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

Brunswick-Jefferson, MD

Your Community

‘Please Pray for Frankie’: Maryland Puppy Fights for Life After Devastating Crash Frankie, a playful baby dachshund just a few months old, is fighting through unimaginable odds after being hit by a car and suffering critical injuries in Maryland. The pup's family, led by Morgan McKnew — who started a GoFundMe that has picked up traction — has been documenting the dog's journey as she continues an up-and-down recovery after being placed in intensive care. Frankie was rushed to emergency veterinary care immediately after the crash on Friday, Oct. 10, and has since undergone multiple surgeries to repair life-threatening internal injuries. Maryland family prayi…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Waldorf, MD

Breaking News

Teen Caught Masturbating Outside Waldorf Homes Surrenders After Social Media Post: Sheriff Deputies in Maryland say they’ve identified a teen who was allegedly caught pleasuring himself outside a home over the weekend. The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, when officers were called to the 3000 block of October Place for a report of a “suspicious person knocking on a resident’s door,” according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. When the resident checked, they told police the individual was seen masturbating outside the door. Officers flooded the area but couldn’t find the suspect that night, officials said. Investigators later learned the same …

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Frederick, MD

Breaking News

SWAT Raid Horror: Frederick Educator Accused Of Abusing Students Tried To End His Life: Sheriff An educator in Maryland accused of sexually abusing multiple minors attempted to kill himself during a barricade before being rushed to the hospital, officials say. In September, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office received a report alleging sexual abuse involving 22-year-old John McAleer, a special education instructional assistant at Oakdale Middle School. During the investigation, several underage victims came forward to report alleged abuse that happened at the school. On Sunday, Oct. 5, detectives obtained search warrants for McAleer’s residence, vehicle, and person. The follow…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Laurel, MD

Breaking News

Grease Spill Scandal: Laurel Man Admits To Polluting Creek With Cooking Oil A Prince George’s County man who repeatedly dumped cooking oil into a Maryland creek has pleaded guilty to environmental crimes, authorities announced. Philip Robinson, 67, of Laurel, was convicted of discharging a pollutant in Prince George’s County, following an investigation by the Attorney General’s Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit (ENRCU). The probe began after a citizen reported seeing a dark green pickup truck dumping materials at the dead end of Van Dusen Road in Laurel during the early morning hours each week. Investigators soon caught Robinson in the act. Ac…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Rockville, MD

Breaking News

$1M Blaze Destroys Rockville Home, Residents Escape, Cat Still Missing (Photos) A Rockville family escaped a massive early-morning fire that tore through their home Wednesday, leaving behind $1 million in damage — and one missing cat. Firefighters were called just before 6:50 a.m. on Oct. 15 to Starlight Court in the Fallsmead/Horizon Hill neighborhood, where heavy flames and thick smoke were shooting from a single-family home when crews arrived, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS). The scene of the Rockville fire. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Officials said two adults and two family pets made it out safely after being awakened by barking dogs…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Haymarket, VA

Breaking News

Trucker Tried To Warn Driver Before Fatal Highway Crash In Haymarket, Police Say A truck driver did all he could to avoid a deadly crash, but one person was killed in Virginia after smashing into the back of the semi, police say. Haymarket resident Jose Ramirez, 55, was killed early on Wednesday morning, when he slammed into a tractor-trailer on James Madison Highway, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Officers were called at around 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 15 to a stretch of the highway near Logmill Road in Haymarket, where there was a violent crash. Police say that the driver of a 2012 Freightliner semi-truck was making a left turn from a private…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Towson, MD

Breaking News

Baltimore County Man Handed Out Pamphlets To Lure Minors Into Sex Trafficking Operation: PD A Maryland man is behind bars after detectives say he targeted underage victims in a disturbing local sex trafficking operation. According to the Baltimore County Police Department, 38-year-old Ricardo Sawyer used “various methods” to approach victims and potential victims, including in-person encounters and online outreach through social media. Detectives began investigating over the summer after learning about several minors believed to have been trafficked locally. Police said Sawyer tried to get creative in an apparent effort to recruit his victims. “Over the summer, detectives of the…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Obituaries

Virginia Grandfather Dies Unexpectedly Days After Spinal Surgery: ‘He Never Met a Stranger’ A Virginia family is stunned after the sudden death of Dale Hayes, who died just days after returning home from major spinal surgery. Hayes died unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 9, leaving "a huge hole in his children's hearts and those who loved him," according to a close friend. Just days before his death, Hayes suffered a serious spinal injury when he fractured a vertebra. He underwent major surgery, during which bone from his leg was grafted to his neck. Doctors then placed rods, bolts, and plates to help stabilize his spine. Following the surgery, Hayes was moved to t…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Joppatowne, MD

Breaking News

Harford County Sheriff Reflects After Teen Gets 80 Years For Joppatowne High Murder A top cop in Maryland is reflecting on the tragedy that rocked Joppatowne High School and the sentence handed down this week to the teen who pulled the trigger. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler said the case of Jaylen Rushawn Prince, now serving an 80-year prison sentence for killing classmate Warren Grant, underscores the “serious consequences of violence within our schools.” “The actions of one student resulted in the death of another, and in doing so, altered the course of two young lives and impacted an entire community,” Gahler said Wednesday, following the sentencing. Pr…

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

Ashburn, VA

Breaking News

Hot Dog! Loudoun County Firefighters Revive 'Lethargic' Pup After Crash With Oxygen Mask Firefighters in Loudoun County jumped into action to save a four-legged passenger after a weekend crash left a dog struggling to breathe. Crews from Fire Station 19 in Dulles South arrived to find the injured pup inside one of the vehicles — lethargic, frightened, and in bad shape, officials said. So, instead of waiting for animal control, firefighters did what they do best: they went to work. Members of Engine 619 and Tower 619 grabbed a pet oxygen mask from Battalion Chief 603’s vehicle, slipped it over the dog’s muzzle, and started giving her oxygen right there on the side of the road. …

by Zak Failla

10/15/2025

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