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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

News
COVID-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket COVID-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket
Covid-19: FDA Expands Pfizer Booster Eligibility Among Adolescents As Omicron Cases Skyrocket As the Omicron COVID-19 variant rages across the country, federal health officials have expanded the eligibility for booster shots in younger Americans. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday, Jan. 3 that it is expanding the eligibility for Pfizer and BioNTech booster shots to American between the ages of 12 and 15 years old as children return to school amid a surge of new COVID-19 infections. FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said in a statement the agency made its decision because a booster “may help provide better protection against both the delt…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: More CT Schools Switch To Remote Learning COVID-19: More CT Schools Switch To Remote Learning
Covid-19: More CT Schools Switch To Remote Learning Several more school districts in Connecticut have shifted their schedules amid the winter COVID-19 outbreak of new infections. With the Omicron variant rapidly spreading, some districts in Connecticut announced that they will be going remote or delaying start times to help curtail the spread of the virus. Related story - COVID-19: Stratford School District Announces Closure Schools impacted include: In New Haven County, the Bethany School District announced a two-hour delay for students on Monday, Jan. 3, with morning activities canceled, though staff members reported at their regular st…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class
Covid-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class A school district in Western Massachusetts is taking a unique approach to reopening classes to students amid the latest rise in COVID-19 infections. In Hampshire County, the Northampton School District announced that it will be staggering the return to classes for students to allow for the start of pool testing. According to district officials, Northampton High School and JFK middle schools will be open as planned on Monday, Jan. 3 and pool testing will be conducted. Bridge Street, Jackson Street, Leeds, and Ryan Road elementary schools will not be in session on Dec. 3 and will reopen on …

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by Zak Failla
News
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases A severe flu season could be on its way in Connecticut as health officials continue contending with the Omicron COVID-19 variant rapidly spreading throughout the country. As the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to cause concern for health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert advising that the flu is back in full force after taking a back seat to the pandemic last winter. In Connecticut, according to the most recent report from the Department of Public Health, there are currently 1,265 patients admitted in state hospitals with influen…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Albany's Director Of Operations Taking Job In Westchester Albany's Director Of Operations Taking Job In Westchester
Albany's Director Of Operations Taking Job In Westchester One of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s top aides announced that he will be leaving upstate to take on a new job in Westchester. Brian Shea, the director of operations for the City of Albany is heading to Westchester, where he will serve as Rye’s newest assistant city manager beginning in February. Prior to his time in the mayor’s office, Shea was chief of staff to the mayor, serving as a chief spokesperson for the mayor and as Albany’s public information officer. Shea also spent time working for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services after receiving his underg…

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by Zak Failla
News
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here Are MA Areas Most Affected Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here Are MA Areas Most Affected
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here Are MA Areas Most Affected With all eyes on the recent surge of COVID-19, health officials are cautioning about a potentially severe flu season as several outbreaks have cropped up across the country. As the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is rapidly spreading, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert advising that the flu is back in full force after taking a back seat to the pandemic last winter. In Massachusetts, according to the most recent report from the Department of Health on Friday, Dec. 24, the influenza severity statewide is currently “moderate,” with the percentage of flu-…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars 15 Percent; Here Are Counties Seeing Most Cases COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars 15 Percent; Here Are Counties Seeing Most Cases
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars 15 Percent; Here Are Counties Seeing Most Cases After seeing low infection rates during the fall, the Hudson Valley has been slammed by the Omicron COVID-19 variant as the number of new cases mounts. Over the past three days, the positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley rose from 12.53 percent on Monday, Dec. 27, to 13.72 percent the following day, up to 15.39 percent on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Statewide, the infection rate also rose similarly, from 13.36 percent to 16.21 percent as of Dec. 29. Only two other regions - Long Island (18.78) New York City (16.90 percent) have rates above 13.50 percent. According t…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CT Sets Daily Infection Rate Record Of Over 20 Percent; New Deaths Reported COVID-19: CT Sets Daily Infection Rate Record Of Over 20 Percent; New Deaths Reported
Covid-19: CT Sets Daily Infection Rate Record Of Over 20 Percent; New Deaths Reported Connecticut's daily COVID-19 positivity rate topped 20 percent, marking a new record as the Omnicom variant continues to torment the state. On Thursday, Dec. 30, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state administered 37,891 COVID-19 tests within the past 24 hours, resulting in 7,704 laboratory-confirmed cases. The 20.33 percent infection rate shattered the previous record after it sat at 17.78 percent the previous day.  Eighty-three new COVID-19 fatalities were reported in the past week in Connecticut, which now has reported 9,160 virus-related deaths. Hospitals continue to be threate…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Leading Knicks Player Enters NBA's Health, Safety Protocols COVID-19: Leading Knicks Player Enters NBA's Health, Safety Protocols
Covid-19: Leading Knicks Player Enters NBA's Health, Safety Protocols An already difficult season for the New York Knicks took another hit as one of its star players became the latest to enter the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols just as the team starting a mini-winning streak. The team announced on Thursday, Dec. 30 that Randle had been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and will be unavailable for the following two games. The New York Knicks PR team announcing Randle's positive test.Twitter/@NY_KnicksPR Under updated league COVID-19 rules, vaccinated players who test positive for the virus will be permitted to retur…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases Long Island is being hit harder by the Omicron COVID-19 variant than any other region in New York as both Nassau and Suffolk recorded more than 5,500 new cases. Over the past three days, Long Island has recorded the highest positive infection rate of those tested for the virus, spiking to 18.78 percent on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The infection rate has risen by more than 1 percent daily since Monday, Dec. 27. Statewide, the infection rate also rose similarly, from 13.36 percent to 16.21 percent as of Dec. 29. Only two other regions - New York City (16.90 percent) and the Hudson Valley (15.39 p…

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by Zak Failla
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