Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

FOLLOW ON

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

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

Greenbelt, MD
Obituaries
He Came From Cameroon For A Better Life — Maryland Teen’s 'Future Stolen' In Greenbelt Shooting He Came From Cameroon For A Better Life — Maryland Teen’s 'Future Stolen' In Greenbelt Shooting He Came From Cameroon For A Better Life — Maryland Teen’s 'Future Stolen' In Greenbelt Shooting
He Came From Cameroon For A Better Life — Maryland Teen’s 'Future Stolen' In Greenbelt Shooting Carltin Bayong had his whole life ahead of him before tragedy struck his Maryland community. The 14-year-old was killed in a drive-by shooting in Greenbelt, "cutting his young life short before it ever truly began," according to his family. At around 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, officers from the Greenbelt Police Department were called to the area of Breezewood Court and Cherrywood Terrace, where they found Bayong suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to an area hospital, where the Eleanor Roosevelt High School student succumbed to his injuries, according to police. Now, his famil…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Mechanicsville, MD
Breaking News
‘Incredible Courage’: Maryland Girl Helps Put Her Leonardtown Abuser Behind Bars ‘Incredible Courage’: Maryland Girl Helps Put Her Leonardtown Abuser Behind Bars ‘Incredible Courage’: Maryland Girl Helps Put Her Leonardtown Abuser Behind Bars
‘Incredible Courage’: Maryland Girl Helps Put Her Leonardtown Abuser Behind Bars A Maryland man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a young child will spend decades behind bars. Crosby Dawson, 42, of Leonardtown, was sentenced to 65 years in prison, with 35 years to serve, following his conviction for the sexual abuse and rape of a minor under the age of 14, the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.  Dawson was also ordered to lifetime sex offender supervision and must register as a sex offender for life, prosecutors said. A St. Mary’s County jury found Dawson guilty on all charges in September 2024 after a multi-day trial. The abuse occurred…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Randallstown, MD
Your Community
From The Court To The Catwalk: Randallstown's Angel Reese Makes Victoria’s Secret History From The Court To The Catwalk: Randallstown's Angel Reese Makes Victoria’s Secret History From The Court To The Catwalk: Randallstown's Angel Reese Makes Victoria’s Secret History
From The Court To The Catwalk: Randallstown's Angel Reese Makes Victoria’s Secret History Angel Reese traded her sneakers for stilettos — and made history doing it. The Randallstown native and WNBA star made history on Wednesday, becoming the first pro athlete — along with gymnast Suni Lee on Oct. 15 — to walk the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. "Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL," Reese previously posted. "I’m finally getting my wings."  Ahead of her debut, the 23-year-old Chicago Sky forward shared photos of her prep before the event. Reese donned what TMZ described as "an alluring pink lingerie set decorated with pink florals, and co…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
WATCH: Drone Video Shows Deputies Swarm Robbery Suspect After Wild Hagerstown Chase WATCH: Drone Video Shows Deputies Swarm Robbery Suspect After Wild Hagerstown Chase WATCH: Drone Video Shows Deputies Swarm Robbery Suspect After Wild Hagerstown Chase
Watch: Drone Video Shows Deputies Swarm Robbery Suspect After Wild Hagerstown Chase He ran. They flew. A fugitive who bolted through Hagerstown parking lots at dawn didn’t get far — not with a drone and multiple deputies closing in from all directions. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released intense aerial footage showing 35-year-old Wayde Andrew Smith Jr. sprawled on the pavement as deputies surrounded him after a chase that unfolded just after dawn on Wednesday, Oct. 15. On October 15, 2025, just before 7:00 AM, the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported robbery at... Posted by Washington County Sheriff's Office, Maryland on Wednesda…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fairfax, VA
Your Community
Fake Jobs, Real Fraud: ICE Cracks Down On Northern Virginia Student Visa Employers Fake Jobs, Real Fraud: ICE Cracks Down On Northern Virginia Student Visa Employers Fake Jobs, Real Fraud: ICE Cracks Down On Northern Virginia Student Visa Employers
Fake Jobs, Real Fraud: ICE Cracks Down On Northern Virginia Student Visa Employers Federal agents say they uncovered evidence of fraud and noncompliance during recent inspections of Northern Virginia employers that hire foreign students under the federal Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the site visits targeted IT services companies in the region that hire students with F-1 visas through the OPT program, which allows foreign students to work in the US for limited periods after graduation. Investigators discovered signs of staged or nonfunctional worksites, along with supervisors unfamiliar with employmen…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fallston, MD
Your Community
Raccoon Found Inside Baltimore School Tests Positive For Rabies, Officials Say Raccoon Found Inside Baltimore School Tests Positive For Rabies, Officials Say Raccoon Found Inside Baltimore School Tests Positive For Rabies, Officials Say
Raccoon Found Inside Baltimore School Tests Positive For Rabies, Officials Say A raccoon that made its way inside a Baltimore school during dismissal this week has tested positive for rabies, city health officials confirmed. According to the Baltimore City Health Department, Animal Control was notified Wednesday, Oct. 15, after the raccoon captured from Fallstaff Elementary Middle School tested positive for the virus. The day before, on Oct. 14, school officials said the raccoon was first spotted outside the building during dismissal, before it managed to slip inside through an open door. Once inside, staff members acted fast, trapping the animal under lockers using …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Waldorf, MD
Breaking News
Waldorf Woman Accused Of Shooting Boyfriend In Hip After Late-Night Blowup: Sheriff Waldorf Woman Accused Of Shooting Boyfriend In Hip After Late-Night Blowup: Sheriff Waldorf Woman Accused Of Shooting Boyfriend In Hip After Late-Night Blowup: Sheriff
Waldorf Woman Accused Of Shooting Boyfriend In Hip After Late-Night Blowup: Sheriff A domestic dispute in Maryland took a violent turn when a woman allegedly shot her boyfriend in the hip during a late-night argument, officials said. Latasha Carmita Simmons, 48, of Waldorf, was arrested on multiple felony charges following the Oct. 15 shooting, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called around 10:10 p.m. Wednesday to the 6000 block of New Forest Court, where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip, a spokesperson for the agency said.  The victim told officers that Simmons, his girlfriend, was still inside their apartment…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Manassas, VA
Breaking News
‘Religious Slur’ Attack: Michigan Man Charged After Manassas Parking Lot Confrontation: Police ‘Religious Slur’ Attack: Michigan Man Charged After Manassas Parking Lot Confrontation: Police ‘Religious Slur’ Attack: Michigan Man Charged After Manassas Parking Lot Confrontation: Police
‘Religious Slur’ Attack: Michigan Man Charged After Manassas Parking Lot Confrontation: Police A Michigan man — arrested more than 500 miles from home — is accused of attacking a woman and shouting religious slurs during a confrontation in a Manassas parking lot, police said. Last month, an investigation was launched by the agency following an incident that reportedly took place in Manassas, officials said, with the probe wrapping up on Wednesday, Oct. 15.  Investigators say that shortly before noon on Tuesday, Sept. 30, deputies were called to the 10700 block of Sudley Manor Drive, where there was an incident involving Northville, Michigan, resident Matthew Vinod Malaikal,…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
National Interest
Teens Who Beat Former DOGE Star In DC Get Probation As Musk Slams ‘Racist Verdict’ Teens Who Beat Former DOGE Star In DC Get Probation As Musk Slams ‘Racist Verdict’ Teens Who Beat Former DOGE Star In DC Get Probation As Musk Slams ‘Racist Verdict’
Teens Who Beat Former Doge Star In DC Get Probation As Musk Slams ‘Racist Verdict’ The two teens accused of violently assaulting a former DOGE superstar in DC got a slap on the wrist this week after appearing in court and both will avoid time behind bars. A pair of 15-year-old suspects were given probation by a DC court judge after they were identified in an attack on Edward "Big Balls" Coristine over the summer, according to multiple reports. The boy was handed a 12-month probation sentence and is now under house arrest, while the girl was handed a nine-month probation sentence and was remanded to an area youth shelter. A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young m…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fredericksburg, VA
Obituaries
Virginia Man, 28, Dies On Mother’s Birthday, Less Than Two Weeks After Family Dog's Death Virginia Man, 28, Dies On Mother’s Birthday, Less Than Two Weeks After Family Dog's Death Virginia Man, 28, Dies On Mother’s Birthday, Less Than Two Weeks After Family Dog's Death
Virginia Man, 28, Dies On Mother’s Birthday, Less Than Two Weeks After Family Dog's Death A Virginia family is reeling after suffering several inconceivable losses over the course of just two weeks. Deryl “Ryan” Mims, 28, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Oct. 12, the same day as his mother’s birthday, and shortly after the family had to put down their beloved dog.  The heartbreaking loss came less than two weeks after the family had to say goodbye to their beloved German Shepherd, a tragedy Ryan’s mother, Sheri Mullins-Longwell, said she never imagined would be followed by another. “This is the last picture taken on my phone (Sept. 29) moments before my 9-year-old shepherd w…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Prev Page 460 of 3978 458 459 460 461 462 Next
4,591 - 4,600 of 39,774 articles