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Saturday, jan 18

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

Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says Tiffany Diaz was all smiles for the camera after finding herself in a familiar position following her second DUI arrest in Stafford County in the past five years. The 34-year-old found herself back behind bars at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on Monday morning after deputies spotted her swerving on the roadway before making a pitstop at 7-Eleven on White Oak Road. According to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, a deputy on patrol at around 1:45 a.m. on Jan. 13 was heading along the roadway when they found Diaz driving erratically, prompting a stop at the convenience store, though the dr…

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Obituaries

Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas What was supposed to be a joyful family outing turned into heartbreak when a beloved father of four, Marwan Al-Jamal, passed away during his first-ever NFL game at "Jerry's World" in Dallas. The devoted Washington Commanders fan from Fredericksburg was described by family as being a cherished husband, father, and friend known for his kindness and compassion before his unexpected passing. Al-Jamal had traveled with his six brothers-in-law to watch the Commanders take on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, though he wouldn't make it through the third quarter, suffering a …

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Police & Fire

Investigators Release Findings On Deadly Sterling Home Explosion That Killed Firefighter The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System (LC-CFRS) has released its comprehensive report on the February 2024 house explosion in Sterling that tragically claimed the life of Firefighter Trevor Brown and injured 13 others. The blast occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, after first responders were called to a gas leak at 347 Silver Ridge Drive. Investigators discovered a leaking underground propane tank behind the home and quickly evacuated the residents, but before the Hazardous Materials Team could secure the scene, the home exploded, trapping firefighters in the fiery wreckage. …

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

News

Convicted Killer Gets Harsh Sentence For Armed Robbery Of Parkinson's Patient In Maryland A Baltimore man with a chilling past as a convicted murderer has been handed a 20-year sentence after robbing a former co-worker suffering from Parkinson’s disease at gunpoint. Keith Curtis, 57, who served time for the brutal 1995 killing of a retired Johns Hopkins professor, was sentenced to 20 years for robbery and firearm possession by a Baltimore City judge, who went 10 years beyond the sentencing guidelines, authorities announced. The decision was based on Curtis’ violent history and failure to reform, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office said. The November 2023 robbery …

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Police & Fire

Drug Trafficker Walks With Ankle Monitor After Major Charles County Crack Bust: Sheriff Charles County detectives uncovered a major drug trafficking operation in Newburg, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old man busted with crack cocaine and stolen vehicles. Demetrius Antoine McKinney was arrested last week and later released on electronic monitoring following a bust at his home in the 9500 block of Oak Ridge Court, where they recovered the contraband. On Thursday, Jan. 9, members of the Charles County Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant for McKinney, leading to the seizure of: $14,000 worth of crack cocaine; A loaded handgun; Several 50 and 100-ro…

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Obituaries

Father Chasing American Dream Among 2 Dead In Chantilly Pond Crash: 'Unimaginable' A devoted father and a young man pursuing the American Dream are being mourned after their lives were tragically cut short in a Fairfax County pond crash. Karna Khadka, 55, and 20-year-old Nishchal Bhatta lost their lives last week when their car plunged into a frigid Chantilly pond, likely due to icy road conditions. Officers were called to the 3900 block of Centerview Drive at 7:25 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, for reports of a submerged vehicle, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Responding officers found the car fully underwater. Emergency crews from the Fairfax County…

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

News

Father Confesses To Killing 19-Year-Old Mother Of Unborn Baby In Baltimore: Prosecutors Justice may have been served for the family of Jaymyra Burrell, the 19-year-old who was shot and killed in Baltimore while she was pregnant with her shooter's child. Malik McCormick pleaded guilty this week to fatally shooting the teen in December 2022 in the 5600 block of Woodmont Avenue, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office announced. Malik McCormick Baltimore Police Department His plea helped avoid a trial. "This case powerfully conveys the tragic consequences of intimate partner violence, representing an unimaginable loss for the loved ones of Jaymyra Burrell," State's …

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Business

Winning $50K 'Powerball' Ticket Sold At Crofton 7-Eleven No one took home the $285 million Powerball jackpot on Monday, but one lucky lotto player in Maryland also cashed in on a five-figure ticket sold at an area convenience store. Officials say that a third-tier winning ticket worth a $50,000 prize was sold at the Crofton 7-Eleven in the 2100 block of Deense Highway, the largest win out of thousands statewide starting at $4. The winning numbers for the Powerball drawing on Monday, Jan. 13 were 04-06-16-39-66 with a Powerball of 09 and the Power Play multiplier was X2. With no winner, the jackpot will roll to $303 million …

by Zak Failla

01/14/2025

Police & Fire

Lexus, Tow Truck Forfeited By Reisterstown Woman Distributing Coke In Maryland: Prosecutors A Reisterstown woman facing serious drug charges in Carroll County pleaded guilty in connection to a large-scale cocaine distribution operation, authorities said. Melissa Dawn Smith, 42, of Reisterstown, admitted to a single count of distributing cocaine during a hearing on Friday, Jan. 10, in Carroll County Circuit Court. The charges stem from a criminal investigation by the Carroll County Drug and Firearms Trafficking Task Force, which targeted a drug trafficking ring operating out of both Baltimore and Carroll counties. Investigators say Smith was indicted after she distributed co…

by Zak Failla

01/13/2025

Traffic

Father Of Three Known As 'Angel' Killed In Single-Vehicle Prince George's County Crash: Police Heaven gained another "Angel" following a fatal crash that was reported in Prince George's County over the weekend. Clinton resident Ezequiel Maza Espadas, known to his loved ones as "Angel" has been identified by investigators as the person killed in a crash on Friday night. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, officers from the Prince George's County Police Department were called to the 9800 block of Surratts Road to investigate a single-vehicle crash after Maza Espadas lost control and struck a utility pole. The 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his v…

by Zak Failla

01/13/2025

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