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

Driver Takes Off After Deadly Late-Night Hit-Run In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says Deputies in Virginia are investigating after a deadly hit-and-run claimed the life of a 61-year-old man over the weekend. First responders were called shortly before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 11, to a stretch of the 10200 block of Patriot Highway, where there were reports of a man lying in the roadway after being struck by a car, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office. Investigators say that James was pronounced dead at the scene by Spotsylvania Fire and Rescue personnel. The driver fled before deputies arrived. The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Reconstruction …

by Zak Failla

10/14/2025

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Man Torches Girlfriend’s Clothes During Fiery Lovers’ Quarrel In Hagerstown, Officials Say A lovers’ quarrel in Maryland went up in flames — literally — when a man allegedly torched his girlfriend’s clothes during a domestic dispute, investigators said. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said the incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at a home in the 1000 block of Georgia Avenue in Hagerstown, where the boyfriend reportedly set fire to a hat under the rear porch of the house belonging to his girlfriend. The blaze — classified as malicious burning — caused minor damage, but was extinguished immediately after it was discovered by the woman, officials said.&n…

by Zak Failla

10/14/2025

Hyattsville, MD

Obituaries

Maryland Community Rallies To Send Sandel De La Cruz Home After Fatal Worksite Crash A community is coming together to bring Sandel Elias De La Cruz home. The 29-year-old husband, father, and son died in a traffic accident while working on Oct. 4, leaving behind family and friends who say their only wish now is to return him to the Dominican Republic — the place where his parents and relatives still live — for a dignified burial and final goodbye. Loved ones describe De La Cruz as a kind, hardworking young man with deep community roots. His loss has left a painful silence that neighbors and friends are trying to fill with action — not words. “We unfortunately lost a great …

by Zak Failla

10/14/2025

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Shattered Glass Wakes Family Before Blaze Destroys Maryland Home, Fire Marshal Says A Maryland family escaped a fast-moving early morning fire that destroyed their home in Garrett County over the weekend, officials said. The blaze broke out shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at a mobile home with additions in the 1600 block of Lower New Germany Road in Grantsville, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators said three occupants — including a child — were able to evacuate after one resident was woken up by the sound of window glass breaking in the laundry room. She then saw flames and smoke and called 911. Firefighters from the Grantsv…

by Zak Failla

10/14/2025

Fredericksburg, VA

Breaking News

Lost On I-85, Found By Virginia Troopers: Missing North Carolina Dad Reunited With Daughter A frantic daughter. A lost father. And a cross-state rescue that came together thanks to sharp-eyed Virginia troopers and some quick coordination across state lines. An 83-year-old North Carolina man with a cognitive impairment who went missing after leaving home early Wednesday, Oct. 8, was safely found in Brunswick County, Virginia, after a joint search between the Virginia State Police (VSP) and North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP). According to officials, Mr. Croom left his home in Wilmington around 3:30 a.m. and never returned. His daughter, Ms. Mikesh, panicked and drove…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Fairfax, VA

Breaking News

‘Improperly Discarded Ashes’ Ignite Costly Fairfax County House Fire, Officials Say Improperly discarded ashes sparked a smoky fire that tore through a Fairfax County home early Sunday, fire officials announced. Fairfax Fire and Rescue units were called around 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, to the 5800 block of Queens Gate Court in the Alexandria section of the county, where they found heavy smoke and flames coming from an attached garage. Crews quickly moved in to knock down the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the single-family home. No one was home at the time, and there were no injuries reported, according to the department. Investigators said the fire b…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Arlington, VA

Your Community

Convicted Child Rapist From El Salvador Marked ‘Non-Enforcement Priority’ Detained In VA: ICE Federal officials say a convicted child rapist from El Salvador who was previously marked as a “non-enforcement priority” has now been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Virginia. According to a statement from ICE, agents lodged an immigration detainer against 35-year-old Ricardo Leonel Mejia, who was convicted of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old child after being hired to renovate the family’s bathroom. Mejia was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his conviction. “Ricardo Leonel Mejia’s crimes are unthinkable. This monstrous individual repeatedly rape…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Beltsville, MD

Obituaries

‘A Ray Of Sunshine’: Beloved Maryland Mom Killed In Beltsville Bike Crash Remembered A mother whose life revolved around her two children is being remembered for her warmth, generosity, and love of the outdoors after a tragic crash claimed her life. Lisa Martin, an avid cyclist, was struck and killed while riding her bike on Tuesday, Oct. 8, during one of her regular weeknight rides, according to a friend of the family. "We all know the danger we run into when out on the bike," Martin's husband, Mario Zometa, said. "Unfortunately, my wife passed away due to the irresponsibility of a driver who hit the road. "It is very sad for me to share this with everyone. I don't want …

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Hagerstown, MD

Breaking News

Hagerstown Mom Loses Everything In Storage Unit Arson: ‘Gut-Wrenching’ Fire Ruins All It’s been days since flames tore through a row of storage units in Washington County, but for one family, the fire’s damage is still setting in. Kelli Knight was storing furniture, clothing, and her family’s belongings at Halfway Self Storage on Virginia Avenue while she looked for a new place to live. She wasn’t home that morning when an arsonist torched multiple units — including hers — in what investigators later said was a deliberate attack. By the time firefighters arrived around 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, the 8-by-40-foot container was fully engulfed, and smoke could be seen pour…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

Silver Spring, MD

Breaking News

Ex-Boyfriend Kills Woman In Silver Spring, Rolls Car While Fleeing Arrest, Police Say A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in Maryland led police on a wild chase before a violent crash, authorities say. Earl Walker, 47, is accused of shooting and killing Monique Charles, 47, a Brooklyn, New York native, before leading members of the Montgomery County Department of Police on a brief pursuit that ended with a rollover crash. According to police, officers were called on Sunday, Oct. 12, to the 1700 block of Imperial Drive to investigate reports of shots fired in the area. Upon arrival, they found Charles suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead b…

by Zak Failla

10/13/2025

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