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

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Shattered Glass Wakes Family Before Blaze Destroys Maryland Home, Fire Marshal Says A Maryland family escaped a fast-moving early morning fire that destroyed their home in Garrett County over the weekend, officials said. The blaze broke out shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at a mobile home with additions in the 1600 block of Lower New Germany Road in Grantsville, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators said three occupants — including a child — were able to evacuate after one resident was woken up by the sound of window glass breaking in the laundry room. She then saw flames and smoke and called 911. Firefighters from the Grantsv…

by Zak Failla

10/14/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

Lost On I-85, Found By Virginia Troopers: Missing North Carolina Dad Reunited With Daughter A frantic daughter. A lost father. And a cross-state rescue that came together thanks to sharp-eyed Virginia troopers and some quick coordination across state lines. An 83-year-old North Carolina man with a cognitive impairment who went missing after leaving home early Wednesday, Oct. 8, was safely found in Brunswick County, Virginia, after a joint search between the Virginia State Police (VSP) and North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP). According to officials, Mr. Croom left his home in Wilmington around 3:30 a.m. and never returned. His daughter, Ms. Mikesh, panicked and drove…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Fairfax, VA

Breaking News

‘Improperly Discarded Ashes’ Ignite Costly Fairfax County House Fire, Officials Say Improperly discarded ashes sparked a smoky fire that tore through a Fairfax County home early Sunday, fire officials announced. Fairfax Fire and Rescue units were called around 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, to the 5800 block of Queens Gate Court in the Alexandria section of the county, where they found heavy smoke and flames coming from an attached garage. Crews quickly moved in to knock down the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the single-family home. No one was home at the time, and there were no injuries reported, according to the department. Investigators said the fire b…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Arlington, VA

Your Community

Convicted Child Rapist From El Salvador Marked ‘Non-Enforcement Priority’ Detained In VA: ICE Federal officials say a convicted child rapist from El Salvador who was previously marked as a “non-enforcement priority” has now been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Virginia. According to a statement from ICE, agents lodged an immigration detainer against 35-year-old Ricardo Leonel Mejia, who was convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old child after being hired to renovate the family’s bathroom. Mejia was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his conviction. “Ricardo Leonel Mejia’s crimes are unthinkable. This monstrous individual repeatedly rape…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Beltsville, MD

Obituaries

‘A Ray Of Sunshine’: Beloved Maryland Mom Killed In Beltsville Bike Crash Remembered A mother whose life revolved around her two children is being remembered for her warmth, generosity, and love of the outdoors after a tragic crash claimed her life. Lisa Martin, an avid cyclist, was struck and killed while riding her bike on Tuesday, Oct. 8, during one of her regular weeknight rides, according to a friend of the family. "We all know the danger we run into when out on the bike," Martin's husband, Mario Zometa, said. "Unfortunately, my wife passed away due to the irresponsibility of a driver who hit the road. "It is very sad for me to share this with everyone. I don't want …

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Hagerstown Mom Loses Everything In Storage Unit Arson: ‘Gut-Wrenching’ Fire Ruins All It’s been days since flames tore through a row of storage units in Washington County, but for one family, the fire’s damage is still setting in. Kelli Knight was storing furniture, clothing, and her family’s belongings at Halfway Self Storage on Virginia Avenue while she looked for a new place to live. She wasn’t home that morning when an arsonist torched multiple units — including hers — in what investigators later said was a deliberate attack. By the time firefighters arrived around 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, the 8-by-40-foot container was fully engulfed, and smoke could be seen pour…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Breaking News

Ex-Boyfriend Kills Woman In Silver Spring, Rolls Car While Fleeing Arrest, Police Say A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in Maryland led police on a wild chase before a violent crash, authorities say. Earl Walker, 47, is accused of shooting and killing Monique Charles, 47, a Brooklyn, New York native, before leading members of the Montgomery County Department of Police on a brief pursuit that ended with a rollover crash. According to police, officers were called on Sunday, Oct. 12, to the 1700 block of Imperial Drive to investigate reports of shots fired in the area. Upon arrival, they found Charles suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead b…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Breaking News

Hiker Seriously Hurt After Falling On Billy Goat Trail A In Great Falls, Officials Say A hiker was seriously injured after falling along the Billy Goat Trail A near Great Falls on Monday, Oct. 13, prompting a major rescue operation involving multiple agencies, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS). Crews were called around 1:00 p.m. to the C&O Canal National Historical Park after reports of an injured person on the rocky “Traverse” section of the trail, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said. “Rescue @COcanalNPS Billy Goat Trail A, Great Falls, MD, Potomac River, injured person from a fall,” Piringer posted. Firefighters and swift-water rescue tea…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

What Started As A Search For Missing UVA Student Ends With Tragedy In Slovenia The search for a missing 20-year-old University of Virginia student ended in tragedy when his body was found in Slovenia, his family confirmed. A massive search was launched for Gunnar Kennedy earlier this month after he was reported missing during a mountain-climbing trip on Saturday, Oct. 4. Following an extensive search, friends of the family said that Kennedy's body was recovered days later, on Oct. 9, in Slovenia and taken to the US Embassy until he could be returned home. "In the afternoon of October 9 in Slovenia, mountain search and rescue teams were able to locate Gunnar but he di…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Severn, MD

Breaking News

Severn Motorcyclist, 20, Killed After Slamming Into Tree In Glen Burnie, Police Say A 20-year-old motorcyclist is dead in Maryland after police say he lost control and slammed into a tree on Sunday. Severn resident Noah Tabor Blackstone has been identified as the rider who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Oct. 12 in Glen Burnie. According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, officers were called at around 6:20 p.m. to investigate a motorcycle crash on Hospital Drive near Mountain Ridge Court. Investigators say that Blackstone was riding his 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 west on Hospital Drive when he lost control and failed to negotiate a curve. He and the m…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

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