Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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

Yorktown Votes To Allow Alcohol At Four Municipal Parks Yorktown Votes To Allow Alcohol At Four Municipal Parks
Yorktown Votes To Allow Alcohol At Four Municipal Parks A Northern Westchester town has voted to create permits that allow residents to consume alcohol in area parks. The Yorktown Town Board voted on Tuesday, March 1, to allow alcohol at four municipal parks. “This does not mean that we can have alcohol in all of our parks," said parks superintendent James Martorano. "That’s not what we’re looking to do,”  The parks where alcohol consumption will be allowed with a valid permit include: Par 3 Golf Course Railroad Park Sparkle Lake service building  Downing Park  In addition to a town permit, alcohol sales at the golf course…
'Sharks Smelled Blood': Cuomo Lashes Out In First Public Comments Since Resigning In Disgrace 'Sharks Smelled Blood': Cuomo Lashes Out In First Public Comments Since Resigning In Disgrace
'Sharks Smelled Blood': Cuomo Lashes Out In First Public Comments Since Resigning In Disgrace Embattled former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke publicly for the first time since resigning in disgrace, blaming “cancel culture,” the media, and “political sharks” for his unceremonial ouster from office. During a near half-hour speech at God’s Battalion of Prayer in Brooklyn on Sunday, March 6, Cuomo came out firing as he spoke out after resigning following an investigation into claims of sexual harassment by 11 women, including former staff members and a New York State Police trooper. Cuomo - who has denied any wrongdoing since New York Attorney General Letitia James’ report was releas…
Mount Vernon Man Arrested For City's First Homicide Of 2022 Mount Vernon Man Arrested For City's First Homicide Of 2022
Mount Vernon Man Arrested For City's First Homicide Of 2022 A man is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection to a fatal shooting in Westchester, police said. Mount Vernon resident Hayward Bradshaw III, age 33, was arrested on Sunday, March 6 outside a Bronx apartment building following the investigation into the shooting of 41-year-old city resident Kwasi Kirton. It is alleged that Bradshaw shot Kirton several times following an altercation on Friday, March 4 near the intersection of Third Street and Third Avenue in Mount Vernon, investigators said. According to police, Bradshaw shot Kirton with a semi-automatic handgun. Kirton was rushe…
21-Year-Old In New Rochelle Busted On Weapons Charges After Evading Police 21-Year-Old In New Rochelle Busted On Weapons Charges After Evading Police
21-Year-Old In New Rochelle Busted On Weapons Charges After Evading Police A 21-year-old man who was able to temporarily evade police to avoid a traffic stop is facing a host of charges after being busted with an illegal gun in Westchester, police said. In New Rochelle, police detectives stopped a driver on Beechwood Avenue at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2 for a vehicle and traffic violation. According to New Rochelle Police Capt. J. Collins Coyne, the driver, city resident Shawn Gilchrest, fled from the detectives during the traffic stop, leading to a short chase that was quickly abandoned. Coyne said that the following day, on Thursday, March 3, W…
Schools In CT Evacuated Due To Bomb Threats Schools In CT Evacuated Due To Bomb Threats
Schools In CT Evacuated Due To Bomb Threats Two schools in Connecticut were evacuated after there were reports of a bomb threat. In New Haven County, the East Haven Police Department was called to investigate the threat that was made to the East Haven Academy on Hudson Street. Police said that they do not believe the threat is credible, but as a precaution, the East Haven Academy and Joseph Melilla Middle School were evacuated to allow officers to investigate. The investigation led to a closure of Hudson Street, and residents have been advised to avoid the area of North High Street. According to police, students will be returning …
Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says
Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says With tax season rapidly approaching, many Americans have started filing and are now anxiously awaiting their refund check from the IRS. Despite facing a backlog and staffing issues due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans can expect their refund checks to arrive within weeks of filing their taxes, according to officials. Once filed, the IRS said that Americans can expect their refund money to arrive within 21 days, pending certain delays. The cash can also be tracked approximately 24 hours after filing through the IRS website. Where’s My Refund? According to the IRS, in 2022, …
CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child
CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child A man may spend up to 20 years in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a teenager, recording it, and uploading it to his Google account in Connecticut. New Haven County resident Yehudi Manzano, age 37, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty to a child exploitation charge following his 2018 arrest for sexually abusing a teen. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that on Aug. 21, 2016, Manzano sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut, video recorded the assault with his cell phone, and uploaded the video to his Google account.  Manzano was identified as a suspect by investigat…
Yonkers Man Sentenced For Kidnapping, Robbery, Other Charges Yonkers Man Sentenced For Kidnapping, Robbery, Other Charges
Yonkers Man Sentenced For Kidnapping, Robbery, Other Charges A 26-year-old man will spend nearly two decades in prison after being sentenced for drug, weapon, and robbery charges in connection to a violent kidnapping on behalf of a Mexican cartel, authorities announced. Yonkers resident Fernando Ra was sentenced to 18 years in prison in connection to robbery, firearms, and narcotics offenses, US Attorney Damian Williams announced. Williams said that on Oct. 3, 2020, Ra and his co-conspirators kidnapped, restrained, robbed, and “savagely assaulted” two victims using guns and baseball bats to beat them. The indictment states that Ra also used a knife …
CT Woman Wins $277K In State Lottery CT Woman Wins $277K In State Lottery
CT Woman Wins $277K In State Lottery Sevens were wild for one lucky Connecticut lotto player who cashed in a jackpot-winning CT Lottery scratch-off ticket. On Wednesday, March 2, New Haven County resident Laurel Gargano, of Meriden won the top prize playing "Mega 7s" on a ticket worth $277,777 on a ticket sold at the RB Market on Colony Road in Wallingford. CT Lottery players have 1 in 3.17 odds of winning when playing the $20 scratcher.  According to CT Lottery, “when a winning scratch ticket is validated through a Lottery Retailer's terminal, the remaining number of unclaimed prizes for that prize level is automaticall…
Driver Busted With BAC Triple Legal Limit During State Police Stop In Westchester Driver Busted With BAC Triple Legal Limit During State Police Stop In Westchester
Driver Busted With BAC Triple Legal Limit During State Police Stop In Westchester A Fairfield County man driving with a blood alcohol concentration more than triple the legal limit was busted allegedly driving drunk during a midday ride on I-95 in Westchester, New York State Police investigators announced. State police troopers on patrol in New Rochelle stopped Greenwich resident Jesus M. Lopez Tapia at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 for a vehicle and traffic violation while traveling on I-95 in New Rochelle. During the subsequent stop, police said that Lopez Tapia was found to be intoxicated, and he was taken into custody without incident. At New York State…
11,681 - 11,690 of 33,566 articles