43°

Tuesday, feb 25

Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

FOLLOW ON

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

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

Electrical Malfunction Sparks $100K Ashburn House Fire, Displaces Resident An Ashburn resident is picking up the pieces after a roaring attic fire—fueled by an electrical malfunction—ripped through their home, fire officials say. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue crews rushed to the 42000 block of Waxpool Road just before 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, after frantic 911 calls reported flames shooting from the roof. When firefighters arrived, they found the two-story home ablaze but thankfully all occupants were safely outside, according to a Loudoun County Fire and Rescue spokesperson. Crews wasted no time, storming the attic, battling the blaze with multiple…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Lifestyle

Beaten, Blinded, But Not Broken: Baltimore Man Seeks Justice After Brutal Attack A Federal Hill man’s life was changed forever after a vicious, unprovoked attack by a group of teens left him permanently blind in one eye—and the suspects remain free. John Berardi, 33, was just blocks from home, carrying a pizza in late November, when three juveniles armed with metal poles and broomsticks ambushed him, according to a GoFundMe started by his fiancée this week. Hoping to avoid confrontation, Berardi handed over his dinner without hesitation, but instead of leaving, one of the suspects swung a metal pole at his face, fracturing his nose, splitting open his forehead, and caus…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Police & Fire

Armed & Aging: 70-Something Road Rage Drivers Wave Guns In Separate Maryland Incidents Two Maryland men in their 70s are facing serious charges after allegedly pulling guns during separate road rage incidents in Baltimore County and Prince George’s County, Maryland State Police announced. William Shockey, 71, of Baltimore, and Charles Provost, 70, of College Park, were arrested after investigations led troopers to loaded firearms in their possession. The first incident happened on Tuesday, Feb. 18, when troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack received a complaint about a red Mustang driver waving a gun on I-695 near Liberty Road. Investigators identified Shockey as the suspect…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Schools

Student Brought Gun To Edison High School In Fairfax County: Police Quick thinking by a Fairfax County student and rapid response from officers helped avert a potential incident at Edison High School, authorities said. Shortly after school started on Thursday, Feb. 20, a student notified the school resource officer (SRO) about a classmate who might have a firearm on campus, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. The SRO immediately called for backup, and officers located a 16-year-old student in possession of the weapon. "No one was injured," police said. "Officers will remain on the property to ensure safety in the area." The teen was arreste…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Lifestyle

Dream Derailed: Baltimore Nursing Student Seriously Injured In Maryland Hit-Run Crash Samikshya Nepali Thapa came to the US in 2024 chasing her dream of becoming a nurse. Now, she’s fighting for her future after a devastating hit-and-run crash left her with critical injuries. Originally from a small village in Nepal, Thapa was living her American dream as an international student at CCBC Catonsville—until it turned into a nightmare on Jan. 24. While heading home, Thapa was struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident that left her with multiple fractures, a brain injury, and a broken urinary bladder that required emergency surgery, according to the Baltimore Association of Nepa…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Police & Fire

Party Crasher Caught After Shattering Window, Leaving Cell Phone Behind Before Stafford DUI A Stafford man’s attempt to crash a birthday party ended with him being tracked down by police for DUI after leaving behind a crucial piece of evidence—his cell phone. Deputies were called to the Days Inn Motel on Simpson Road around 12:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, for reports of a disturbance, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. Party guests told police that while celebrating a birthday, someone began aggressively pounding on their door before shattering a nearby window. Surveillance footage revealed the suspect—wearing light jeans and a dark jacket—kicking the window before …

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Obituaries

Caregiver Killed In Head-On Crash With Suspended Driver In Frederick 'Had Heart Full Of Love' A Frederick woman who died after being struck by a speeding driver with a suspended license is being remembered by family and friends for her kindness and dedication to caring for others. Caitlynn Nicole James, 31, was driving home from work on Saturday, Feb. 15, when a head-on crash on Buckeystown Pike took her life, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said. The crash happened around 6:40 p.m. near Adamstown Road when James Henry Walker, 43, of Dickerson, who was driving on a suspended license, veered into oncoming traffic. Investigators say Walker was speeding and failed to stay …

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Police & Fire

Maryland Man Hits 90 MPH In Wild Stafford Chase After Bootlegger Binge, Bad U-Turn: Sheriff A Maryland man’s late-night joyride turned into a high-speed chase after a poorly executed U-turn and a taste for Bootlegger drinks led to a wild pursuit in Stafford County. Millersville resident Cuther Watts II, 38, now faces a laundry list of charges after being busted for speeding, theft, DUI, and unauthorized use of a rental car on Wednesday, Feb. 19, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. The chase kicked off just before midnight when a deputy spotted Watts’ Toyota making a shaky U-turn from the right lane of Richmond Highway—clipping a curb right in front of Jay’s Sports L…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Sports

Aberdeen Mom Lands Ultimate Ravens Prize: Club-Level Seats Until 2045 Thanks To Late Dad's Luck Shannan Brown just became the envy of every Baltimore Ravens fan after scoring club-level season tickets—for the next two decades. The Aberdeen mom struck gold on Wednesday, Feb. 19, after being announced as the Maryland Lottery’s “Ravens Seats For 20 Years” winner. Her epic prize? A pair of club-level seats and a parking pass for every Ravens preseason and regular season game at M&T Bank Stadium until 2045. And according to Brown, this win wasn’t just luck—it was a gift from above. “We lost my dad last year. He was a Vietnam vet and the life of every Ravens game we watched,” sh…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Police & Fire

Former Stafford Volunteer Fire Chief Seriously Injured Battling Blaze A beloved former chief with the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department is recovering from severe burns after being injured while battling a structure fire in Louisa County. Lt. John Foster, now with Louisa County Fire and EMS, suffered second- and third-degree burns when conditions inside a burning building rapidly deteriorated during a response on the morning of Friday, Feb. 16. I wanted to share an update for those who may not have heard yet. John was involved in an incident at work and suffered... Posted by Maria Foster on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 According to a GoFundMe page cre…

by Zak Failla

02/20/2025

Prev Page 6 of 3257 4 5 6 7 8 Next

51 - 60 of 32,561 articles