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

Aldie, VA

Breaking News

Bird Flu Blamed As Dead Vultures Turn Up Across Virginia: ‘Don’t Touch Them,’ Officials Warn Something’s killing vultures across Virginia — and wildlife officials say it’s likely a deadly strain of bird flu that could soon spread to other species. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says it’s investigating a wave of dead black vultures reported in several parts of the state, including counties in Southwest Virginia. Early testing points to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, a fast-moving strain of bird flu that officials warn could spread to other wild species as migration ramps up, officials said. While the virus appears to be hitting black vultures hardest r…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Obituaries

Montgomery County Firefighter, Marine Chris Kindel Remembered After Courageous Cancer Battle A decorated firefighter and former Marine is being remembered across Maryland following his death. Funeral arrangements have been set for Montgomery County Firefighter Chris Kindel, who died after a battle with cancer. Chris Kindel’s Funeral Arrangements 💔 Posted by Mandi Kindel on Monday, October 20, 2025 A viewing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church on Tom Fox Avenue in Poolesville, followed by a funeral the next day. Chris Kindel Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Following his death, tributes have poured in fo…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Waldorf, MD

Breaking News

Maryland Teen Who Helped Steal Woman’s Car At Waldorf Food Lion, Fled Into DC, Learns His Fate A quick grocery run turned into a nightmare for a Maryland woman when two teens — one with a gun — pounced in broad daylight. The teen who teamed up with an armed accomplice to carjack a woman outside a Waldorf Food Lion before leading police on a multi-jurisdiction chase into DC has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars, according to the Charles County State's Attorney's Office. A judge sentenced 19-year-old Nasir Maurice Cooper to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to commit carjacking, authorities announced. Upon release, Cooper will serve five years of supervised probation — …

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

‘Intentional Acts’: Hagerstown Man Accused Of Setting Fires Outside Wonder Book A Hagerstown man is behind bars after investigators say he intentionally set two fires outside a longtime Washington County bookstore. At 10:40 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, firefighters responded to Wonder Book and Video on Dual Highway after witnesses reported flames outside the main entrance, the Office of the State Fire Marshal said. Crews arrived to find two separate fires burning just feet from the front doors and quickly extinguished them before the blaze spread inside. Investigators later determined both fires were intentionally set. According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, witnesses…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Woodbridge, VA

Breaking News

‘Lovin’ It?’ Man Demands Food, Tries To Rob Woodbridge McDonald’s, Police Say A Virginia man apparently wasn’t “lovin’ it” when he showed up at a McDonald’s demanding food — then tried to rob the place, police said. Shan Ahmed Raja, 28, who has no known address, was hungry, and made a scene late on Monday afternoon during a bizarre, botched robbery. Officers were called to the fast-food spot on Richmond Highway in Woodbridge around 5:27 p.m. on Oct. 20, after reports of a man threatening employees and trying to break into a cash register, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Investigators said the suspect, later identified as Raja, who wal…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Lexington Park, MD

Obituaries

‘He’s a Fighter’: Maryland Man Struck By Hit-Run Driver After Crash Keeps Defying the Odds Ryan Dent is a fighter. On Saturday, Oct. 18, Dent was involved in a crash on Route 51 in Allegany County when he rolled over in the area of Lower Town Creek Road, according to police. The driver was able to extract himself from the vehicle, but while he was standing in the roadway being assisted by other motorists, a light-colored pickup truck drove by and struck Dent, leaving him with catastrophic injuries. Police said that after striking him, the truck driver turned around and fled in the opposite direction on Route 51. Dent was airlifted to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Pennsyl…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

Car Crashes Through Spotsylvania Pawn Shop In 27-Second Smash-And-Grab Caught On Cam: Sheriff Gone in 27 seconds. An investigation has been launched in Virginia following an early-morning smash-and-grab burglary where suspects in a sedan may have been trying to steal guns from a pawn shop. It all took place in less than 30 seconds, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. Shortly before 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, a deputy from the sheriff's office on patrol at the Four Mile Fork Shopping Center saw a suspicious vehicle with its headlights on and visible front-end damage. Google Maps street view Moments later, an alarm blared from a nearby pawn shop. W…

by Zak Failla

10/21/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Breaking News

13-Year-Old Girl Struck, Left With Life-Threatening Injuries In Silver Spring Crash: Police A teenage girl is fighting for her life after being hit by a car while crossing a busy Maryland roadway, police said. The crash happened around 6:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, near Georgia Avenue and Evans Drive in Silver Spring, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Investigators said a 13-year-old girl was attempting to cross southbound Georgia Avenue when, for reasons still under investigation, she was struck by the driver of a 2004 Acura TL. First responders found the teen in the roadway with life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she…

by Zak Failla

10/20/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

105 MPH Spotsy Chase Ends With Man Crashing Into Home While Fleeing Deputies, Sheriff Says A Virginia man is behind bars after deputies say he hit 105 mph and crashed into a home while trying to outrun sheriff's deputies. First responders tried to stop 39-year-old Eugene Montaque near Mills Drive and Cosner Drive on Thursday, Oct. 16, for reckless driving, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office said. Instead of stopping, Montaque floored it — topping 105 mph on Mills Drive before weaving through nearby neighborhoods, putting “other motorists and pedestrians at risk,” officials said. The pursuit came to an end when Montaque bailed out of his vehicle, which rolled into a residence, and…

by Zak Failla

10/20/2025

Bladensburg-Cheverly, MD

Breaking News

Birthday Party Horror: Driver Charged After Bladensburg Crash That Killed One, Hurt 13: Police A 66-year-old man is facing charges after crashing into a children's birthday party in Maryland, killing one and injuring more than a dozen, authorities announced. On Monday, Oct. 20, the Bladensburg Police Department announced that DC resident Sunday Joseph was taken into custody following the deadly incident that marred a 6-year-old's celebration. The crash happened around 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in the 4100 block of 56th Avenue in Bladensburg, according to the police. Investigators said a vehicle traveling from Annapolis Road struck several people gathered outside a home for a bir…

by Zak Failla

10/20/2025

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