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

Alexandria, VA

Your Community

Isis-k Supporter Arrested In Virginia Miles From DC After Entering Under Biden Plan: DHS A suspected ISIS-K supporter who entered the United States under the Biden administration’s "Operation Allies Welcome" was arrested in Virginia just miles from the nation’s capital, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary Kristi Noem said Jaan Shah Safi, an Afghan national, was taken into custody by ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents on Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Waynesboro. DHS said Safi entered the country on Sept. 8, 2021, in Philadelphia under "Operation Allies Welcome." He applied for Temporary Protected Status, but DHS said his application was terminated after Se…

by Zak Failla

12/05/2025

College Park, MD

Breaking News

Missing DC Teen Found Dead In College Park; Medical Examiner Rules Homicide: Police A heartbreaking discovery in College Park has now been ruled a homicide after officials confirmed that human remains found in a wooded park last month belonged to a missing 14-year-old boy from Washington, DC, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department. Detectives said the remains of 14-year-old Jefferson Amaya-Ayala were found on in November, during a joint search with PGPD, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI Cross Border Taskforce. The group had been looking for the teen in Indian Creek Stream Valley Park when they came across what appeared to be human re…

by Zak Failla

12/05/2025

Stafford, VA

Breaking News

‘Lost’ Stafford Publix Shopper Gave Fake Name, Opened Candles Before Arrest, Sheriff Says A wanted woman who got "lost" inside a Virginia Publix ended up behind bars after a strange scene played out in one of the aisles at the busy store. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office were called to the supermarket at 1640 Publix Way to conduct a welfare check involving a woman acting strangely inside the store, officials said. Upon arrival, deputies said that they were advised that the woman believed she was lost. Deputies said the woman was giving vague answers to questions as they attempted to figure out what was going on. While …

by Zak Failla

12/05/2025

Rockville, MD

Your Community

Northwood High Locked Down After Student Fight; Gun Recovered, One In Custody: Police A fight between two students forced a lockdown at Northwood High School on Thursday morning after police said a gun was recovered on campus and one student was taken into custody in Silver Spring. Montgomery County Police said the incident happened at Northwood High School in Silver Spring on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9:13 a.m., according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Officers said MCPS placed the school on lockdown after a fight broke out between two students. Police said a gun was found during the response, and one student was taken into custody. Police said there is “no threat…

by Zak Failla

12/05/2025

Fairfax, VA

Breaking News

Watch: Window Washers Left Swinging Over Tysons As Scaffold Snaps 15 Stories Up Two window washers were left dangling high in Virginia on Thursday morning after their scaffold failed nearly 15 stories in the air, prompting a massive high-angle rescue that drew teams from across the region. Fire officials said the emergency began around 9:17 a.m. when Technical Rescue units were sent to a suspended scaffold that had suffered a mechanical failure, trapping two workers on the side of a high-rise building in Tysons on Dec. 4, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Crews met with building management, who explained that the window-washing basket had malfunct…

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

National Interest

Virginia Man Spent A Year Quietly Buying Parts For RNC, DNC Pipe Bombs In DC: Feds A Woodbridge man is accused of quietly stockpiling bomb parts for more than a year before federal agents say he planted two pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC in DC on the eve of Jan. 6 — then slipped back into Virginia like nothing happened. Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, was taken into custody Thursday, Dec. 4, after investigators say they finally connected the dots they had been chasing since 2021. Cole is charged with transporting an explosive in interstate commerce with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate, and with attempted malicious destruction using fire and explosive materials, aut…

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

Lexington Park, MD

Breaking News

Maryland Dealer Convicted After Record $2M Drug Bust, Largest In St. Mary’s County History The man behind the largest drug bust in Maryland history has now been convicted — nearly one year after detectives seized more than $2 million worth of cocaine and fentanyl in a takedown prosecutors are calling a major win for public safety. Antwian Marquis Johnson, 39, of Great Mills, was found guilty on multiple drug-related charges after a five-day trial, according to the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. Investigators said Johnson was at the center of a massive narcotics operation that unraveled on Dec. 5, 2024, when detectives seized approximately 21.5 kilograms — about 47 p…

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

Waldorf, MD

Obituaries

Waldorf Woman Cheryl Goldring Remembered After Posting Powerful Message Of Faith Before Death The day before she died, Cheryl Daphene Rainey Goldring shared a message of faith with the world. “God I trust you. For you are in charge of my life and all of my affairs and I fully trust him to bring forth my highest goods.” Hours later, the Waldorf mother, grandmother, wife, cousin, friend, church pillar, coworker, and community heartbeat would be gone—leaving behind a shockwave of grief that continues to spread across Maryland and every timeline she ever touched. Goldring died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 26, while cooking for her family. The loss hit like a punch to…

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

On Your Side

Virginia’s Viral Drunk Raccoon Is Back—And Now He’s Telling You What Liquor to Buy The Virginia raccoon who got a little loose in a Virginia liquor store before passing out on the bathroom floor of a liquor store is now serving up drink recipes as his legend continues to grow. Virginia ABC officials unveiled a new advertising campaign featuring the curious creature after he made national news for a Black Friday bender that saw him tearing through an area liquor store — leaving a path of destruction in his wake. We appreciate the professionalism of @HanoverVa Animal Protection and Shelter in responding to our Ashland store, and providing our Black Friday visitor with a …

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

Oxon Hill, MD

Breaking News

Fort Washington Man Tracked Down After MGM National Harbor Killing Of DC Victim: Police Prince George’s County Police say they’ve tracked down the man accused of gunning down a 23-year-old at MGM National Harbor in the middle of the day. The department announced Thursday, Dec. 4, that 22-year-old Benjamin Williams of Fort Washington is now charged in the killing of Darnell Hawkins Jr. of Washington, DC in the food court a day earlier. It all unfolded just before lunch on Wednesday, Dec 3. Officers rushed to MGM National Harbor at approximately 11:55 a.m. for a report of a shooting. When they got there, they found Hawkins on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wou…

by Zak Failla

12/04/2025

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