Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

FOLLOW ON

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

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

Sterling, VA

On Your Side

Explosive Sterling Bank Threat Suspect Shot In Confrontation At Walmart Dies: Sheriff (Updated) The man who threatened to rob a Virginia bank branch with explosives on Monday who was shot during an officer-involved shooting a day later has died, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Deputies and special agents from the FBI tracked down Connor Peltzer, 30, in the parking lot of the Leesburg Walmart shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, and determined he had been involved in the attempted Bank of America robbery on Monday, Jan. 5. Investigators said that as deputies approached the vehicle in the parking lot, the suspect got out with a weapon. Deputies fired at Pelt…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Upper Marlboro, MD

Breaking News

Random Shooting Spree Rocks Upper Marlboro, Leaves One Dead And Two Seriously Injured: Police A man who allegedly gunned down a 65-year-old man and left two others seriously injured during a shooting spree in Southern Maryland over the weekend is behind bars, authorities confirmed. Damonte Williams, 26, was quickly apprehended by investigators from the Prince George's County Police Department in connection with the murder of 65-year-old Joseph Holt III and multiple shootings in Upper Marlboro on Sunday. Officers were called to the Watkins Park Plaza area at approximately 7:20 a.m. in Upper Marlboro on Jan. 4, for a report of an unresponsive man, police said. Once on scene, off…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Potomac, MD

Obituaries

Winston Churchill HS Senior Dies On Family Vacation After Tragic Fishing Accident In Mexico A high school senior from Virginia was killed in a fishing accident while traveling in Mexico over winter break, school officials confirmed. Levi Shum, who attends Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, was an "avid and experienced fisherman," Principal John Taylor said Monday, Jan. 5. “Levi was a wonderful young man, and will be remembered fondly by his peers and this community.” "It is true that the death of anyone close to us, especially a young person, can be emotionally challenging," he continued. "Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with Levi’s family and friends du…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

New Year’s Chaos: Fredericksburg Teen Jailed After Back-To-Back DUI Crashes Near I-95: Police A New Year’s celebration ended in chaos after a teen driver allegedly caused two crashes within minutes near I-95 before attempting to run away from the scene. Officers responded to the area of Plank Road and I-95 in Fredericksburg during the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 1, after a white Subaru was struck at a red light by a red Nissan pickup, moments before the same truck crashed into a tractor-trailer that was making a left turn onto the interstate, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department. Witnesses reported seeing a man and woman run from the red Nissan as officer…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Indian Head-Nanjemoy, MD

Breaking News

Dog Killed, Home Destroyed In Daytime Marbury Fire Displacing Family Of Six A family's home was destroyed and a dog was killed after a daytime house fire ripped through a Maryland home on Monday afternoon, fire officials said. The fire broke out at shortly before 2 p.m. on Jan. 5 at a home in the 4200 block of Rufus Madeline Place in Marbury, where crews found a single-family dwelling fully involved, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. One dog that was inside the home died as a result of the fire, officials confirmed. The house was deemed a total loss, with an estimated $125,000 in structural damage and another $50,000 in contents destroyed. The homeown…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Lexington Park, MD

Breaking News

Maryland Fugitive’s Ankle-Monitor Escape Ends In Lexington Park Crash, Foot Chase, Sheriff Says Osirus Holmes' escape came to a screeching halt in Maryland. The Lexington Park fugitive is back behind bars after cutting off his ankle monitor, fleeing from deputies, and winding up in handcuffs following a crash, according to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. On Monday, Jan. 5, a deputy on patrol in Lexington Park spotted a gray Ford Fusion fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Fox Ridge Road and Spring Valley Road. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled, officials said. The deputy did not pursue, but while speeding away, the Ford was st…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Parkville-Carney, MD

Breaking News

First Fatal Fire Of 2026 Reported After Deadly Parkville Basement Blaze Baltimore County reported its first fire-related fatality of 2026 after a woman pulled from a burning basement died, authorities announced. Julia Ann Anderson, 76, was found in cardiac arrest shortly after 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, inside a home in the 1700 block of Weston Avenue in Parkville, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department. Upon arrival, a resident of the home advised firefighters that a tenant was still in the basement, where crews found Anderson, who was rushed to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Anderson later died from her injuries. The fire marks the…

by Zak Failla

01/06/2026

Sterling, VA

On Your Side

Explosives Threat Turns Sterling Bank Robbery Attempt Into Police Investigation: Sheriff A Bank of America branch in Virginia was temporarily shut down on Monday after a suspect threatened to use explosives to level the building during an attempted robbery. Deputies with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office responded at around 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 5 to the 45000 block of Dulles Crossing Plaza in Sterling, after receiving reports of an attempted bank robbery involving an explosives threat, according to the sheriff’s office. The threat triggered an immediate police response, with deputies conducting a thorough search of the bank and the surrounding area amid concerns that an explosiv…

by Zak Failla

01/05/2026

Towson, MD

Your Community

The Reviews Are In — And Baltimore’s Josh Charles Is Fox’s 'Best Medicine' The reviews are in for Fox’s Best Medicine, and while critics are divided on the show, they agree on one thing: Maryland native Josh Charles is the reason it works. Charles, a Baltimore native with deep ties to the city, stars as Dr. Martin Best, a brilliant but abrasive surgeon who leaves a high-powered career behind to practice medicine in a small East Coast fishing village. The series is an American remake of the British hit Doc Martin and debuted with a special preview following NFL coverage on Sunday, Jan. 4, before officially launching in its regular Tuesday night slot on Jan. 6…

by Zak Failla

01/05/2026

Suitland, MD

On Your Side

Lightning Strikes Twice: PG County Man Claims Second Massive Lottery Prize In Eight Years Some people dream about winning the lottery once. A Prince George’s County man just did it again. Eight years after cashing in a $250,000 scratch-off, the federal employee known as “The $50,000 Man” made a familiar trip back to Maryland Lottery headquarters to start the new year $50,000 richer, Maryland Lottery officials announced. The repeat winner claimed a third-tier Powerball prize from the Oct. 18 drawing after matching four white balls and the Powerball number, according to the Lottery. “I would have been a little happier if I had matched one more number, but this is still a great pr…

by Zak Failla

01/05/2026

Prev Page 370 of 3978 368 369 370 371 372 Next

3,691 - 3,700 of 39,777 articles