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

Fairfax, VA
Breaking News
Bad Place To Break Down: Worker Stranded 20 Feet Above Busy Fairfax County Highway Rescued Bad Place To Break Down: Worker Stranded 20 Feet Above Busy Fairfax County Highway Rescued Bad Place To Break Down: Worker Stranded 20 Feet Above Busy Fairfax County Highway Rescued
Bad Place To Break Down: Worker Stranded 20 Feet Above Busy Fairfax County Highway Rescued There are worse places for your ride to die than 20 feet above a busy Virginia highway, but not many. A worker found that out the hard way Thursday morning, when a bucket truck lost power along Route 267 westbound at Dolley Madison Boulevard, leaving its occupant stranded high above the roadway. With the bucket going nowhere, Fairfax County firefighters had to bring in a much bigger ladder. Crews were called shortly before 11:30 a.m. for what became an unusual technical rescue, with the worker stuck roughly 20 feet up and firefighters assembling below. Photos from the scene captured the p…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
He Built His Life Around Strength, Now Virginia Coach Ty 'SHOWOUT' Washington Needs A Spot He Built His Life Around Strength, Now Virginia Coach Ty 'SHOWOUT' Washington Needs A Spot He Built His Life Around Strength, Now Virginia Coach Ty 'SHOWOUT' Washington Needs A Spot
He Built His Life Around Strength, Now Virginia Coach Ty 'Showout' Washington Needs A Spot Strength has always been at the forefront of Ty Washington's world. Now, the Virginia coach known as “SHOWOUT” needs some from the community he helped build. Washington, a powerlifting coach and trainer familiar to athletes at OneLife Fitness in Hampton and Newport News, remained in the ICU this week after suffering cardiac arrest, according to his wife, Courtney. "My husband is an incredible coach and trainer who is well respected, driven, and has a passion for what he does," Courtney Washington wrote. "My safe place, my soulmate, an amazing father and breadwinner of our household." Washi…

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by Zak Failla
Lorton, VA
Breaking News
'Scream' Mask, Neon Gloves, Bricks: Lorton Man Busted After $8K Destruction Spree (VIDEO) 'Scream' Mask, Neon Gloves, Bricks: Lorton Man Busted After $8K Destruction Spree (VIDEO) 'Scream' Mask, Neon Gloves, Bricks: Lorton Man Busted After $8K Destruction Spree (VIDEO)
'Scream' Mask, Neon Gloves, Bricks: Lorton Man Busted After $8K Destruction Spree (Video) This wasn't Halloween. And Virginia police say the man behind the "Scream" mask wasn't out looking for candy. Beginning in July, a masked figure repeatedly showed up at a homeowners association community center on Lorton Station Boulevard in Lorton, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. During those incidents, police allege that 22-year-old Lorton resident Zion Gibbs smashed windows six times, ultimately causing approximately $8,000 in damage. His outfit was hard to miss. Surveillance cameras captured the suspect dressed in a "Scream"-style mask and black robe, comp…

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by Zak Failla
Annapolis, MD
Breaking News
Heading To BWI? Water Main Break Shuts Down Route, Snarls Airport Traffic Heading To BWI? Water Main Break Shuts Down Route, Snarls Airport Traffic Heading To BWI? Water Main Break Shuts Down Route, Snarls Airport Traffic
Heading To BWI? Water Main Break Shuts Down Route, Snarls Airport Traffic Getting to the airport in Maryland became a headache before many travelers even reached the terminal Thursday morning. A water main break shut down MD 170 in both directions near Amtrak Way in Anne Arundel County on Aug. 27, causing heavy traffic and creating problems for airport access and rental car operations, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. The utility problem was first reported shortly after 7 a.m. on Thursday. By 8:15 a.m., state highway officials were warning motorists that the closure was having a broader ripple effect around the airport. Both eastbound lan…

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by Zak Failla
Rockville, MD
Breaking News
$2M Up In Smoke: Incense Ashes In Potted Plant Spark Two-Alarm Rockville Apartment Fire $2M Up In Smoke: Incense Ashes In Potted Plant Spark Two-Alarm Rockville Apartment Fire $2M Up In Smoke: Incense Ashes In Potted Plant Spark Two-Alarm Rockville Apartment Fire
$2M Up In Smoke: Incense Ashes In Potted Plant Spark Two-Alarm Rockville Apartment Fire A little incense came with a massive price tag in Maryland. Improperly discarded incense ashes in a potted plant sparked a two-alarm fire that caused an estimated $2 million in damage at the Miramont Apartments in Rockville late on Wednesday, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service officials. And the ashes were left inside an apartment where nobody was home. The fire broke out shortly before midnight at 6020 California Circle, where crews were dispatched around 11:45 p.m. and arrived to find heavy flames tearing through the second floor. The fire in Rockville. Twitt…

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by Zak Failla
Frederick, MD
Breaking News
Body Found In Carroll Creek Sparks Death Investigation In Frederick: Police Body Found In Carroll Creek Sparks Death Investigation In Frederick: Police Body Found In Carroll Creek Sparks Death Investigation In Frederick: Police
Body Found In Carroll Creek Sparks Death Investigation In Frederick: Police A grim discovery brought first responders to a popular Maryland park Wednesday afternoon. Officers were called to Carroll Creek Linear Park in Frederick at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to assist the fire department, according to the Frederick Police Department. When first responders arrived, they found a person dead in Carroll Creek. Police immediately launched a death investigation and said officers were still in the preliminary stages of gathering information Wednesday evening. Few details about the discovery were immediately available. Police have not released the pe…

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by Zak Failla
Purcellville, VA
Breaking News
Search Intensifies For Missing, Endangered Purcellville Woman, 81, Gone Since Sunday Search Intensifies For Missing, Endangered Purcellville Woman, 81, Gone Since Sunday Search Intensifies For Missing, Endangered Purcellville Woman, 81, Gone Since Sunday
Search Intensifies For Missing, Endangered Purcellville Woman, 81, Gone Since Sunday An urgent search for an 81-year-old woman who vanished after leaving for a walk in Virginia has stretched into its fourth day. Carolyn Taylor was last seen at approximately 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, in the 18000 block of Foundry Road in Purcellville, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Taylor left for a walk and never returned, authorities said. As of Wednesday, Aug. 26, a large law enforcement presence remained in the area of Lincoln Road as deputies continued searching for Taylor, who has been classified as missing and endangered. Now, investigators are asking nearby …

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by Zak Failla
Towson, MD
Breaking News
Baltimore Arsonist Kept Coming Back To Spread Flames, Then His Phone Gave Him Away: Feds Baltimore Arsonist Kept Coming Back To Spread Flames, Then His Phone Gave Him Away: Feds Baltimore Arsonist Kept Coming Back To Spread Flames, Then His Phone Gave Him Away: Feds
Baltimore Arsonist Kept Coming Back To Spread Flames, Then His Phone Gave Him Away: Feds An arsonist in Maryland tied to multiple fires is heading to prison, federal authorities announced. Justin Michael Reeves, 29, pleaded guilty to intentionally setting fire to multiple North Baltimore properties and has been sentenced to more than five years in prison, according to the US Attorney's Office. According to his guilty plea, on May 10, 2025, Reeves set a fire at a North Baltimore residence, but he was just getting started. After setting the fire, Reeves returned to the residence at various points to spread the burning materials across the structure and the garage door. The whol…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into Virginia Deputy During Traffic Stop: Sheriff (PHOTOS) Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into Virginia Deputy During Traffic Stop: Sheriff (PHOTOS) Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into Virginia Deputy During Traffic Stop: Sheriff (PHOTOS)
Suspected Drunk Driver Slams Into Virginia Deputy During Traffic Stop: Sheriff (Photos) One night after helping someone in need, a Virginia deputy suddenly needed some help of his own. Deputy St. Onge was conducting a traffic stop in Culpeper County on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when his vehicle was struck by a suspected impaired driver, according to the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office. The crash left both vehicles with heavy damage, photos released by the sheriff's office show. A suspected drunk driver struck a sheriff's deputy in Virginia. Culpeper County Sheriff The front end and hood of a white car were crushed in the collision, while the marked sheriff's SUV sustained si…

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by Zak Failla
Bowie, MD
Breaking News
Wanted Suspect Flees Maryland Traffic Stop, Kills Woman In Wrong-Way Bowie Crash: Police Wanted Suspect Flees Maryland Traffic Stop, Kills Woman In Wrong-Way Bowie Crash: Police Wanted Suspect Flees Maryland Traffic Stop, Kills Woman In Wrong-Way Bowie Crash: Police
Wanted Suspect Flees Maryland Traffic Stop, Kills Woman In Wrong-Way Bowie Crash: Police A woman was killed in a wrong-way crash by a wanted suspect attempting to flee from officers in Maryland, police say. Officers from the Prince George's County Police Department responded around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon to the 12800 block of Ninth Street in Bowie. Investigators say a marked cruiser attempted a traffic stop on a person connected to an open investigation. The suspect initially pulled over, but then sped away from the stop onto Lanham Severn Road. Seconds later, over the radio, a department supervisor ordered officers to stop any additional attempts to pursue the …

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by Zak Failla
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