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Wednesday, aug 27

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

Maryland Teacher Brandie McCoy Dies Suddenly, Friends Plan Beachside Service: ‘Ray Of Sunshine’ Brandie McCoy is being remembered as a "shining light" who shone a bright light on her family, friends, and students before her unexpected passing in Maryland. The first-grade teacher at University Park Elementary School died without warning on Tuesday, Aug. 12, her family says. Now her loved ones are rallying to give her a proper beachside sendoff. "She was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished friend, and a phenomenal (first)-grade teacher at University Park Elementary School," Brittany Brown-Brooks said about her former friend. "Brandie’s captivating personality, radiant smile, and j…

by Zak Failla

08/27/2025

News

Getaway Driver In Charles County Teen Murder Plot Learns His Fate In Court A La Plata man will spend a decade in prison for acting as the getaway driver in a murder plot that left a Maryland teenager dead, prosecutors announced. Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise Stephenson sentenced Dalvin Devonte Risi, 27, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and wear, carry, and transport of a handgun in a vehicle, according to state's attorney's office. The charges stem from the Oct. 23, 2022, shooting of 17-year-old Aden Christopher Garcia in Waldorf. Police said Garcia was shot in the head during a botched drug transaction and died the ne…

by Zak Failla

08/27/2025

Police & Fire

Weed Dealer Robbed At Gunpoint, Forced To Send Crooks Cash In Waldorf, Sheriff Says A weed deal turned into a stickup in Maryland — and two men are now behind bars after cops say they robbed a man at gunpoint, stole his product, and forced him to send them money over a payment app for their troubles. The holdup happened around 7:20 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, in the area of Bannister Circle and Hamilton Place in Waldorf, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said. According to investigators, the victim was selling cannabis when the pair pulled out a firearm, stole the drugs, and demanded he transfer money to their account before running off. Officers, including a police K-9 team,…

by Zak Failla

08/27/2025

Police & Fire

Feds Help Nab Three Fugitives In Waldorf Raid: Guns, Fentanyl, Fake $15K Seized: Sheriff A wanted man accused of opening fire on a victim in Maryland earlier this year has been captured, authorities said. On Friday, Aug. 22, detectives with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force tracked down Earl Tyree Porter, 30, of Waldorf, in the 3000 block of Gallery Place, following a months-long investigation into a reported shooting. Investigators said Porter was wanted in connection with an April 14 shooting on October Place, where a man was shot multiple times in the chest, but survived his injuries. During the investigation, Porter was identified …

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

Traffic

‘By God’s Grace’ Deputy Survived Penske Truck Strike On I-95 In Harford County, Sheriff Says A veteran sheriff's deputy in Maryland is lucky to be alive after being critically injured by an erratic driver on I-95 during a chaotic chase through Harford County. Lt. Rob Burgess, a 29-year-old member of the Harford County Sheriff's Office assigned to the Community Policing Division, has been identified as the deputy who was struck by a rogue Penske box truck and sent flying off the roadway. "Our prayers are with the family, and we're thanking the community for their support. We've been at the scene, and we're very fortunate we're not talking about a police officer fatality today by God…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

News

Fort McHenry Channel Closing To Salvage Hatch From Coal Ship Explosion In Baltimore The Fort McHenry Federal Channel will be closed to establish a safety zone this week as they begin salvage efforts of a hatch cover that exploded in the harbor earlier this month, according to the US Coast Guard. Late in the afternoon on Monday, Aug. 18, there was an explosion aboard the 751-foot merchant vessel W-Sapphire as it was leaving Baltimore Harbor with 23 crew members and two pilots on board. At approximately 6:30 p.m., there was an explosion reported on the coal ship, which was reported in the same stretch of water where the Key Bridge collapsed. On Wednesday, the Coast Gua…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

Police & Fire

Murder Suspect Spotted Skulking In Newly Released PG County Police Video (Watch) Police have released new video of a suspect wanted in the 2023 murder of a man in Maryland as they renew their call for help from the public. An alert was issued by the Prince George's County Police Department as they continue their manhunt for the person responsible for killing 33-year-old Chuck Deonte Jenkins, who had no fixed address, two years ago. Officers were called around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2023, to the 5100 block of Indian Head Highway to conduct a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found Jenkins outside suffering from traumatic injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. In…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

Politics

Trump Admin’s ‘Extraordinary’ Lawsuit Against Maryland Judges Tossed By Virginia Court A Virginia judge has tossed out a lawsuit by the Trump administration targeting federal judges in Maryland. US District Judge Thomas Cullen — who was nominated by Trump in 2020 — ruled Tuesday, Aug. 26, that the administration’s lawsuit against Chief Judge George L. Russell III and every other active and senior judge in the US District Court for the District of Maryland could not stand. The case stemmed from temporary standing orders Russell issued earlier this year that briefly blocked the removal of immigrant detainees who had filed habeas petitions. Instead of challenging th…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

Police & Fire

Man Shot By Security Guard During Elkridge Grocery Store Struggle Charged: Police A Maryland man who opened fire during a fight with security guards at an area grocery store has been released from the hospital and is now facing charges. Rasheed Franklin, 30, of Glen Burnie, is facing multiple assault charges following a midday altercation that broke out outside an Elkridge store last Friday. The incident was reported around 12:40 p.m. on Aug. 22, outside the Green Valley Marketplace on the 7200 block of Montgomery Road, police said. Investigators believe a fight erupted between an armed security guard and Franklin, during which, one security guard suffered a head injury…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

Business

$500K Powerball Winner Sold At Baltimore Liquor Store As Jackpot Nears $1 Billion Maryland might not have a new millionaire — or billionaire — but someone in Baltimore just got half a million reasons to celebrate. A $500,000 winning Powerball Double Play ticket was sold at Bernie’s Liquors on Martin Boulevard, lottery officials confirmed on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The lucky winner matched the five black balls in Monday night’s Double Play drawing but missed the red Power Ball. Nobody hit the main jackpot Monday, which means the Powerball prize is now rocketing to $815 million for Wednesday’s drawing — the seventh-largest jackpot in the game’s history. The cash op…

by Zak Failla

08/26/2025

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