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Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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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

Police & Fire
Blaze Destroys Abandoned Maryland Liquor Store Possibly Used By Squatters: Officials Blaze Destroys Abandoned Maryland Liquor Store Possibly Used By Squatters: Officials
Blaze Destroys Abandoned Maryland Liquor Store Possibly Used By Squatters: Officials A raging fire tore through an abandoned liquor store in Montgomery County overnight, leaving behind $125,000 in damage as investigators work to determine the cause, officials said. Firefighters responded just after midnight on Tuesday, March 18, to the 11700 block of Cherry Hill Road near Plum Orchard Drive in Calverton, where they found the vacant building fully engulfed in flames, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. Crews battled the fire for several hours before bringing it under control. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO While no injuries were reported, the s…

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by Zak Failla
News
Parents Of Missing Virginia Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities Parents Of Missing Virginia Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities
Parents Of Missing Virginia Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities The parents of missing Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki are asking Dominican authorities to formally declare their daughter dead after an extensive international search yielded no signs of her, officials announced. Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Loudoun County, vanished while on vacation in Punta Cana earlier this month. Despite an aggressive search effort involving the Dominican Republic National Police, FBI, and other agencies, she has not been found. The search for Sudiksha Konanki is ongoing in the Dominican Republic. Policía Nacional Repúb…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Torched Semi-Trailer, Dumpster Intentionally In Loudoun County: Fire Marshal Man Torched Semi-Trailer, Dumpster Intentionally In Loudoun County: Fire Marshal
Man Torched Semi-Trailer, Dumpster Intentionally In Loudoun County: Fire Marshal A Virginia man is behind bars after authorities say he intentionally set a dumpster and semi-trailer on fire in Loudoun County earlier this year. Erazo Ricardo Guerrero, 21, of Sterling, was arrested on Saturday, March 15, in connection with the Jan. 13 blaze that broke out in the 20900 block of Davenport Drive, according to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office. First responders were called to the scene around 1:15 p.m. that afternoon, following reports of a vehicle fire. When fire crews arrived, they found a dumpster engulfed in flames and a smoldering fire at the back …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
DNA Nails 82-Year-Old For Brutal 1979 Rape, Murder Of Virginia Woman In Maryland DNA Nails 82-Year-Old For Brutal 1979 Rape, Murder Of Virginia Woman In Maryland
DNA Nails 82-Year-Old For Brutal 1979 Rape, Murder Of Virginia Woman In Maryland After more than 45 years, the family of a Virginia woman who was raped and murdered in 1979 is finally getting answers after DNA evidence led to the arrest of an 82-year-old suspect, officials announced. Rodger Zodas Brown, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, has been charged with first-degree murder, rape, and other related offenses in connection with the brutal killing of 31-year-old Kathryn Donohue, of Arlington, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department. For decades, the case remained cold—until now. On March 3, 1979, a passerby found Donohue’s body in a parking lot in the 84…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Gun Store Burglar Leaves Real Firearms Behind, Takes Training Weapon In Stafford: Sheriff Gun Store Burglar Leaves Real Firearms Behind, Takes Training Weapon In Stafford: Sheriff
Gun Store Burglar Leaves Real Firearms Behind, Takes Training Weapon In Stafford: Sheriff A gun store burglary in Virginia turned out to be a lot less dangerous than it could have been when a thief shattered the glass door of a firearms shop—only to make off with a training gun before fleeing, officials said. Deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff's Office responded to GFR LLC on Walsh Lane around 8 p.m. on Friday, March 14, after an alarm was triggered, according to officials. When deputies arrived, he found the store’s front door shattered. Nearby deputies quickly set up a perimeter while contacting the business owner, authorities said. Surveillance footage revealed that t…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Car Crashed Through Storefront, But This Maryland Restaurant Is Back And Ready To Celebrate Car Crashed Through Storefront, But This Maryland Restaurant Is Back And Ready To Celebrate
Car Crashed Through Storefront, But This Maryland Restaurant Is Back And Ready To Celebrate A popular Greek restaurant in Maryland is ready to welcome back customers just weeks after a car plowed through its storefront, forcing it to close for repairs. Big Greek Cafe in Urbana has officially reopened, restaurant officials announced, and the comeback will culminate with a Grand Reopening and Greek Independence Day Celebration on Monday, March 25. The restaurant temporarily shut down after a car crashed through the front of the business in the 3200 block of Bennett Creek Avenue in January officials said. Two people, including the driver and a guest inside the restaurant, were evalu…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
‘American Idol’ Contestant From DMV Brings Judges To Their Feet With Showstopping Audition ‘American Idol’ Contestant From DMV Brings Judges To Their Feet With Showstopping Audition
‘American Idol’ Contestant From DMV Brings Judges To Their Feet With Showstopping Audition A Virginia gymnastics instructor is trading tumbling for the spotlight after delivering a show-stopping performance that left Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood in awe. Grayson Torrence, 21, of Providence Forge took the stage with a jaw-dropping rendition of "Fall in Line" by Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato during her audition, which aired on Sunday, March 16. Her performance had the judges smiling and grooving along, while her mom, anxiously listening from outside, excitedly whispered, "Beautiful ... She's hitting it!" The judges were blown away—and when it came time to vo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says
Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Tried To Kidnap Woman At Knifepoint In Maryland, Sheriff Says A knife-wielding maniac is on the loose in Maryland, and police are urging residents to stay vigilant. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is on the hunt for an armed and dangerous suspect accused of trying to kidnap a woman in broad daylight before she managed to fight him off and escape. The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17, in the 28000 block of Old Village Road in Mechanicsville, officials said. According to investigators, the unknown man approached a woman, assaulted her, pulled a knife, and attempted to force her into his vehicle. But she wasn’t going without …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Winning Numbers For Monday, March 17 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $398M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Monday, March 17 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $398M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Monday, March 17 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $398M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Monday, March 17 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $398 million with a $185.7 million cash option after no jackpot was claimed in the previous drawing. The jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19 with a $416 million jackpot. The winning numbers for Monday's drawing were 11-18-23-38-60 with a Powerball of 09 and the Power Play was 2X. Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching all five balls plus the Powerball, accord…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Cop Shooter In Custody, Wounded Officer Released After Attack At Maryland Precinct: Police Cop Shooter In Custody, Wounded Officer Released After Attack At Maryland Precinct: Police
Cop Shooter In Custody, Wounded Officer Released After Attack At Maryland Precinct: Police A man accused of ambushing and shooting a Baltimore County police officer outside a precinct is behind bars, while the wounded officer has been released from the hospital, authorities announced. Andrew Britt, 27, has been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, for allegedly opening fire on officers in the parking lot of the Wilkens Precinct on Thursday, March 13, Baltimore County Police said. Investigators say Britt approached an officer outside his patrol vehicle around 2:30 p.m. and began speaking with him. Moments later, he pulled out a gun…

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by Zak Failla
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