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

Landover, MD

Breaking News

DC Mom Killed In Stolen Car Crash As Teen Driver Pleads Guilty In Prince George's County The teen who blew a red light in a stolen car and killed a DC mother — with her young child in the vehicle — has now admitted to his role in the deadly Maryland crash. Michael Collins pleaded guilty this week to grossly negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and auto theft in Prince George’s County, prosecutors announced, months after the violent crash that took the life of 35-year-old Shaunte Canty. Canty, a DC mother, was driving with her 4-year-old child when Collins, behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, ran a red light and crashed into them in August 2025. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, at app…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Arlington, VA

Breaking News

Two More Charged In Chyna Crawford Murder As DC Case Continues To Grow: Police The case of a missing DC woman that stunned the region has taken another major turn, with two more suspects now charged in her killing as the investigation continues to widen. The developments come in DC, where the Metropolitan Police Department announced new arrests on Thursday, April 2, in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Chyna Crawford, who was first reported missing in October 2023. Deionta Person, 28, and Tyjuan McNeal, 29, both of Southeast DC, are the latest to be charged with felony murder, armed carjacking, and armed robbery. Crawford vanished after she was last seen on t…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Woodbridge, VA

Breaking News

Woodbridge Man Posing As Crime Boss Used Snapchat To Prey On 40+ Minors: DOJ A 24-year-old man who targeted vulnerable girls struggling with mental health issues online admitted he posed as a gangster to exploit children, federal authorities said. Malachi Morgan Thomas is going to spend more than a decade behind bars after hacking a minor's Snapchat account to coerce dozens of underage girls to produce child pornography. According to court documents, between March 1, 2020, and Oct. 1, 2020, Thomas targeted approximately 41 minor girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He directed the victims to create and send him child sexu…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Hagerstown, MD

Obituaries

Missing Teen Found Dead In Virginia Pond Remembered As Four Now Charged With Murder Four people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the death of 18-year-old Jayden Michael McComber, who was reported missing and later found in a Virginia pond. On Wednesday, March 25, an alert was issued for the Hopewell High School student who was last seen in the 2500 block of Richmond Street in Virginia, driving a silver Chevy Silverado. Days later, on Tuesday, March 31, officials confirmed that McComber's body was identified as the person found by an ATV rider on his property. According to multiple reports released on Thursday afternoon, four people were arrested by the Car…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Joppatowne, MD

Breaking News

Brave Boy Beats Blaze, Saves Harford County Family Home Days Before 13th Birthday A quick-thinking Maryland boy may have saved his 13th birthday celebration. There will be more than a birthday to celebrate this week after a 12-year-old boy on Spring Break helped save his family's Harford County home from going up in flames. According to the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, crews were called Thursday morning to a bedroom fire after a phone charger caught fire and spread to curtains, carpet, and other items in the room. The heroic boy, who turns 13 in two days on Saturday, April 4, jumped into action without hesitation. Officials say the child removed the burning i…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Towson, MD

Breaking News

Teen With 'History Of Violent Offenses' Arrested For 11th Time, Released Again In Baltimore Some top lawmakers in Baltimore are speaking out after a teen offender who has run afoul of the law repeatedly was released and reoffended — again. On Tuesday, March 31, officers arrested a 14-year-old on an open warrant while he was in the 2200 block of Kirk Avenue. His offense this time? Failure to appear in reference to a previous crime. But, which previous crime? The teen is well-known to police, with 10 prior arrests for failure to appear, theft, robbery, and assault. Arrest number 11 resulted in more of the same: the teen was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center, a…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

National Interest

NBA Prank Backfires: Viral Fake Fan Shot Costs Wizards In April Fools' Day Gone Wrong The Washington Wizards lost twice on Wednesday: Once to the 76ers and again in the court of public opinion. An April Fools' "skit" on Wednesday went wrong for the NBA team, which had an actor who was in on it all blindfolded at half-court. The actor, who they called Jackson and presented as an unassuming fan, hurled the ball toward the basket — an airball. Everyone on the court cheered and presented the "fan" (the actor) with a $10,000 check. With mascots, "Jackson," and the crowd going wild, they ran back the shot, which had actually soared over the backboard. Clips o…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

150+ Fentanyl Capsules, Guns Seized In Drug Bust At Hagerstown Motel 6: Police A late-night traffic stop outside a Maryland motel turned into a major drug and gun bust, with fentanyl, firearms, and cash recovered during a search. The investigation unfolded in Washington County, where a deputy with the sheriff’s office stopped a vehicle leaving Motel 6 on Massey Boulevard during the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 1. Suspicious activity during the stop prompted the deputy to call in a K9 unit from the Hagerstown Police Department, which alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. That alert led to a full search, where officers uncovered two firear…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Aldie, VA

Breaking News

Virginia Man Who Posed As Olympian-In-Training To Prey On Teen Girl Learns Prison Fate A Virginia man who posed as an Olympian-in-training to groom a young girl will spend decades in prison. Roanoke native Erich Zeeb, 51, was sentenced in Michigan to 28 years in prison after preying on a 15-year-old girl and her family for years. According to prosecutors, in 2012, Zeeb met his victim online when she was still a teenager, promising to help her with her own Olympic aspirations. That's when the grooming began, according to District Judge Jane Beckering. At sentencing, the judge said Zeeb groomed the girl by gaining her parents' trust, then using the access to sexually exploit …

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

Burtonsville, MD

Breaking News

Former Turnstile Guitarist Charged With Hit-Run Involving Neighbor In Silver Spring: Police Brady O'Brien Ebert, a founding member and former guitarist for Maryland-based band Turnstile, is facing serious charges following his arrest in Montgomery County. The 33-year-old Silver Spring musician was arrested and charged with attempted murder following a hit-and-run that left his neighbor hospitalized with a broken leg and other injuries, according to police. His victim? Reportedly, William Yates, the father of Turnstile frontman Brendan Yates. Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called shortly before 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, to the 15000 block of Tim…

by Zak Failla

04/02/2026

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