Inside Northern Virginia Hospital Bathroom: Police Barricaded Woman Stabs Guard Inside Northern Virginia Hospital Bathroom: Police Barricaded Woman Stabs Guard Inside Northern Virginia Hospital Bathroom: Police
Barricaded Woman Stabs Guard Inside Northern Virginia Hospital Bathroom: Police The Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center turned into a crime scene on Thursday morning when an agitated woman stabbed a security guard while barricaded in a bathroom, police say. Officers from the Prince William County Police Department were called shortly before 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 12 to the hospital in the 2300 block of Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge, where there were reports of a disorderly woman. Police say Woodbridge resident Jessica Clare Smallfield, 40, was acting erratically and locked herself in a bathroom. At one point, a security guard attempted to open the bathroom door a…

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by Zak Failla
Clinton, MD
On Your Side
Maryland Millionaire? $1M Lottery Ticket Sold At Clinton Liquor Store Set To Expire In Weeks Maryland Millionaire? $1M Lottery Ticket Sold At Clinton Liquor Store Set To Expire In Weeks Maryland Millionaire? $1M Lottery Ticket Sold At Clinton Liquor Store Set To Expire In Weeks
Maryland Millionaire? $1M Lottery Ticket Sold At Clinton Liquor Store Set To Expire In Weeks Somewhere in Maryland, a $1 million lottery ticket could be sitting in a junk drawer, glove box, or coat pocket — and the clock is ticking. A Powerball ticket worth $1 million that was sold in Clinton is set to expire on Saturday, March 15, according to the Maryland Lottery. The winning ticket was sold at Chesapeake Liquors in the Woodyard Crossing Shopping Center on Branch Avenue in Clinton for the Sept. 13, 2025, Powerball drawing. The ticket matched all five white balls but not the Powerball, making it a second-tier $1 million winner. If the winner does not come forward by March 15, th…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfax, VA
Obituaries
Fairfax County Firefighter Brandon Winfield Dies After Brief Illness: 'Rest Easy, Brother' Fairfax County Firefighter Brandon Winfield Dies After Brief Illness: 'Rest Easy, Brother' Fairfax County Firefighter Brandon Winfield Dies After Brief Illness: 'Rest Easy, Brother'
Fairfax County Firefighter Brandon Winfield Dies After Brief Illness: 'Rest Easy, Brother' Fairfax County is mourning one of its own. Firefighter Brandon Winfield died Thursday, February 12, 2026, following a brief illness, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Winfield served Fairfax County for 20 years after being hired in 2006 as a member of Recruit Class 121. At the time of his death, he was assigned to Fire Station 37 in Kingstowne on C-Shift. Colleagues described him as more than a firefighter. “Firefighter Winfield was an exceptional mentor and friend who lifted spirits wherever he went,” the department wrote. “He served with unwavering dedication t…

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by Zak Failla
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