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

Leesburg, VA
Breaking News
Maryland Man Cut Security Cables, Fled AT&T Store In Leesburg Before Christmas: Police Maryland Man Cut Security Cables, Fled AT&T Store In Leesburg Before Christmas: Police Maryland Man Cut Security Cables, Fled AT&T Store In Leesburg Before Christmas: Police
Maryland Man Cut Security Cables, Fled AT&T Store In Leesburg Before Christmas: Police A Maryland man is behind bars after police say he walked into a busy Virginia shopping center just days before Christmas and cut security cables off store merchandise in broad daylight. The theft happened at the AT&T Store at 1604 Village Market Boulevard in Leesburg on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., according to the Leesburg Police Department. Police say a male suspect entered the store, used a tool to cut the security cables attached to merchandise, and fled with the stolen items. Investigators say the probe identified that the suspect was 34-year-old Hyattsville…

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by Zak Failla
Alexandria, VA
Breaking News
‘Mama Tried’: Plate Left Behind After Virginia Driver Snowbank Crash During Pursuit: Sheriff ‘Mama Tried’: Plate Left Behind After Virginia Driver Snowbank Crash During Pursuit: Sheriff ‘Mama Tried’: Plate Left Behind After Virginia Driver Snowbank Crash During Pursuit: Sheriff
‘Mama Tried’: Plate Left Behind After Virginia Driver Snowbank Crash During Pursuit: Sheriff Mama didn't try hard enough. A Virginia driver who allegedly tore through Culpeper at nearly double the speed limit ended his night in a snowbank — with a custom “Mama Tried” plate left behind as the final punchline. Culpeper County Sheriff Cpl. Booth observed a vehicle pass him on North Main Street going 70 mph in a 35 mph zone, prompting an attempted traffic stop before the wheels came off for the driver. Literally. As Booth attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated south on Main Street through heavy traffic and jumped the roundabout near Wendy’s before losing a tire on Sunset L…

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by Zak Failla
National Interest
Stamford's Linda McMahon To Lead Trump Delegation At Olympic Closing Ceremony In Italy Stamford's Linda McMahon To Lead Trump Delegation At Olympic Closing Ceremony In Italy Stamford's Linda McMahon To Lead Trump Delegation At Olympic Closing Ceremony In Italy
Stamford's Linda McMahon To Lead Trump Delegation At Olympic Closing Ceremony In Italy From Stamford to Italy. President Donald Trump has named several familiar faces to lead a delegation loaded with loyalists at the Olympic closing ceremony. Education Secretary Linda McMahon will lead the pack, with several other top Trump aides chosen to attend the ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, as part of the "presidential delegation."  Other members include business leaders and a former Olympic champion: Tilman J. Fertitta, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Italian Republic and the Republic of San Marino; Lauren Fertitta; Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the US Small…

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by Zak Failla
Essex, MD
Obituaries
Xzayviia “Zay” Bundy, 18, Virginia High School Football Star, Leaves Lasting Mark on Community Xzayviia “Zay” Bundy, 18, Virginia High School Football Star, Leaves Lasting Mark on Community Xzayviia “Zay” Bundy, 18, Virginia High School Football Star, Leaves Lasting Mark on Community
Xzayviia “Zay” Bundy, 18, Virginia High School Football Star, Leaves Lasting Mark on Community In Virginia, a small-town football field just got a lot quieter. Xzayviia “Zay” Bundy — a multi-time All-State linebacker, starting quarterback, and the 2025 Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year — died on Monday, Feb 9, in Tappahannock.  He was 18. Bundy was a four-year starter for Essex High School, where he became one of the most dominant players in program history. Known for his physical presence on defense and leadership on offense, he earned All-State honors each season and most recently committed to play football at Shepherd University in West Virginia. His sudden passing has s…

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by Zak Failla
Lexington Park, MD
Breaking News
St. Mary's County Teens Unleash Night Of Chaos With Stolen SUV, Liquor Store Theft: Sheriff St. Mary's County Teens Unleash Night Of Chaos With Stolen SUV, Liquor Store Theft: Sheriff St. Mary's County Teens Unleash Night Of Chaos With Stolen SUV, Liquor Store Theft: Sheriff
St. Mary's County Teens Unleash Night Of Chaos With Stolen SUV, Liquor Store Theft: Sheriff A group of teenagers is back in their parents’ custody after terrorizing residents in Southern Maryland during a night of mayhem. Four teenage boys — including three 14-year-olds — were caught after stealing an SUV, swiping alcohol from a liquor store, and allegedly trying to steal another vehicle in Maryland, deputies said. The chain of events unfolded Monday, Feb. 9, in Lexington Park, according to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were first called around 6:10 p.m. to a residential area for a reported stolen vehicle, where a 2004 Honda Pilot was taken from the street in f…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfax, VA
Breaking News
Damaged SUV Vanishes After I-66 Hit-Run In Fairfax County: State Police Seek Driver Damaged SUV Vanishes After I-66 Hit-Run In Fairfax County: State Police Seek Driver Damaged SUV Vanishes After I-66 Hit-Run In Fairfax County: State Police Seek Driver
Damaged SUV Vanishes After I-66 Hit-Run In Fairfax County: State Police Seek Driver Recognize this truck?  Virginia State Police investigators are on the hunt for a white SUV that rear-ended a car on I-66 in Fairfax County last week and sped away. The crash happened in the westbound lanes of the interstate at the exit ramp to Route 28 shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, according to state police. A 2018 black Mazda 3 sedan was stopped for traffic when it was struck from behind by a white SUV, possibly a Chevrolet. The SUV was missing its rear wiper, police noted. After the crash, the white SUV continued onto Route 28 and did not stop, according to authori…

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by Zak Failla
National Interest
Trump Calls Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 'Not Worthy' Of Invitation To White House Dinner Trump Calls Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 'Not Worthy' Of Invitation To White House Dinner Trump Calls Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 'Not Worthy' Of Invitation To White House Dinner
Trump Calls Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 'Not Worthy' Of Invitation To White House Dinner President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore this week, calling him “not worthy” of attending the White House Governors' Dinner and blasting his record on Baltimore crime and the Key Bridge rebuild. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said invitations to the annual Governors' Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, were sent to “ALL Governors,” except two. One of them, he wrote, was “the foul mouthed Governor of Maryland, who fraudulently stated that he received Military medals, A LIE, is doing a terrible job on the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Brid…

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by Zak Failla
Prince Frederick, MD
Breaking News
Skimmer Kingpin Busted In Maryland 7-Eleven Fraud Scheme That Netted Thousands: Calvert Sheriff Skimmer Kingpin Busted In Maryland 7-Eleven Fraud Scheme That Netted Thousands: Calvert Sheriff Skimmer Kingpin Busted In Maryland 7-Eleven Fraud Scheme That Netted Thousands: Calvert Sheriff
Skimmer Kingpin Busted In Maryland 7-Eleven Fraud Scheme That Netted Thousands: Calvert Sheriff A 20-year-old Baltimore man is accused of secretly installing card skimmers at 7-Eleven stores across Maryland — and deputies say the operation netted him thousands before he was caught. Becam CiuCiu was arrested following what the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office called an “extensive, multijurisdictional investigation” into illegal skimming devices placed on store PIN pads throughout the state. The investigation began in October 2025, when deputies in Calvert County started finding skimming devices attached to point-of-sale PIN pads at multiple 7-Eleven locations, according to the sheriff’s…

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by Zak Failla
Silver Spring, MD
Breaking News
Man Accused Of Smelling 10-Year-Old Girl’s Feet At Silver Spring Arcade Arrested After Manhunt Man Accused Of Smelling 10-Year-Old Girl’s Feet At Silver Spring Arcade Arrested After Manhunt Man Accused Of Smelling 10-Year-Old Girl’s Feet At Silver Spring Arcade Arrested After Manhunt
Man Accused Of Smelling 10-Year-Old Girl’s Feet At Silver Spring Arcade Arrested After Manhunt The man who approached a young girl inside a busy Maryland arcade took off her shoes and socks before smelling her feet and walking away, has been apprehended. Now the Montgomery County Department of Police is worried there are more victims.  Christopher Michael Simpson, 30, of Germantown, was tracked down by detectives following the strange scene that played out in September 2025, when he allegedly targeted a 10-year-old girl. The incident happened inside the arcade area at Dave & Buster’s at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in the 8600 block of Colesville Road in…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Mom Gunned Down In NW DC — Child’s Father Dies After Wild Chase Across State Lines: MPD Mom Gunned Down In NW DC — Child’s Father Dies After Wild Chase Across State Lines: MPD Mom Gunned Down In NW DC — Child’s Father Dies After Wild Chase Across State Lines: MPD
Mom Gunned Down In NW DC — Child’s Father Dies After Wild Chase Across State Lines: MPD A 34-year-old mother was shot and killed in front of a Northwest DC apartment complex — and the father of her 3-year-old child later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a police pursuit that stretched from Maryland back to the District, authorities said. Officers responded at approximately 4:39 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to the 4100 block of W Street NW in Glover Park for a reported shooting in front of an apartment complex. When they arrived, they found Rayven Amuan Edwards, 34, of Northwest, suffering from gunshot wounds. A 10-year-old girl was also shot. A juvenile b…

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by Zak Failla
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