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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
Aberdeen Homeowner’s Heroic Attempt To Stop Blaze Falls Short: Fire Marshal Aberdeen Homeowner’s Heroic Attempt To Stop Blaze Falls Short: Fire Marshal
Aberdeen Homeowner’s Heroic Attempt To Stop Blaze Falls Short: Fire Marshal A Harford County homeowner tried to play the hero but came up short when a late-night blaze broke out on his family's porch, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.  The fire broke out around 9:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, on the rear porch of a one-story home in the 600 block of Edmund Street in Aberdeen, officials said. Investigators say that the homeowners spotted an orange glow through their bedroom window, setting off an unfortunate chain of events.  Rushing to the porch, they found a chair fully engulfed in flames, prompting one homeowner to grab a fire extingui…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Rabies Alert: Charles County Warns Of Outbreak After Two Wildlife Cases Confirmed Rabies Alert: Charles County Warns Of Outbreak After Two Wildlife Cases Confirmed
Rabies Alert: Charles County Warns Of Outbreak After Two Wildlife Cases Confirmed Officials in Charles County are urging residents and visitors to remain vigilant after two animals tested positive for rabies in the La Plata and Dentsville areas over the past month. The Charles County Department of Health reported a rabid raccoon near Charles Street and Penns Hill Road on Dec. 22, 2024, then on Thursday, Jan. 9, a fox in the vicinity of Cooksey Road and Penns Hill Road also tested positive for the deadly virus. “Rabies is a disease of animals and people,” health officials warned.  The virus is spread through the saliva of a rabid animal, they said. Usually this occu…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Winning Numbers For Tuesday, Jan. 14 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $95M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Tuesday, Jan. 14 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $95M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Tuesday, Jan. 14 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $95M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing with a recently reset jackpot. The winning numbers have been announced for the Tuesday, Jan. 14 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $95 million, with an estimated cash option of $41.3 million, a far cry from the $1.22 billion prize that was won by a California resident late last month. The winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing are: 04-14-35-49-62 with a Mega Ball of 06 and a Megaplier of 3X If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported
Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported A small earthquake shook a Virginia county late on Tuesday afternoon, causing some concerns for some in the area. The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, there was a 2.8 magnitude earthquake reported in Henrico County and nearby municipalities.  According to USGS, the epicenter of the quake was around a mile north of Wyndham, not far from Short Pump (3.9 miles), Glen Allen (6.1 miles), Laurel (6.9 miles) and Richmond (13.2 miles). The epicenter of the Virginia earthquake on Tuesday. USGS "Since at least 1774, people in central Virgin…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal
Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal A devastating blaze tore through a Cecil County home late on Monday morning, leaving eight people displaced and claiming the life of a family pet, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal. The blaze broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 in the kitchen of a two-story home owned by the Methodist Church of Perryville, investigators said. An adult living in the residence, who was babysitting a young child, discovered the fire in the kitchen.  Both escaped unscathed, and two others inside were able to flee before hearing a smoke alarm, according to the Perryville Fire Company. Officials in…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting
Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting Police investigators in Montgomery County have identified both the victim and suspect in a fatal shooting that left a Sykesville man dead in Kensington. Benjamin Jack Dresbach, 21, of Kensington, has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of 29-year-old Trevor Dean Van Devander, authorities announced on Tuesday. The incident occurred at around 5:40 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, when 2nd District officers responded to the 3900 block of Franklin Street for a reported shooting.  Upon arrival, officers found Van Devander suffering from gunshot wounds and he was pronounced d…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff
Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff An improperly parked car in the Massaponax High School lot led to a startling discovery on Tuesday, when administrators and law enforcement uncovered two firearms and marijuana inside the vehicle, authorities in Spotsylvania said. The trouble began when school officials noticed a car parked without a permit on Jan. 14, prompting further investigation.  Working with the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the building, members of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office tracked down the vehicle, which belonged to a student in class.  Upon approaching the car, a strong odor o…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff
Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff Peek-a-boo!  A chaotic game of hide-and-seek led to four arrests in Stafford County when deputies tracked down a wanted woman who had help trying to evade the law. Destiny Keesecker, 25, was wanted on a felony probation violation when deputies spotted her bolting toward a home on Greenspring Drive around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, according to authorities. The deputy, recognizing Keesecker, called for backup as the scene quickly unraveled.  Occupants in the home insisted she wasn’t there, with some shouting over one another in an attempt to obstruct the investigation, and des…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says
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…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas
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 …

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by Zak Failla
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