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

Hudson Valley Woman Wins $2.5 Million In NY State Lottery Hudson Valley Woman Wins $2.5 Million In NY State Lottery
Hudson Valley Woman Wins $2.5 Million In NY State Lottery A woman is in full celebration mode after the NY Lottery “made her year.” A Hudson Valley woman is feeling lucky after cashing in the top prize of a New York State Lottery scratcher. Columbia County resident Amana Akter, of the city of Hudson, has claimed her top prize on the New York Lottery’s $2,500,000 "Make My Year" scratch-off ticket. The top prize guarantees a minimum payout of $250,000 a year for 10 years. Officials said that Akter opted to take her $2,500,000 prize as a single lump-sum payment totaling $1,523,340, after required withholdings. Akter was the final winner of the $2,5…
'Politics Written All Over It': Cuomo Lawyer Questions AG Report 'Politics Written All Over It': Cuomo Lawyer Questions AG Report
'Politics Written All Over It': Cuomo Lawyer Questions AG Report Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top attorney is questioning the report that brought her client down, calling it a political ploy. Attorney Rita Glavin held a briefing on the former governor’s campaign site calling on New York Attorney General Letitia James to “amend, correct, and supplement” her report regarding sexual harassment allegations that led to Cuomo’s resignation. Glavin submitted a 150-page submission calling for a new investigation by “a truly independent reviewer," saying that the initial report should not have been overseen directly by James. She noted that it’s important…
Man Sentenced For Selling Oxycodone From CT Grocery Store Man Sentenced For Selling Oxycodone From CT Grocery Store
Man Sentenced For Selling Oxycodone From CT Grocery Store A business owner in Connecticut known as “Ka-King” will spend years behind bars after being busted selling oxycodone out of his grocery store. Eliezer Perez, age 42, of Hartford, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone in May. Acting US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that in the summer of 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department began investigating individuals who were selling…
Woman Killed In Upstate Crash Involving Long Island Man Woman Killed In Upstate Crash Involving Long Island Man
Woman Killed In Upstate Crash Involving Long Island Man A Long Island driver was involved in a fatal crash in upstate New York. At approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, New York State Police troopers responded to a crash on I-90 in Albany between the westbound exit 24 and exit 25. Police said that Nassau County resident Jesus Estivente, age 28, of Uniondale, was driving a 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer when he attempted to change lanes. As the truck moved from the center lane to the left lane, it crossed the rumble strips and Estivente overcorrected, causing the vehicle to lose control, police said. The tractor-trailer then drove thro…
Ninth Member Of Multi-Million Dollar Luxury Stolen Car Ring Sentenced In Westchester Ninth Member Of Multi-Million Dollar Luxury Stolen Car Ring Sentenced In Westchester
Ninth Member Of Multi-Million Dollar Luxury Stolen Car Ring Sentenced In Westchester The ninth member of a multi-million dollar luxury stolen car ring that operated in parts of New York and Connecticut has been sentenced in White Plains federal court for her role in the operation. Lashaumba Randolph, age 46, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for providing fake titles and other fraudulent vehicle documentation used to defraud car buyers as part of a national stolen car ring involving approximately 60 stolen luxury cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Corvettes, worth more than $4 million. Previously, Randolph pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire …
'Confused' Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say 'Confused' Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say
'Confused' Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say A swerving driver in Fairfield County was allegedly intoxicated when he was busted by police after parking partially on the grass and sidewalk of an area roadway, police said. In Darien, an officer responded to the intersection of Post Road and Dubois Street shortly before 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, where there were reports of a white Acura that was swerving in the area without headlights on, police said. Upon arrival at the intersection, police said that the officer located the vehicle in the grass and sidewalk on Post Road, and they located the driver, Norwalk resident Daniel Church…
New Bear Sightings Reported In Northern Westchester New Bear Sightings Reported In Northern Westchester
New Bear Sightings Reported In Northern Westchester Some Northern Westchester residents had an unexpected visitor as one or more black bears made the rounds through their neighborhoods. The New Castle Police Department issued alerts for two separate bear sightings that happened in a 24-hour span. On Friday morning, Oct. 22, the department advised that a black bear was seen making the rounds in the area of Twin Ridges Road and Lake way in the town of New Castle. Police said that the bear stuck to himself, and did not create any public disturbances before heading back into the woods. Late Saturday morning, Oct. 23, the department reported a …
Man Who Allegedly Created 10 Social Media Accounts Charged With Stalking In Fairfield County Man Who Allegedly Created 10 Social Media Accounts Charged With Stalking In Fairfield County
Man Who Allegedly Created 10 Social Media Accounts Charged With Stalking In Fairfield County A Westchester man is facing a stalking charge in Fairfield County after allegedly creating nearly a dozen social media accounts and showing up unexpectedly at his victim’s home, police said. Officers from the Darien Police Department responded to an area home shortly before midnight on Monday, Oct. 11, where there was a report of an unwanted person at the residence. Upon arrival, police said that the suspect, Port Chester resident Juan Escobar, age 22, was not at the scene, though officers were advised that it was known that he was unwanted at the residence and showed up anyway. Police we…
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By County The positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley continues to decline as it approaches 2 percent as the region contends with the virus. After seeing a slight uptick earlier this week, the average seven-day positive COVID-19 infection rate was back down to 2.02 percent, the second-lowest of the state's 10 regions on Thursday, Oct. 21, with only New York City's 1.10 percent rate besting it. Statewide, the infection rate dropped from 2.46 percent as recently as Sunday, Oct. 17 to 2.20 percent on Oct. 21. Twenty-five New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, according to the l…
COVID-19: Long Island Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By Community COVID-19: Long Island Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By Community
Covid-19: Long Island Continues Downward Trend In Positive Cases; New Breakdown By Community For the second straight day, seven new COVID-19 deaths were reported on Long Island in the latest update provided by the New York State Department of Health. The average seven-day positive COVID-19 infection rate on Long Island is down for the fifth straight day, as it has dipped from 2.68 percent of those tested as recently as Sunday, Oct. 17 down to 2.34 percent on Thursday, Oct. 21. Statewide, the infection rate dropped from 2.46 percent to 2.20 percent during the same time frame. Four new virus-related deaths were reported in Suffolk County, bringing the total number of fatalities sinc…
13,111 - 13,120 of 33,905 articles