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

Rockville, MD
On Your Side
$72.3M Deal Gives Federal Realty Major Control Of Rockville Pike Retail Corridor $72.3M Deal Gives Federal Realty Major Control Of Rockville Pike Retail Corridor $72.3M Deal Gives Federal Realty Major Control Of Rockville Pike Retail Corridor
$72.3M Deal Gives Federal Realty Major Control Of Rockville Pike Retail Corridor A major $72.3 million deal is reshaping one of the busiest shopping corridors in Montgomery County. Federal Realty Investment Trust announced it has acquired the Congressional North Shopping Center in North Bethesda, expanding its footprint along Rockville Pike, one of the region’s most heavily trafficked retail corridors. The acquisition was announced on Monday, March 16, in North Bethesda. The 176,000-square-foot shopping center sits on 13 acres and is anchored by national retailers including Aldi, RH Outlet, Petco, and Staples. The property is located directly next to Congressional Pla…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Seven Months Later: Woodbridge Man Who Stabbed Acquaintance At Front Door Arrested, Police Say Seven Months Later: Woodbridge Man Who Stabbed Acquaintance At Front Door Arrested, Police Say Seven Months Later: Woodbridge Man Who Stabbed Acquaintance At Front Door Arrested, Police Say
Seven Months Later: Woodbridge Man Who Stabbed Acquaintance At Front Door Arrested, Police Say A man accused of stabbing an acquaintance multiple times at his own front door in Virginia is now behind bars — more than seven months after the attack. Adrian Jamarr Kidwell, 48, was arrested on Tuesday, March 17 near his home, following a lengthy investigation into a violent early-morning assault on Nickelson Drive in Woodbridge, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The attack happened around 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Investigators say Kidwell went to the home and knocked. When the 46-year-old victim opened the door, a confrontation quickly turned physical. …

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Obituaries
Virginia Family’s Birthday Trip Turns Tragic As Father Viet Nguyenston Dies Unexpectedly In NYC Virginia Family’s Birthday Trip Turns Tragic As Father Viet Nguyenston Dies Unexpectedly In NYC Virginia Family’s Birthday Trip Turns Tragic As Father Viet Nguyenston Dies Unexpectedly In NYC
Virginia Family’s Birthday Trip Turns Tragic As Father Viet Nguyenston Dies Unexpectedly In NYC What started as a birthday trip to New York City ended in an unimaginable tragedy for a Virginia family. Viet Nguyenston died unexpectedly while on a family vacation with his wife and two children to celebrate his oldest daughter's third birthday, leaving behind a stunned community who described him as "the kind of man who always answered your call."  He was just 43. "There are some people in life who don’t just pass through—they leave a mark on your heart," Duke Nguyen said. "Viet was one of those rare souls."  "He showed up without hesitation. No conditions, no questions—just a genuine …

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
Maryland Firebug Accused Of Torching Home During Argument Now Facing Decades In Prison Maryland Firebug Accused Of Torching Home During Argument Now Facing Decades In Prison Maryland Firebug Accused Of Torching Home During Argument Now Facing Decades In Prison
Maryland Firebug Accused Of Torching Home During Argument Now Facing Decades In Prison  A Maryland firebug who torched a home during an argument last summer is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. Patrick Ryan Gifford, 28, is facing serious charges after being identified as the suspected arsonist in Cambridge who allegedly intentionally set the blaze during a disagreement, the Maryland Fire Marshal announced.  Gifford is accused of setting a fire in the 1100 block of Race Street in Cambridge on Aug. 27, 2025, following a disagreement with someone inside the home. It took dozens of firefighters approximately an hour to knock down the fl…

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by Zak Failla
Germantown, MD
Breaking News
Massive Sinkhole, Gas Leak Shuts Down Multiple Germantown Roads (PHOTOS) Massive Sinkhole, Gas Leak Shuts Down Multiple Germantown Roads (PHOTOS) Massive Sinkhole, Gas Leak Shuts Down Multiple Germantown Roads (PHOTOS)
Massive Sinkhole, Gas Leak Shuts Down Multiple Germantown Roads (Photos) A gas leak that triggered a massive sinkhole shut down multiple roads in Maryland and reportedly forced an early dismissal at a nearby school on Thursday morning. The incident happened around 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, on Liberty Mill Road near Dawson Farm Road in Germantown, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. Crews responded to an outdoor gas leak that caused the ground to collapse, leaving a large sinkhole stretching along the roadway and into the sidewalk. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Officers quickly shut down Liberty Mill Road between Dawson Farm Road and Pepper Court, then ex…

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Breaking News
Back Behind Bars: Wanted Man’s Chase Through Hagerstown Ends In Cruiser Crash: Police Back Behind Bars: Wanted Man’s Chase Through Hagerstown Ends In Cruiser Crash: Police Back Behind Bars: Wanted Man’s Chase Through Hagerstown Ends In Cruiser Crash: Police
Back Behind Bars: Wanted Man’s Chase Through Hagerstown Ends In Cruiser Crash: Police Vincent Taulton found himself in a familiar position on Tuesday afternoon: the back of a police car. The 44-year-old, who was wanted in multiple jurisdictions in multiple states, is behind bars after taking police on a pursuit before crashing into a cruiser, according to the Hagerstown Police Department. Shortly before 3 p.m. on March 17, officers were tipped off about a wanted man on Frederick Street in an orange-colored Kia Sportage being driven by Taulton.  Officers attempted to stop the Kia, police say, but the driver sped away, prompting a pursuit. During the pursuit, Taulton co…

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by Zak Failla
Gaithersburg, MD
Breaking News
Maryland Murder Suspect Hid With Help From His Mom After Deadly Kidnapping, Police Say Maryland Murder Suspect Hid With Help From His Mom After Deadly Kidnapping, Police Say Maryland Murder Suspect Hid With Help From His Mom After Deadly Kidnapping, Police Say
Maryland Murder Suspect Hid With Help From His Mom After Deadly Kidnapping, Police Say A third person has been arrested in connection with a harrowing kidnapping and murder in Maryland last year, and police say he was assisted by his mother after the fact. Justin Michael Green Collins, 25, was located at a home in District Heights and arrested in Washington DC, where he was taken into custody in connection with the death of 29-year-old Akwalabeng Fontava inside his North Bethesda apartment in September 2025. Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called around 7:40 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025, to the 5900 block of Montrose Road for a reported medical emergen…

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by Zak Failla
Annapolis, MD
Breaking News
Lothian Gunman Unleashes Highway Shooting Spree Before Being Taken Down By Police (UPDATED) Lothian Gunman Unleashes Highway Shooting Spree Before Being Taken Down By Police (UPDATED) Lothian Gunman Unleashes Highway Shooting Spree Before Being Taken Down By Police (UPDATED)
Lothian Gunman Unleashes Highway Shooting Spree Before Being Taken Down By Police (Updated) A gun-toting Maryland man who terrorized drivers during a string of late-night shootings on major highways has been apprehended, state police announced. The man accused of opening fire across multiple Prince George’s County highways is now in custody after a traffic stop led investigators straight to the suspect vehicle. The arrest happened around 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in Temple Hills, where Prince George’s County police stopped a Dodge Challenger matching the description tied to the shootings, according to Maryland State Police. The suspect vehicle. Maryland State Police The s…

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by Zak Failla
Towson, MD
Breaking News
'Armed Security' Guard With Rifle Arrested In Baltimore Smoke Shop Drug Bust, Police Say 'Armed Security' Guard With Rifle Arrested In Baltimore Smoke Shop Drug Bust, Police Say 'Armed Security' Guard With Rifle Arrested In Baltimore Smoke Shop Drug Bust, Police Say
'Armed Security' Guard With Rifle Arrested In Baltimore Smoke Shop Drug Bust, Police Say A smoke shop in Maryland wasn’t just selling products — police say it was moving drugs while a man wearing an “Armed Security” vest stood inside with a loaded rifle. Detectives shut down the operation in Baltimore, where a search warrant at a smoke shop led to a major seizure and arrest, according to police. The warrant was executed around 1:11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, in the 2100 block of East Monument Street, where investigators had already been watching activity inside the store. Police say what they found matched what they had been seeing. A 22-year-old man inside the shop had been …

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by Zak Failla
Reston, VA
Breaking News
Virginia Family Says Goodbye To Teen As Sister Battles For Life After Reston Crash Virginia Family Says Goodbye To Teen As Sister Battles For Life After Reston Crash Virginia Family Says Goodbye To Teen As Sister Battles For Life After Reston Crash
Virginia Family Says Goodbye To Teen As Sister Battles For Life After Reston Crash A Fairfax County family is now dealing with both loss and a medical crisis after a crash in Reston killed Ashley Romero and left her sister, Stephanie Romero, fighting for her life. Ashley, 16, died in the crash. Stephanie survived, but with severe burn injuries that cover a large portion of her body. Family members say she is expected to undergo at least six surgeries as part of her recovery. She remains hospitalized. Stephanie is also the mother of a 1-year-old girl, adding another layer of urgency for the family as they navigate what comes next. “My sister Stephanie is fighting for he…

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by Zak Failla
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