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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

Obituaries
Motorcyclist Killed In Maryland Crash Leaves Behind Two Children, Reeling Family Motorcyclist Killed In Maryland Crash Leaves Behind Two Children, Reeling Family
Motorcyclist Killed In Maryland Crash Leaves Behind Two Children, Reeling Family Friends and family are still shell-shocked days after a doting dad of two young children was killed in a motorcycle crash in Calvert County. Paul O'Neal, 36, was killed on July 14 after crashing into the back of a Dodge 3500 pick-up on Maryland Route 4 in Lusby near the intersection of Nursery Road.  O'Neal was treated at the scene by first responders, but was pronounced dead at the scene, now the community is rallying around his struggling loved ones. "I can’t believe I even have to write these words," one family member said. "Please keep my cousin and her babies in your prayers.  "We’ve…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Heat Index Values Around 108 Degrees Possible In DMV; Storms Likely Heat Index Values Around 108 Degrees Possible In DMV; Storms Likely
Heat Index Values Around 108 Degrees Possible In DMV; Storms Likely Incoming storms may finally help residents in the DMV beat the heat - at least for now - during what has been a scorching summer with record temperatures.  Forecasters are warning that severe weather is possible on Wednesday, July 17, and yet another Heat Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service as heat index values could reach as high as 108 degrees. National Weather Service "Dangerous heat and humidity will continue today along with the threat for showers and thunderstorms," they said. "Some storms may be severe, especially along and east of the Blue Ridge.  "…

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by Zak Failla
News
Driver Struck By Tractor-Trailer On I-81 In Virginia Airlifted To Hospital: State Police Driver Struck By Tractor-Trailer On I-81 In Virginia Airlifted To Hospital: State Police
Driver Struck By Tractor-Trailer On I-81 In Virginia Airlifted To Hospital: State Police A 45-year-old man was airlifted to an area hospital with critical injuries in Virginia after being struck by a tractor-trailer, state police say. District resident Harry Marin suffered life-threatening injuries following a crash on I-81 in Shenandoah County over the weekend, investigators said on Wednesday. According to police, Martin was driving a Honda CRV north on the interstate when for unknown reasons it went off the left side of the roadway, he then overcorrected, and ran off the right side and struck a guardrail. After hitting the guardrail, the Honda came to rest in the shoulder, a…

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by Zak Failla
News
Suspected Dealer Caught With Coke, Weed During Seizures In Spotsy, Fredericksburg: Police Suspected Dealer Caught With Coke, Weed During Seizures In Spotsy, Fredericksburg: Police
Suspected Dealer Caught With Coke, Weed During Seizures In Spotsy, Fredericksburg: Police Busts at three locations in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania counties led to the recovery of drugs, weapons, and landed a suspected dealer behind bars, police say. Tai'eric Lewis, 28, of Fredericksburg, was arrested following a joint investigation by local, state, and federal police into reported drug distribution throughout the region. Last week, police concluded a long-term investigation that led to search and seizure warrants at three properties in the area that led to the discovery of:  Approximately half a kilo of cocaine; $17,000 in cash; Three pounds of marijuana; Stolen gun ou…

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by Zak Failla
News
Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police
Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police New details have been released by Maryland State Police investigators as they probe a small plane crash on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that left an Annapolis man dead. Multiple agencies were called at around 9:30 a..m. in Talbot County to the 6800 block of Travelers West Circle in Easton, where there was a reported crash into the Tred Avon River on July 16. Police say that Robert Eugene Merlinii, 56, was the pilot and sole occupant of the twin engine Cessna who was pulled out of the water. State police, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, US Coast Guard, and Talbot County Sheri…

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by Zak Failla
News
Mother Who Let Infant Starve In Spotsylvania Gets 18 Year Sentence, Prosecutors Say Mother Who Let Infant Starve In Spotsylvania Gets 18 Year Sentence, Prosecutors Say
Mother Who Let Infant Starve In Spotsylvania Gets 18 Year Sentence, Prosecutors Say Nubia Williams will have 18 years to think about the death of her infant child. The mother in Virginia who let her 4-month-old baby starve to death will spend nearly two decades in prison, Spotsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney Ryan Mehaffey announced. Williams was sentenced by a judge to serve 18 years in prison this week after being arrested and tried in connection to the death of the infant in 2021, the same 18 years she would have been responsible for the child. According to court documents, she was found guilty of felony murder and child abuse/neglect. She was sentenced to 40 yea…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Demanded Gold Bars From Elderly Maryland Woman To Keep Russia Away From Her Assets: Police Teen Demanded Gold Bars From Elderly Maryland Woman To Keep Russia Away From Her Assets: Police
Teen Demanded Gold Bars From Elderly Maryland Woman To Keep Russia Away From Her Assets: Police A 19-year-old New Yorker implicated in a government-imposter-related scam received nearly a million dollars in gold bars from an elderly Maryland woman who sought to keep Russia away from her money, authorities announced on Tuesday. Brooklyn resident Zhenyong Weng has been arrested for allegedly targeting an 82-year-old Silver Spring woman who reached out to her and allegedly instructed her to transfer her assets into gold bars to keep Russian hands off. The woman complied, police say, and handed off several packages worth an estimated $900,000 in gold bars. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. o…

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by Zak Failla
News
Buildings Evacuated After Driver Struck Gas Meter Attached To Montgomery County Building Buildings Evacuated After Driver Struck Gas Meter Attached To Montgomery County Building
Buildings Evacuated After Driver Struck Gas Meter Attached To Montgomery County Building A library and day care in Montgomery County were among the buildings evacuated on Tuesday afternoon when a driver struck a gas meter attached to a building. First responders were called to Davis Library on Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda at around 3:30 p.m. on July 16, where there was a reported gas leak after the crash, officials say. Twitt Crews from Washington Gas responded to the scene and were able to shut off the high-pressure gas line to the damaged meter. Aerial of the scene of a reported vehicle fire on 1200blk Spotswood Dr. pic.twitter.com/zVkdrHvO9z — Tim Pruss, MyDrone.Pro…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In Parts Of DMV Region Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In Parts Of DMV Region
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In Parts Of DMV Region With temperatures approaching and topping 100 degrees in some parts of the DMV, forecasters are cautioning that excessive heat could be making way for severe storms. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service as storms bringing possible hail and 70 mph wind gusts could make their way through the region on Tuesday night. Another dangerously hot and humid day ahead. Additionally, scattered thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon through this evening. Some storms could be severe with damaging winds and large hail as the two main threats. pic.twitter.co…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Football Player From Maryland, 25, Will Star As Houseguest On New Season Of 'Big Brother' Football Player From Maryland, 25, Will Star As Houseguest On New Season Of 'Big Brother'
Football Player From Maryland, 25, Will Star As Houseguest On New Season Of 'Big Brother' A former Penn State and UMass football player from Maryland is set to take center stage on the new season of "Big Brother" that is debuting on Wednesday, July 17. Cam Sullivan-Brown, 25, a Bowie native who graduated from Saint Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel before heading to Penn State to play ball, has been named as one of the 16 new contestants on the popular reality series. Sullivan-Brown was one of the most highly sought-after recruits coming out of high school before choosing to take his talents to play for the Nittany Lions. He notched just 17 catches over four years at …

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by Zak Failla
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