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

Waldorf, MD

Your Community

Man Who Beat, Carjacked Teens At Gunpoint During St. Charles HS Ambush Learns Prison Fate A Maryland man who terrorized students during a violent armed carjacking outside of a Charles County school will spend nearly two decades in prison, authorities announced. A jury convicted Martino Marcus Young, 21, following a four-day trial on a host of charges stemming from an incident at St. Charles High School last year. According to the Charles County State's Attorney, Young was found guilty of: Armed carjacking; Armed robbery; Two counts of first-degree assault; Four counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and related offenses. According to th…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

E-Scooter Rider In Coma Following Catastrophic Late-Night Post-Work In Virginia A quiet ride home after a late-night shift turned into a life-changing tragedy for a Virginia man fighting to survive after a devastating e-scooter crash that left him with catastrophic injuries and a long road ahead. Greg Pollard was riding his e-scooter home “after finishing a late shift at the bar where he works” in the early hours of Monday, Nov. 3, when he was struck by a car, a family friend said. It is believed that Pollard was struck by the vehicle at around 1 a.m. as it was traveling between 25 mph and 35 mph. Mario Mejia said Pollard's adrenaline surged after impact — he tried to…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Arlington, VA

Your Community

Six Middle Schoolers Sickened After Drug-Laced Snack Shared In DC Class, Officials Say Six students at Kramer Middle School in DC were evaluated by medics after eating a food item that school officials say contained a controlled substance. The incident happened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Southeast DC school, according to a letter sent to parents. Administrators said a student brought the item to school and shared it with several classmates. After eating it, six students “began to feel unwell,” the school said. The school nurse checked them, and DC Fire and EMS arrived on campus for further evaluation. One student was taken for medical care, officials said. Th…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Elkton, MD

Breaking News

Dog Dumped During Cecil County Car Theft Chase Before Troopers Nab Suspect: Police A stolen car, a loose dog, and a short police chase through Cecil County ended with one man in custody — and a very lucky pup safely scooped up by a passerby, according to Maryland State Police. Troopers said the chaos began just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, when a man’s vehicle was stolen from outside a business on Fletchwood Road in Elkton while his dog was still inside. Police said the suspect — identified as 24-year-old John Wells of Rising Sun — took off with the vehicle before troopers spotted him and attempted a stop. Wells allegedly led police on a brief pursuit before ditching th…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Frederick, MD

Breaking News

Frederick Man Dies After Downtown Shooting; Charges Now Upgraded To Murder: Police A downtown Maryland shooting that police once said could have ended far worse has now turned deadly, and charges against the accused gunman have been upgraded. Frederick Police confirmed on Wednesday, Nov. 12, that one of the two victims injured in the Oct. 5, 2024 shooting has died from his injuries. According to the department, 21-year-old Xavier Jace Smith died on Oct. 12, one week after officers found him and another victim suffering from gunshot wounds near North Market Street and East Church Street around 1:50 a.m. E Church Street and Market Street in Frederick Google Maps st…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Breaking News

Silver Spring Boy Comes Home After Severe Middle School Brain Injury As Mom Shares Update A Maryland family is celebrating a milestone they once feared would never come. Lenny Diaz — the Silver Spring middle schooler who suffered a devastating skull injury during a gym class incident at Odessa Shannon Middle School on Wednesday, Oct. 22 — is finally home, his mother announced. Lenny’s mother, Emily Diaz, shared the emotional update on Wednesday, Nov. 12, saying her son graduated from NRH (National Rehabilitation Hospital) and has been released to continue recovering at home. “My handsome (boy) graduates NRH today,” she wrote. “Lenny, you did it, buddy. Thank you, God, for never…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Bowie, MD

Breaking News

Teen Tossed Backpack Of Ghost Guns As Bowie HS Stickup Arrest Went Down, Police Say A teenager accused of sticking up a student outside a Maryland high school was arrested after officers said he tried to ditch a backpack full of ghost guns out a bedroom window during an early-morning raid. Bowie Police said the arrest went down around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, when officers — joined by the US Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force — served a search warrant in the 200 block of Harry S. Truman Drive in Upper Marlboro. Inside, officers took 18-year-old Koby Allen, of Upper Marlboro, into custody in connection with the armed robbery and non-contact shootin…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Woodbridge, VA

Obituaries

‘Sal Was Everyone’s Friend’: Woodbridge Community Rallies Around 'Chava' Ceja-Chavez Family Family and friends are grieving the sudden loss of Salvador “Chava” Ceja-Chavez, whose loved ones say was taken far too soon at just 35 years old in Virginia. His death has shaken the Ceja-Chavez family and a wide circle of friends who described him as a warm, generous presence who lifted every room he walked into. In a heartbreaking public tribute, his sister Roxana Ceja-Chavez said she is still struggling to accept that her brother is gone. “It’s with a broken heart that I have to say goodbye to my brother Salvador Ceja, who was taken from us far too soon,” she wrote. “He had…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Fairfax, VA

Breaking News

Virginia Woman Struck, Killed By BMW While Crossing Route 29 In Fair Oaks: Police A nighttime walk across Route 29 turned tragic in Fair Oaks after a Virginia woman was struck and killed, Fairfax County Police said. Officers were called to the area of Route 29 and Forum Drive shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, where there was a crash involving a pedestrian. When they arrived, they found 33-year-old Nicole Ayilola, of Fairfax, suffering from life-threatening injuries, police said. Ayilola was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she did not survive. Detectives said the driver of a 2018 BMW was heading north on Route 29 when the crash happened. The driver was…

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

Arlington, VA

Obituaries

Young Father Contee Cross, 21, Killed In DC Stabbing: ‘We Just Don’t Understand Why’ Family and friends are reeling after the sudden loss of 21-year-old Contee Cross, who was fatally stabbed in Southeast DC over the weekend. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded around 8:35 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, to the 1300 block of Morris Road Southeast for a report of a medical emergency. DC Fire and EMS found Cross suffering from a stab wound to the upper body and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Police said Cross was conscious and breathing when he was transported, but his condition worsened. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at …

by Zak Failla

11/12/2025

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