Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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

West Virginia Woman Returns Home To Claim $50,000 Maryland Lottery Prize West Virginia Woman Returns Home To Claim $50,000 Maryland Lottery Prize
West Virginia Woman Returns Home To Claim $50,000 Maryland Lottery Prize Happy early birthday. A Maryland native living in West Virginia is feeling lucky after crossing the state line to claim a five-figure Lottery prize after years of playing. Annette Smith, who is known to make her way back to Maryland to play her favorite games, finally got her big win on a winning $50,000 Pick 5 ticket sold at Wawa on Patrick Street in Frederick. Google Maps street view Last week, Smith says she was heading to work and decided to make a quick stop at the Wawa to grab a coffee, at which point she thought to try her luck picking up a few Lottery tickets "using variations of…
Disabled Vehicle Ties Up Traffic At I-495 Ramp In Fairfax County Disabled Vehicle Ties Up Traffic At I-495 Ramp In Fairfax County
Disabled Vehicle Ties Up Traffic At I-495 Ramp In Fairfax County Some travelers were tied up in Fairfax County on Saturday afternoon when a disabled vehicle caused some congestion on I-495. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 27, crews were called to a stretch of I-495 at the exit for Tysons Corner, where there was a disabled vehicle that led to delays for some motorists. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, motorists can expect delays, and the north entrance ramp at exit 47 A was "narrowed."  As of 2 p.m on Saturday afternoon, delays were ongoing as crews worked to clear the scene and tow the disabled vehicle away. Want breaking…
Police Sergeant In Maryland Pleads Guilty To Driving While Impaired, Sheriff Says Police Sergeant In Maryland Pleads Guilty To Driving While Impaired, Sheriff Says
Police Sergeant In Maryland Pleads Guilty To Driving While Impaired, Sheriff Says A suspended sergeant with the Charles County Sheriff's Office has admitted to driving under the influence in St. Mary's County, officials announced. In June, Sgt. Robert Smith was suspended with pay after the sheriff's office learned that he was being charged in the neighboring jurisdiction. The incident was reported on Tuesday, June 11 in Mechanicsville. Smith was off-duty at the time. This week, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of driving while impaired in St. Mary's County, the sheriff's office says. According to the agency, "upon learning of the investigation, the CCSO’s Office of Pr…
Convicted Sex Offender Gets 30 Years For Sexually Exploiting, Abusing Minor In Maryland: Feds Convicted Sex Offender Gets 30 Years For Sexually Exploiting, Abusing Minor In Maryland: Feds
Convicted Sex Offender Gets 30 Years For Sexually Exploiting, Abusing Minor In Maryland: Feds A 47-year-old predator who preyed on minors will spend decades in prison for sexually exploiting children in Maryland, federal authorities announced. Hagerstown resident Matthew Molnar was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of a child. According to prosecutors, in 2015, Molnar was convicted of possession of child pornography, and between 2020 and 2021, he was in touch with a minor in Florida, who he coerced into producing sexually explicit videos for him. He later traveled to visit the minor, claiming that he was 17 years…
Firefighter, Resident Injured During Maryland Apartment Fire That Left Dozens Displaced Firefighter, Resident Injured During Maryland Apartment Fire That Left Dozens Displaced
Firefighter, Resident Injured During Maryland Apartment Fire That Left Dozens Displaced More than a dozen apartments were deemed uninhabitable in Howard County and a firefighter was injured when a blaze broke out early on Saturday morning. At around 5:30 a.m. Howard County Fire and EMS crews were called to the 6000 block of Orchard Club Drive in Elkridge, where there was a reported fire in the area. The fire was placed under control within an hour.  In total, approximately 40 people were displaced, according to officials. While battling the blaze, one firefighter suffered what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. One resident also suffered minor injuries, of…
Carjacker Who Killed Man Fighting For His Lexus Arrested In Virginia (UPDATED) Carjacker Who Killed Man Fighting For His Lexus Arrested In Virginia (UPDATED)
Carjacker Who Killed Man Fighting For His Lexus Arrested In Virginia (Updated) Manassas resident Keith Anthony McBride has been identified as the person wanted in connection to a fatal hit-and-run that left a Lexus owner dead. Officers were called to the Oasis at Montclair Apartment Complex on Stedham Circle in Dumfries shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, to investigate a reported hit-and-run. On Saturday, July 27, authorities announced that McBride was located and arrested. According to a spokesperson from the Prince William County Police Department, 37-year-old Vasquez Galvan was approached by McBride while he was outside of his gold Lexus SUV. The …
Drug Dealer 'Destroying Community' In Loudoun County Gets Prison Time: Commonwealth's Attorney Drug Dealer 'Destroying Community' In Loudoun County Gets Prison Time: Commonwealth's Attorney
Drug Dealer 'Destroying Community' In Loudoun County Gets Prison Time: Commonwealth's Attorney A Virginia drug dealer who was busted with thousands of fentanyl pills will spend more than a decade in prison following his arrest in Loudoun County, authorities announced on Friday. Christian Murrell Adlam was ordered by a judge on Thursday, July 25, Adlam to serve 12 years and 10 months in prison, with an additional 23 years suspended, assuming "the satisfactory completion of ten years of probation."  He was convicted of:  Possessing a firearm while in the possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance; Abduction; Simple Robbery; Conspiracy to commit abduction. “We h…
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds
Virginia Community Ranked Third 'Best Place To Live For Families' New Fortune Report Finds If you know, you know.  It's no secret to Fairfax County residents, but Fortune made it official, naming Chantilly the third "best place to live for families" in a newly released ranking, citing it as "a serene escape" from the DC craziness. Researchers cited Chantilly's proximity to the city (24 miles), as well as Dulles International Airport, which is approximately seven miles away and is "convenient for family vacations."  "The community is largely residential, with just over 25,000 people, but there’s plenty to do," they said. "Along Route 50 you’ll find a number of…
Woman Accused Of Abducting 1-Year-Old Toddler Who Was Found Unharmed In Baltimore (UPDATED) Woman Accused Of Abducting 1-Year-Old Toddler Who Was Found Unharmed In Baltimore (UPDATED)
Woman Accused Of Abducting 1-Year-Old Toddler Who Was Found Unharmed In Baltimore (Updated) The Baltimore Police Department has arrested a 35-year-old woman who is facing charges for allegedly abducting a toddler on Thursday. Derrick Caraballero, 1, was reported missing at around 6:30 p.m. on July 25 in the 300 block of South Norris Street, investigators say, though he was safely found unharmed and returned to his parents. Witnesses were able to identify the woman's vehicle as a gray Volkswagen Passat, which was later located in the 8300 block of Steamwood Drive in Pikeville.  Officers were able to safely bring the toddler out of the home and a woman - whose ID has not been …
Man Who Sexually Abused Missing Minor Sentenced For Rape In Virginia: Prosecutors Man Who Sexually Abused Missing Minor Sentenced For Rape In Virginia: Prosecutors
Man Who Sexually Abused Missing Minor Sentenced For Rape In Virginia: Prosecutors The 21-year-old man who sexually abused a minor who was reported missing last year in Virginia will spend years in prison, authorities announced on Friday. Brandon Estrada De Leon pleaded guilty to raping a child under the age of 13 and possession of child pornography and a judge sentenced him this week to 11 years and 11 months of active prison time.  De Leon's entire sentence was 54 years and 11 months with 44 years suspended.  In April 2023, the Leesburg Police Department launched an investigation into a runaway, and it was later determined that De Leon, a reported longtime fa…
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