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

Gaithersburg, MD
Breaking News
Drone Hunts Teen Auto Thieves, Leads To Gun Arrest In Montgomery County, Police Say Drone Hunts Teen Auto Thieves, Leads To Gun Arrest In Montgomery County, Police Say Drone Hunts Teen Auto Thieves, Leads To Gun Arrest In Montgomery County, Police Say
Drone Hunts Teen Auto Thieves, Leads To Gun Arrest In Montgomery County, Police Say Not so fast. A police drone tracked two teenagers as they prowled parked cars in a Maryland neighborhood, leading officers to stolen vehicles, a loaded handgun, and arrests — before both suspects were ultimately released, authorities said. Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police First District Special Assignment Team were conducting a theft-from-auto enforcement detail at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, in Gaithersburg, when they spotted two Hyundai sedans traveling together along Norbeck Road, police said. The vehicles were followed into a residential neighborh…

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by Zak Failla
Glen Burnie, MD
On Your Side
Beloved ‘Santa Wayne’ Needs Help After 35 Years Keeping Marley Station’s Mall Magic Alive In MD Beloved ‘Santa Wayne’ Needs Help After 35 Years Keeping Marley Station’s Mall Magic Alive In MD Beloved ‘Santa Wayne’ Needs Help After 35 Years Keeping Marley Station’s Mall Magic Alive In MD
Beloved ‘Santa Wayne’ Needs Help After 35 Years Keeping Marley Station’s Mall Magic Alive In MD For 35 years, a dying mall had one thing that never faded: Santa Wayne.  Now, weeks before Christmas, the man who kept Marley Station’s holiday spirit alive needs the community he spent decades pouring himself into. If you grew up anywhere near Marley Station Mall, you already know the deal. Stores left. Corridors emptied. Foot traffic dried up. But every December, one thing still brought families back through those quiet halls. Santa Wayne. Not a replacement. Not a rotating cast. Not one of those Santas who jumps from mall to mall. Their Santa. The one generations of kids grew up wi…

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by Zak Failla
Brambleton, VA
Breaking News
New Charges For DUI Driver Who Killed Woman In Single-Vehicle Brambleton Crash: Sheriff New Charges For DUI Driver Who Killed Woman In Single-Vehicle Brambleton Crash: Sheriff New Charges For DUI Driver Who Killed Woman In Single-Vehicle Brambleton Crash: Sheriff
New Charges For DUI Driver Who Killed Woman In Single-Vehicle Brambleton Crash: Sheriff A man already charged with DUI in a deadly single-vehicle crash is now facing additional charges, authorities announced. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Anvesh Hungenalli, 36, has now been charged with involuntary manslaughter, in addition to the previously announced driving under the influence charge, following continued investigation into the fatal crash. As previously reported, the crash happened shortly before midnight on Sunday, Dec. 21, along Olympia Drive near Ringneck Place in Brambleton, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Hungenalli lost …

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Officer Seriously Injured After Being Struck While Helping Stranded I-695 Motorist In DC Officer Seriously Injured After Being Struck While Helping Stranded I-695 Motorist In DC Officer Seriously Injured After Being Struck While Helping Stranded I-695 Motorist In DC
Officer Seriously Injured After Being Struck While Helping Stranded I-695 Motorist In DC A Metropolitan Police Department officer was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist on a busy DC highway late Tuesday night, officials said. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes of I-695 near South Capitol Street at around 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 23, according to police. Police said the on-duty officer was on foot and outside of his cruiser helping a broken-down motorist when he was struck by a second vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Fellow officers immediately rendered aid, and the injured officer was transported to a local hospital…

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by Zak Failla
Upper Marlboro, MD
On Your Side
Upper Marlboro Wawa Stop Turns Into $500,000 Powerball Win As Jackpot Nears $1.7B Upper Marlboro Wawa Stop Turns Into $500,000 Powerball Win As Jackpot Nears $1.7B Upper Marlboro Wawa Stop Turns Into $500,000 Powerball Win As Jackpot Nears $1.7B
Upper Marlboro Wawa Stop Turns Into $500,000 Powerball Win As Jackpot Nears $1.7B Someone who stopped at a Maryland Wawa is $500,000 richer — and the Powerball jackpot is still climbing toward history. A Powerball ticket sold at the Wawa on SE Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro on Monday, Dec. 22, won a $500,000 Double Play prize, according to Maryland Lottery officials. The big local win came as the Powerball jackpot rolled again after no one matched all six numbers, pushing the estimated jackpot for the Christmas Eve drawing to $1.7 billion, Lottery officials said. If the jackpot is hit at $1.7 billion, it would be the fourth-largest Powerball prize ever, with an es…

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by Zak Failla
Manassas, VA
Breaking News
One Killed In Two-Vehicle I-66 Crash On Christmas Eve In Manassas: State Police (DEVELOPING) One Killed In Two-Vehicle I-66 Crash On Christmas Eve In Manassas: State Police (DEVELOPING) One Killed In Two-Vehicle I-66 Crash On Christmas Eve In Manassas: State Police (DEVELOPING)
One Killed In Two-Vehicle I-66 Crash On Christmas Eve In Manassas: State Police (Developing) Virginia State Police are investigating a deadly two-vehicle crash that shut down a stretch of I-66 early on Christmas Eve morning, officials said. Shortly after 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, troopers were called to the eastbound lanes of the interstate near the 48-mile marker in Manassas to investigate reports of a crash in the area. According to Virginia State Police, one person was confirmed dead at the scene by first responders. The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. No additional details about the vehicles involved or the cause of the …

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by Zak Failla
Leonardtown-California, MD
Breaking News
Rifle Out, Woman Runs, Man Barricades As California Home Becomes Standoff Scene: Sheriff Rifle Out, Woman Runs, Man Barricades As California Home Becomes Standoff Scene: Sheriff Rifle Out, Woman Runs, Man Barricades As California Home Becomes Standoff Scene: Sheriff
Rifle Out, Woman Runs, Man Barricades As California Home Becomes Standoff Scene: Sheriff A rifle-wielding man who barricaded himself inside a Maryland home after brandishing the weapon toward a woman put deputies through their paces on Monday night.  Jackson McClain Chaney, 25, is behind bars following a tense standoff with members of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office after allegedly threatening the woman with the gun, officials said. First responders were initially called around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22, to a home in the 45000 block of Hickory Hills Circle in California to investigate a reported verbal altercation that escalated. Upon arrival, a woman advised d…

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by Zak Failla
Towson, MD
Breaking News
21 Months After Killing, Baltimore Suspect Hauled Back From NJ To Face Murder Charge: Police 21 Months After Killing, Baltimore Suspect Hauled Back From NJ To Face Murder Charge: Police 21 Months After Killing, Baltimore Suspect Hauled Back From NJ To Face Murder Charge: Police
21 Months After Killing, Baltimore Suspect Hauled Back From NJ To Face Murder Charge: Police A Maryland man has been brought back home from New Jersey after being linked to a fatal shooting that left a 49-year-old woman dead nearly two years ago, authorities announced. Kameron Oliver, 24, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of Christine Liddic-Rozzell in March 2024. According to the Baltimore Police Department, officers were called shortly after 7:15 a.m. on March 13, 2024, where there was a reported shooting in the 4000 block of Alto Road with one person down. Upon arrival, they found Liddic-Rozzell suffering from a life-threatening gunshot woun…

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
Maryland IT Boss Rigged Federal Contracts, Baked Kickbacks Into Prices: DOJ Maryland IT Boss Rigged Federal Contracts, Baked Kickbacks Into Prices: DOJ Maryland IT Boss Rigged Federal Contracts, Baked Kickbacks Into Prices: DOJ
Maryland IT Boss Rigged Federal Contracts, Baked Kickbacks Into Prices: DOJ A Maryland IT executive is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he rigged bids for government technology contracts and took kickbacks that were quietly built into prices paid by US taxpayers. Victor Marquez, a Maryland resident and owner of two IT companies, was charged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Baltimore, according to the US Department of Justice. Prosecutors allege Marquez used inside access to sensitive procurement information to manipulate bids for large federal IT contracts, steering awards to co-conspirators in exchange for kickbacks, the …

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
Firefighters Hear Cries For Help, Rescue Man Living Inside Burning Container In Hagerstown Firefighters Hear Cries For Help, Rescue Man Living Inside Burning Container In Hagerstown Firefighters Hear Cries For Help, Rescue Man Living Inside Burning Container In Hagerstown
Firefighters Hear Cries For Help, Rescue Man Living Inside Burning Container In Hagerstown Firefighters rescued a man who had been living inside a sea container after it caught fire near Maryland Metals in Hagerstown, officials said. The fire broke out shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, along North Burhans Boulevard near the Washington County business, according to the Hagerstown Fire Department and the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal. Hagerstown Fire Department crews were initially dispatched for a sea container on fire with reports of entrapment, officials said. While battling the blaze, firefighters heard someone shouting for help from the rear of the contain…

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by Zak Failla
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