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

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

‘Weapon Of Terror’: Fredericksburg Dealer Learns His Prison Fate After Fatal Overdose A Fredericksburg man will spend decades in prison after a fatal overdose investigation led to the seizure of dangerous drugs in Stafford County. Patrick Small, 45, was sentenced to 40 years in prison — with 20 years to serve — after pleading guilty again to multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Late last year, members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office responded to a suspected overdose death in North Stafford, according to the sheriff's office. Detectives with the Special Investigations Unit joined the case, which soon prompted an operat…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Clear Spring-Hancock, MD

Breaking News

Hancock Man Who Called 911 To Confess To Arson Now Facing Multiple Charges: Fire Marshal A Maryland man who called 911 in the middle of the night to report a blaze he started is now facing charges, authorities announced on Friday. There was neither trick nor treat on Oct. 31 for Hancock resident Alvin Gerald Funk, 78, who is facing multiple charges after allegedly setting a house fire with another person inside. Just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, firefighters and police were called to the 6100 block of Hess Road in Hancock, where a man later identified as the homeowner told dispatchers he was ‘going to set his house on fire,’ the Maryland State Fire Marshal said. …

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Ellicott City, MD

Breaking News

You Goat To Be Kidding: Maryland Police Help Round Up Runaway Goats In Ellicott City (Watch) Howard County Police found themselves in a situation straight out of a comedy when they were called to check out two suspicious characters hanging around in Ellicott City — only to find out they were goats. “OK, this is interesting,” an officer can be heard saying as he approached two women standing near a pair of runaway goats in a parking lot. “Do you know where they may have come from?” the officer asked. You never quite know what you'll encounter on a patrol shift in Ellicott City... Posted by Howard County Police Department on Friday, October 31, 2025 The women laughed and ex…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Alexandria, VA

Your Community

The Race Is Heating Up: Winsome Earle-Sears’ Campaign Bus Bursts Into Flames In Virginia Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign trail quite literally went up in flames when her tour bus caught fire on Route 33, just days before voters head to the polls in her heated race for governor. The Greene County Office of Emergency Services said the bus caught fire shortly after 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, along Route 33 (Spotswood Trail). “We are grateful to report that the bus driver, who was the only occupant at the time, was not injured,” officials said. “One firefighter sustained an injury while operating at the scene but was treated and released by Greene County EMS.…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Chantilly, VA

On Your Side

Hej, DMV! IKEA Bringing Huge New Store To Chantilly In 2026 "Hej DMV Neighbors!" IKEA is bringing another massive store to Northern Virginia. The Swedish retail giant announced plans to open a new 110,000-square-foot IKEA in Chantilly in spring 2026, marking its third Virginia location. The new store will rise at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Drive, near the intersection of Willard Road and Brookfield Corporate Drive, between Routes 28 and 567. It will replace the Dulles Expo Center, which is slated to close and be converted. “We are thrilled to continue our expansion across the DMV to bring the dream of a better home within reach for more…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Germantown, MD

Breaking News

Teen Cut Off Ankle Monitor Hours Before Montgomery County Shooting Spree: Police A trio of teens — one of whom ripped off a court-ordered ankle monitor just hours before a shooting spree — has been arrested and charged in connection with a violent string of gunfire that shook Maryland neighborhoods. Samuel Wisdom, 18, along with 17-year-olds Ai’Jai Tyrell Smith-Nelson, both of Germantown, and Jaden Ochieng, of Clarksburg, are accused of taking part in multiple shootings between March 2024 and August 2025, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police on Friday, Oct. 31. Detectives said the first round of gunfire broke out around 2:42 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, in t…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Manassas, VA

Breaking News

Off-Duty Trooper Jumps In As Teen Beats 13-Year-Old For Shoes Outside Benton Middle School: PD A 14-year-old boy was detained in Virginia after police say he and two others attacked a 13-year-old outside a middle school football game — all for his shoes. The shocking assault happened around 7:24 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Benton Middle School on Hoadly Road in Manassas, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Investigators said the victim, a 13-year-old boy, had been talking with three other teens after the game when things suddenly turned violent. As he walked away, one of the suspects struck him from behind, knocking him to the ground before his shoes were …

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Arlington, VA

Breaking News

Virginia Police Hunt DC Man Wanted On 28 Warrants In Credit Card Thefts, Cops Say Detectives in Northern Virginia are on the hunt for a DC man wanted on 28 warrants after a string of credit card thefts at local convenience stores, police said. James Shelton, 55, is accused of sneaking into employee breakrooms, stealing wallets, and quickly racking up charges on the stolen cards, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. The latest theft happened around 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 at a store in the 5600 block of Pickwick Road in Centreville, investigators said. While an employee was working up front, her personal belongings — including credit cards — were taken fro…

by Zak Failla

10/31/2025

Manassas, VA

Breaking News

Police Searching For Missing Dumfries Mom, 11-Month-Old Son Last Seen Saturday Police in Prince William County are asking for the public’s help finding a missing mother and her infant son who have not been seen or heard from in days. Family members reported 35-year-old Curtina Michelle Spann and her 11-month-old son, Kenzo Lee Hallman, missing on Thursday, Oct. 30, after losing contact with them last weekend, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Investigators said the last known communication with Spann was around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. Since then, there has been no further contact or any activity indicating their whereabouts. Sp…

by Zak Failla

10/30/2025

Bethesda, MD

Breaking News

‘Double Parked’—Literally: SUV Lands On Two Cars In Bizarre Bethesda Crash Bethesda firefighters were left shaking their heads after a wild parking lot crash that somehow ended with a luxury SUV sitting on top of two other cars — both of which were occupied at the time, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue. The chaos unfolded just before noon Thursday, Oct. 30, outside the Camalier Building on Fernwood Road, officials said. Fire crews rushed to the scene after reports of a vehicle collision that turned into what looked like a real-life game of car Jenga. The scene in Montgomery County on Thursday. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Photos show the wh…

by Zak Failla

10/30/2025

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