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

Former Musical Director On Long Island Sentenced For Receiving Child Porn Former Musical Director On Long Island Sentenced For Receiving Child Porn
Former Musical Director On Long Island Sentenced For Receiving Child Porn A former choir director on Long Island will spend years behind bars after admitting to possessing and exchanging child pornography over the Internet. Michael Wustrow, age 59, of Freeport, a former musical director at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, has been sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty in June 2019 to receiving child pornography. The charge had carried a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition to the prison term, Wustrow will also register as a sexual offender upon his release. Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New Yor…
COVID-19: Nationwide Liquor Shortage Affects Stores, Bars, Restaurants COVID-19: Nationwide Liquor Shortage Affects Stores, Bars, Restaurants
Covid-19: Nationwide Liquor Shortage Affects Stores, Bars, Restaurants The COVID-19 pandemic claimed an unexpected victim as the nation faces a shortage of liquor that is impacting stores, bars, and restaurants across the country. Some states along the East Coast have started to limit purchases due to alcohol shortages related to the pandemic, which saw a marked uptick in the number of people staying home and enjoying a drink or two after a long day of working remotely. According to the Alcohol and Beverage Commission, some states have started rationing their liquor sales amid supply chain issues, though there is no clear timetable for when the supply will mat…
Distance Runner From Hudson Valley Files $20M Lawsuit Against Nike, Former Coach Distance Runner From Hudson Valley Files $20M Lawsuit Against Nike, Former Coach
Distance Runner From Hudson Valley Files $20M Lawsuit Against Nike, Former Coach A former high school track and field standout from the Hudson Valley is suing Nike and her former coach for $20 million for alleged physical and emotional abuse. Mary Cain, a distance runner who cut her teeth while running for Bronxville High School in Westchester for a decade and starring on multiple national teams, is suing Nike and her former coach Alberto Salazar for $20 million, according to multiple new reports. Cain was a standout amateur athlete, competing in multiple national and international events before her career fizzled during four years at the Nike Oregon Project, where she …
Shots-Fired Incident Under Investigation In Region Shots-Fired Incident Under Investigation In Region
Shots-Fired Incident Under Investigation In Region A 44-year-old man was apprehended while trying to flee from police after firing shots into the air in a residential Western Massachusetts neighborhood in the middle of the night. In Hampden County, the Holyoke Police Department received reports of shots fired outside an apartment complex on Walnut Street at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. Upon arrival, a witness described two suspects, one of whom was shooting a gun into the air in the area of Elm Street. Officers located two suspects, identified as Cordis Bean and Christopher Burnham, and as they approached, police said that …
Fire Destroys Restaurant In Westchester Fire Destroys Restaurant In Westchester
Fire Destroys Restaurant In Westchester A Westchester restaurant was destroyed by an overnight fire, though firefighters were able to contain it to one building before it spread to neighboring businesses. Fire crews responded to the Mozza Restaurant and Bar on Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon at approximately 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 when a blaze broke out, officials said. The fire was largely contained to the restaurant, though neighboring Flash Cleaners and Tailors and the AD Sports Bar suffered significant water and structural damage. No injuries were reported. The fire came hours after crews worked to knock down the flame…
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community One new COVID-19-related was reported in the Hudson Valley as the region saw a slight rise in its positive infection rate for those tested. The average seven-day positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley tested for the virus climbed to 2,50 in the latest update from the state Department of Health, up from 2.49 percent the previous day. Statewide, the positive infection rate continues to rise, up to 2.52 percent on Monday, Oct. 11, up for the fourth straight day. According to the latest update from the Department of Health, 35 new deaths were reported statewide, including one in…
COVID-19: Long Island Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community COVID-19: Long Island Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community
Covid-19: Long Island Sees Infection-Rate Uptick; New Rundown Of Cases By Community Long Island reported more than 200 new COVID-19 infections in both Nassau and Suffolk counties as the region continues ramping up its vaccination program. The average seven-day positive COVID-19 infection rate of Long Islanders tested for the virus climbed to 2.77 in the latest update from the state Department of Health, up from 2.71 percent the previous day. Statewide, the positive infection rate continues to rise, up to 2.52 percent on Monday, Oct. 11, up for the fourth straight day. In Suffolk, 415 new COVID-19 infections were recorded, bringing the total to 236,248 since the pandemic b…
Hochul Sees Big Change In Approval, Brand-New Poll Reveals Hochul Sees Big Change In Approval, Brand-New Poll Reveals
Hochul Sees Big Change In Approval, Brand-New Poll Reveals Gov. Kathy Hochul has seen a big jump in support from New Yorkers since taking over for embattled former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to a new Marist poll. In a month and a half since being sworn in as Cuomo’s successor, Hochul has seen an 18 percent increase in her favorability rating, from 31 percent to 49 percent, with 56 percent calling her a “good leader” and more than half (55 percent) rating her favorably. According to the poll, if the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary were held today, Hochul (44 percent) would be the favorite ahead of Attorney General Letitia James (28 percent),…
Swerving Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say Swerving Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say
Swerving Driver Busted For DUI In Fairfield County, Police Say A swerving driver was allegedly drunk after she was caught by police crossing over the double-yellow line of a roadway in Fairfield County. An officer from the New Canaan Police Department on patrol shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 initiated a traffic stop on Old Stamford Road when the driver was caught swerving and veering into the southbound lane while traveling northbound. Police said that during the subsequent traffic stop, officers determined that the driver, New Canaan resident Aurelia Heagle, age 41, was allegedly intoxicated, and she was taken into custody without inc…
High School In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Suspicion Of Hazardous Materials High School In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Suspicion Of Hazardous Materials
High School In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Suspicion Of Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials in classrooms inside a Hudson Valley high school forced officials to shutter the doors of the building and transition students to remote learning. In Rockland County, Spring Valley Schools Superintendent Clarence Ellis issued an alert to the community advising that the district was notified of suspicion of hazardous materials in specific classrooms at the high school, prompting the closure. The district received notification of the situation late on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and posted a notice at approximately 8 p.m. after phone calls were sent to alert parents. In response, …
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