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

Fairfax, VA
Breaking News
McLaren Fireball Crash In Virginia: Reckless Driver Charged After Fiery Wreck (UPDATED) McLaren Fireball Crash In Virginia: Reckless Driver Charged After Fiery Wreck (UPDATED) McLaren Fireball Crash In Virginia: Reckless Driver Charged After Fiery Wreck (UPDATED)
McLaren Fireball Crash In Virginia: Reckless Driver Charged After Fiery Wreck (Updated) A high-powered McLaren supercar turned into a fireball after flying over a guardrail in Fairfax County — and now its driver is facing charges, Virginia State Police announced. The crash happened shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, when state police were called about reckless drivers weaving through traffic on I-495 southbound near Braddock Road. That’s when a 2020 McLaren 720S sideswiped a Honda Pilot, sending the SUV flipping multiple times across the interstate, according to investigators. The driver of the Pilot, Rosa Rivera Orellana, 37, of Fairfax, was seriously injured and rushe…

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by Zak Failla
Springfield, VA
Breaking News
‘Reduced To Ashes’: Springfield Man Loses Home In Blaze As Community Rallies Around Family ‘Reduced To Ashes’: Springfield Man Loses Home In Blaze As Community Rallies Around Family ‘Reduced To Ashes’: Springfield Man Loses Home In Blaze As Community Rallies Around Family
‘Reduced To Ashes’: Springfield Man Loses Home In Blaze As Community Rallies Around Family A Virginia man lost everything when flames tore through his Springfield townhouse — but now, neighbors, friends, and colleagues are coming together to help him rebuild. On Monday, Sept. 22, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews were called at around 2:30 p.m. to the 6200 block of Levi Court, where a townhouse fire was raging. When firefighters arrived, flames were already blasting out of a middle unit, with smoke billowing across the neighborhood. The fire in the 6200 block of Levi Court in Springfield. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue A second alarm was requested as crews rushed in t…

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by Zak Failla
Towson, MD
Your Community
Bomb Threats Force Evacuations At Towson, Morgan State Universities (DEVELOPING) Bomb Threats Force Evacuations At Towson, Morgan State Universities (DEVELOPING) Bomb Threats Force Evacuations At Towson, Morgan State Universities (DEVELOPING)
Bomb Threats Force Evacuations At Towson, Morgan State Universities (Developing) A pair of Baltimore-area universities had to evacuate buildings on Tuesday after being targeted by threats. First, Towson University issued an emergency notification saying it is evacuating the University Union after receiving a bomb threat. In a message to the community, school officials advised "this is not a drill."  Some buildings were still closed as of 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, though classes continued as scheduled elsewhere on campus. Morgan State University was also targeted in an email threat indicating that there was a potential explosive device at the Richardson Library. As a p…

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by Zak Failla
National Interest
John Cena’s Final WWE Match Set For December In DC: You Can’t See Him After That John Cena’s Final WWE Match Set For December In DC: You Can’t See Him After That John Cena’s Final WWE Match Set For December In DC: You Can’t See Him After That
John Cena’s Final WWE Match Set For December In DC: You Can’t See Him After That Hustle, loyalty, and respect are coming to DC for one final round. The WWE announced that John Cena's final match in his yearlong farewell tour will be as the headliner at "Saturday Night's Main Event" on Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.  Cena announced earlier this year that he was hanging up his jorts and wrestling boots at the end of the year following an up-and-down run that saw him make a dramatic heel turn — before promptly returning as a face — and peaked with his record-setting 17th World Championship. John Cena Wikimedia Commons/Staff Sgt. James Selesni…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Woodbridge Man Busted With Gun, Drugs After Wawa High-Risk Stop In Stafford: Sheriff Woodbridge Man Busted With Gun, Drugs After Wawa High-Risk Stop In Stafford: Sheriff Woodbridge Man Busted With Gun, Drugs After Wawa High-Risk Stop In Stafford: Sheriff
Woodbridge Man Busted With Gun, Drugs After Wawa High-Risk Stop In Stafford: Sheriff A Woodbridge man was busted with a gun and a stash of drugs after refusing deputies’ commands during a high-risk traffic stop at a Virginia Wawa, authorities said. In the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 27, detectives were tipped off about Azon Heywood, 32, who was reportedly on his way into Stafford County with narcotics, according to the sheriff's office. Heywood was already prohibited from driving due to a suspended license, investigators said. His vehicle, which had no front license plate and an expired inspection sticker, was spotted exiting I-95 onto Warrenton Road. Detectives…

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by Zak Failla
Leesburg, VA
Breaking News
Playground Pandemonium: Woman Injured As Fight, Gunfire Rock Leesburg Neighborhood, Police Say Playground Pandemonium: Woman Injured As Fight, Gunfire Rock Leesburg Neighborhood, Police Say Playground Pandemonium: Woman Injured As Fight, Gunfire Rock Leesburg Neighborhood, Police Say
Playground Pandemonium: Woman Injured As Fight, Gunfire Rock Leesburg Neighborhood, Police Say What started as a playground fight in Virginia ended with gunfire, a bloody ear, and detectives swarming the neighborhood, police announced. The chaos broke out just before 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Hancock Place playground in Leesburg, where multiple people were reportedly involved in a disturbance, according to the Leesburg Police Department. Witnesses said at least one shot rang out during the melee. When officers arrived at the 100 block of Hancock Place NE, they found a woman with a minor ear injury. She was taken to a local hospital and later released.  Investigators a…

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by Zak Failla
Lexington Park, MD
Breaking News
Maryland Motorcyclist Airlifted After Route 50 Crash With Lexus, Passenger Hospitalized: Police Maryland Motorcyclist Airlifted After Route 50 Crash With Lexus, Passenger Hospitalized: Police Maryland Motorcyclist Airlifted After Route 50 Crash With Lexus, Passenger Hospitalized: Police
Maryland Motorcyclist Airlifted After Route 50 Crash With Lexus, Passenger Hospitalized: Police A 23-year-old motorcyclist was airlifted to Shock Trauma and a passenger in a Lexus was hospitalized after a violent crash on Route 50 in Maryland, state police say. Centreville resident Jesse Paul was flown to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore after colliding with the SUV late on Monday afternoon in Queen Anne's County. The crash was reported shortly before 5 p.m. on Sept. 29. Investigators said a Lexus SUV was making a left turn from westbound Route 50 onto Arrington Road when—for reasons still under investigation—it was hit by Paul’s Kawasaki motorcycle traveling east.…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfax, VA
Breaking News
Gun Misfire Kills Fairfax Woman After Bullet Pierces Floor, Police Say Gun Misfire Kills Fairfax Woman After Bullet Pierces Floor, Police Say Gun Misfire Kills Fairfax Woman After Bullet Pierces Floor, Police Say
Gun Misfire Kills Fairfax Woman After Bullet Pierces Floor, Police Say What started as a man putting away his gun ended with a young Virginia woman dead, police said. Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department announced Monday, Sept. 29, that 31-year-old Richard Huynh was arrested after an accidental discharge inside a Legato home claimed the life of Jennifer Kim, 30, of Fairfax. It happened around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, when officers were called to the 4500 block of Derring Lane for a weapons complaint. Police said Huynh was upstairs on the third floor securing his firearm in a gun box when it went off. The bullet tore through the floor and…

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by Zak Failla
Jessup, MD
Your Community
Maryland Correctional Institution At Jessup To Close, Gov. Wes Moore Announces Maryland Correctional Institution At Jessup To Close, Gov. Wes Moore Announces Maryland Correctional Institution At Jessup To Close, Gov. Wes Moore Announces
Maryland Correctional Institution At Jessup To Close, Gov. Wes Moore Announces A notorious Maryland prison is set to shut its gates for good — and state officials say the move will save taxpayers tens of millions while reshaping the correctional system. Gov. Wes Moore announced Monday, Sept. 29, that the Maryland Correctional Institution at Jessup (MCI-J) will close by June 30, 2026, ending more than four decades of operation in Anne Arundel County. “MCI-J has long outrun its facility lifespan and we refuse to kick the can further down the road,” Moore said.  “Our plan to close this facility will save taxpayers money, ease strain on our hardworking and dedicated…

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by Zak Failla
Silver Spring, MD
Breaking News
Elderly Silver Spring Woman Dies Weeks After Rollover Crash Involving 3 Vehicles: Police Elderly Silver Spring Woman Dies Weeks After Rollover Crash Involving 3 Vehicles: Police Elderly Silver Spring Woman Dies Weeks After Rollover Crash Involving 3 Vehicles: Police
Elderly Silver Spring Woman Dies Weeks After Rollover Crash Involving 3 Vehicles: Police An 85-year-old Maryland woman died weeks after a violent three-vehicle rollover crash, police announced. The victim, identified as Josephine Gieske of Silver Spring, was a passenger in a red 2011 Toyota 4-Runner that overturned during the Aug. 7 crash at Randolph Road and Sherwood Forest Drive, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Officers said a silver 2025 Toyota GR86 was heading west on Randolph Road around 8 a.m. when it struck the 4Runner as it was turning left from eastbound Randolph Road onto Sherwood Forest Drive.  The impact caused the SUV to roll and cras…

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by Zak Failla
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