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

Alexandria, VA

Your Community

‘Small But Mighty Steps’: 11-Year-Old Virginia Boy Wakes After Horrific Sledding Accident An 11-year-old Virginia boy is clawing his way back after a terrifying winter accident left him unconscious in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with his family sharing raw, moment-by-moment updates as an entire community stands by his side. Deacon Whitson was injured on Tuesday, Jan. 27, while spending a snowy day off from school with friends, when he slipped while climbing a hill, slid into the street, and was struck by a car, according to loved ones. He was rushed by helicopter to the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, where he was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit …

by Zak Failla

02/04/2026

Elkridge, MD

Your Community

Howard County Pulls Permit, Moves to Ban Ice-linked Private Detention Center In Elkridge Howard County has yanked the building permit for a proposed privately owned detention center in Elkridge, stopping the project in its tracks and pushing emergency legislation that would ban future facilities like it. County officials said the permit for renovations at 6522 Meadowridge Road was revoked this week, after the Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits determined it met the state’s definition of a private immigration detention facility and triggered public notice and hearing requirements that were not met. The 28,614-square-foot space was advertised in recent reports and l…

by Zak Failla

02/04/2026

Reisterstown, MD

Breaking News

Truck Spills Lumber, Forces Full Outer Loop Shutdown On I-695 In Baltimore County (Developing) A major traffic shutdown snarled the Baltimore Beltway when a multi-vehicle crash forced the complete closure of all Outer Loop travel lanes near Security Boulevard, authorities said. The collision happened on I-695 Outer Loop just before Exit 17 at MD 122 (Security Boulevard) in Baltimore County on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at approximately 8:56 a.m., according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Officials said three vehicles were involved in the crash. All four Outer Loop traffic lanes were closed while emergency responders worked at the scene. One Outer Loop shoulder was also s…

by Zak Failla

02/04/2026

Gaithersburg, MD

Your Community

Bomb Threat At Blair High School Investigated As Swatting Call, Police Say (Developing) Officers in Montgomery County are investigating a possible swatting call at Blair High School after receiving a bomb threat early on Wednesday morning, police say. Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 4, members of the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to the building to probe reports of a bomb threat. The building was evacuated as a precaution. MCPD 3rd District officers at Blair High School for a reported bomb threat. MCPS has evacuated the school. Officers are investigating the validity of the threat. #MCPD #MCPNews pic.twitter.com/6vQfEItXrf — Montgomery County Departm…

by Zak Failla

02/04/2026

Glen Burnie, MD

Your Community

Student Injured After Gun Goes Off Inside Freetown Elementary School Classroom (Developing) An elementary school student was injured in Maryland after a gun went off in the classroom and struck him, police said. Officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department were called early on Wednesday, Feb. 4 to Freetown Elementary School in Glen Burnie, where there were reports of an accidental discharge of a firearm. According to the department, the child with the weapon injured his hand when the gun went off. Investigators noted that there were other students in the classroom when the firearm discharged. No other injuries were reported. This message is to inform you about the …

by Zak Failla

02/04/2026

Alexandria, VA

Weather

Hell Of A Collapse: Snow Destroys Church Roof, Triggers Emergency Response In Virginia (Photos) A church in Virginia narrowly avoided disaster when part of its roof collapsed under the strain of winter weather, forcing emergency crews to shut down a busy road and declare the building unsafe. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews were called just before 5:20 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, to the 8700 block of Cooper Road after reports that the roof of a two-story building had blown off, and a second-floor wall appeared ready to fail, officials said. The building was identified as St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church, a longtime fixture in the Mount Vernon area. “When crews arrived, they …

by Zak Failla

02/03/2026

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Teen Busted With Ghost Gun After Fighting Cops During I-270 Traffic Stop In Frederick: Sheriff What started as a routine traffic stop in Maryland ended with a 19-year-old behind bars when his teen passenger became unruly with members of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Hagerstown resident Cordae Jarell Bowins is facing charges after he and a 15-year-old were caught with an illegal weapon during an I-270 traffic stop, authorities announced on Tuesday. According to the sheriff's office, shortly before 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, deputies on patrol on the southbound lanes of the interstate stopped Bowins near Route 85 for a reported equipment violation. During the traffic sto…

by Zak Failla

02/03/2026

Arlington, VA

Breaking News

Flag Football Trash Talk Turns Deadly: DC Man Convicted Of Murder On Elementary School Grounds What started as a flag football game ended with gunfire — and years later, a guilty verdict. A Washington, DC man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting of a Maryland man on the grounds of an elementary school, federal prosecutors announced. A Superior Court jury found Antonio Hawley, 22, of Southeast Washington, guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 3, for the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Aaron Wiggins of Upper Marlboro, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The shooting unfolded just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, on the sports fields of Watkins Elementary School …

by Zak Failla

02/03/2026

Frederick, MD

Breaking News

Man Charged With Murder After Woman Killed, Others Stabbed In Frederick Home Attack (Updated) A man has been arrested in connection with the deadly Maryland stabbing that left one woman dead and several others injured inside a home last month, police announced. Detectives with the Frederick Police Department arrested Terrance Jermain Oney, 44, of Williamsport, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 3, in connection with the homicide inside a residence in the 1200 block of Danielle Drive, authorities confirmed. The arrest comes more than a week after officers were called to the home at approximately 6:01 a.m. on Jan. 26, where they found three people suffering from stab woun…

by Zak Failla

02/03/2026

Abingdon, MD

Breaking News

‘Prolific’ Abingdon Shoplifter Accused Of $5K Spree After Being Repeatedly Released: Sheriff A Maryland woman accused of ripping off thousands of dollars in merchandise from stores in just weeks is finally behind bars — after being arrested, released, and charged again and again, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Jessica Hubbard, of Abingdon, allegedly stole more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from stores throughout the county and surrounding areas during a rapid-fire theft spree that stretched from October through December 2025, deputies said on Tuesday, Feb. 3. “How long did it take her to steal that amount of merchandise?” the sheriff’s office asked. “Just over…

by Zak Failla

02/03/2026

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