Park rangers unload a container in Punta Patino “The water is polluted with garbage,” said Militza Olea eyeing the red sores still dotting the skin of her 3-year-old nephew days after he bathed in the Turquesa Everyone climbs out of the river with hives on their skin Flor Maria Guainora holds her grandson who cries due to a skin rash in Villa Caleta a community in Panama once traversed by hundreds of thousands of migrants on their way to the United States It’s been months since migration in the once-untouched jungles and rivers plummeted but authorities say pollution and other environmental concerns are at a high They estimate that 2,500 tons of trash were left in the Darien Gap and that just cleaning it up along the migratory route will cost around $12 million as many as 3,000 people a day floated down the Turquesa past Villa Caleta and other communities on their way out of the jungle floating in the water and tangled in trees are foam mats migrants used to sleep Panamanian Environmental Minister Juan Carlos Navarro blames the American government He said the Trump administration should foot the bill for cleaning because the vast majority of migrants traversing the Darien Gap were headed to the U.S Navarro noted Panama’s lack of money and resources and said the government was promised $3 million by the outgoing Biden administration in January but that under President Donald Trump the promised funds haven’t arrived “They’re not cleaning up their mess,” he said “If the United States is responsible because it opened its borders then the United States should pay for it.” The White House didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment Clothing and garbage litter the trail where migrants have been trekking across the Darien Gap from Colombia to Panama in hopes of eventually reaching the United States Beyond the trash that can be seen floating in the river officials say tests show dangerous levels of contamination The most recent test by government hydrologists showed high amounts of fecal coliform bacteria in the Turquesa River Communities also found decomposing bodies floating past their homes Officials said they need to carry out more tests on the water’s current state as most of what’s leftover from migration remains farther upstream where border police blocked Associated Press journalists despite permission granted by Panamanian environmental authorities Olea and others in the Indigenous Comarca Embera community — consisting of about 12,000 people who long lived off fertile lands deep in Panama’s southern jungle until their territory intersected with the migratory route running from Colombia — attribute the rashes appearing on residents’ arms to the pollution The Darien Gap was once largely untouched jungle running along the Colombia-Panama border where thousands of Comarca Embera Indigenous people long lived off their rich lands and winding rivers they’re seeing unprecedented change in the wake of a migratory crisis While doctors and officials have made no medical diagnosis residents say symptoms appeared only when migration began to surge Olea said her family spends money from its plantain crops for expensive antibiotic creams brought by family members who travel hours by boat from the closest towns thanks to a small plant installed by an aid organization but she said their small water stores won’t be enough during the summer dry season the people here are going to need that water,” she said with the economy suffering from the disappearance of the migrants Many say environmental effects are exacerbating the problem they still smell of gasoline,” community leader Cholino de Gracia said “We can’t fish anymore because you’d practically be eating a fish full of gasoline.” the Colombian criminal group known as the Gulf Clan pushed into the region a researcher with Insight Crime investigating organized crime in the Darien Gap and illegally mined gold — a process that uses mercury to extract gold from ore poisoning lands and waters around the mines the group has taken advantage of its control of large swathes of jungle to expand operations and rake in money from environmental crimes that’s included taking a cut from existing illegal logging operations they’ve sliced and burnt through dense jungle to replace with fields of coca “We’re seeing increased land clearings around these municipalities that bordered the Darien mostly for coca cultivation,” Shuldiner said and the (Gulf Clan) is profiting directly.” that criminal activity has trickled into Panama as groups set up illegal mining operations in federally protected national parks authorities said they had dismantled an illegal gold mining network and detained 10 Colombians and Panamanians who left the jungle contaminated with mercury and cyanide Environmental Minister Navarro and residents said criminals rent land on Indigenous reservations to launder money earned during the economic boom from migration and they burn and chop down dense jungle to make way for cattle ranches deforestation in the Darien shot up after years of decline according to the latest data from Global Forest Watch which monitors deforestation using satellites Local leaders say that will deal a long-term blow to the communities that have lived off the land for centuries Fishermen unload their catch at Puerto Kimba Navarro said Panama’s government must try to rescue the jungle from a state of “environmental anarchy.” “This is a treasure trove of biodiversity,” Navarro said “They’ve disrupted the whole system of life in this community and damaged some of them forever we’re going to be able to conserve our forests.” But community leader De Gracia and others in the region say the area has long been neglected They blame Panama’s government for not doing more to clean their waters or develop the region in a way that would allow them to bounce back faster watching her nephew play even with the rash running along his arms worries most for the children in places like Villa Caleta Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Lifejackets hang at the home of a local in Villa Caleta The jackets were once used to ferry migrants after their trek across the Darien Gap on their way north to the U.S President Donald Trump flashes on the flat-screen TV that Luis Olea bought with the money he earned ferrying migrants through the remote Panamanian jungle during an unprecedented crush of migration A woman stands at her home where she has the news on a community in Panama that used to benefit economically by being on the route migrants took after crossing the Darien Gap on their way north to the U.S. abandoned their plantain and rice crops to carry migrants down the winding rivers Olea installed electricity in his one-room wooden home in the heart of the jungle we lived off of the migration,” 63-year-old Olea said “It became a business opportunity for a lot of people,” Orozco said but once it dries up … you either leave the area and go to the city or stay living in poverty.” once survived by growing plantains in the jungle next to Villa Caleta near the Turquesa river flowing near the Colombia border When migrants began to move through the region Olea and others invested in boats to pick up people in the town of Bajo Chiquito where migrants arrived after their brutal trek The boat pilots would transport migrants to a port far above the $150 a month many had made from crops The work grew so lucrative that towns along the river struck a deal to take turns transporting migrants Olea installed solar panels on his tin roof He elevated his house to protect belongings from floods He now watches Trump talk about tariffs on CNN en Español to the world in a way that had not existed before Donaldo Quiros plants rice in his small field in Villa Caleta many more were left reeling from the abrupt drop in migration “The worst part is that some people struggle to eat because without any income and no supermarkets here but said it will take at least nine months to yield anything Now he sits outside his home carving wooden pans He hopes to try his luck sifting through river sand for flecks of gold “I’m trying this to see if things get better I would always have my $200 a day without fail People in Panama’s Darien Gap once lived from the migrants passing through (AP video by/Matías Delacroix and Megan Janetsky) Panamanian authorities estimated that between 2,500 and 3,000 people crossed the Darien Gap every day the criminal group that profited from the northward migration now scouts the coast to see if it can make money off migrants going the other way a senior analyst for International Crisis Group the river port where boats dropped off migrants after their jungle journey It once bustled with crowds browsing stalls selling food blankets and access to power banks for charging phones is one of three that haven’t abandoned Lajas Blancas The 55-year-old said most who sold goods to migrants have packed up and headed to Panama City to look for work everything came to a screeching halt,” she said soda and snacks and even temporarily opened a restaurant refrigerator and three big freezers to store goods sold to migrants She started to build a house with her husband “I’m going to save them for whatever comes,” she said you never know what opportunities there will be.” Pedro Chami carves a gold-panning dish made of wood in Villa Caleta A stray dog walks in an empty migrant reception center that used to receive hundreds of people every day after they crossed the Darien Gap on their journey north to the United States after trekking across the Darien Gap from Colombia in hopes of reaching the U.S. AFTER - The riverbank where hundreds of migrants used to disembark daily after crossing the Darien Gap on their journey north to the United States Vulnerable people would trek for days through the rainforest passages and then board narrow wooden boats across rivers Most would be dropped off at Lajas Blancas where they would pack into migrant camps filled with families and board buses to cross Panama to continue their journey north Panama President José Raúl Mulino said: “Effectively The problem we had in Lajas Blancas eliminated.” BEFORE - Venezuelan migrant Jorbys Ocampo rests inside a tent in a temporary camp after crossing the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas AFTER - A migrant reception center that received hundreds of people every day after they crossed the Darien Gap on their journey north to the United States After months of Panama’s government blocking off journalists from visiting the port and other key points along the former migratory route authorities granted The Associated Press access to the strictly controlled area journalists were stopped by migration enforcement and were stripped of those permissions with authorities vaguely citing security concerns AP reporters saw the large tents that once housed migrants stand empty and the boats pulling up to the side of the river were few and far between water and other goods to migrants sit empty Angola and Nigeria remain in the Lajas Blancas camp and sleep on the dusty ground BEFORE - Children play at a migrant camp in Lajas Blancas after walking across the Darien Gap in hopes of reaching the U.S. Among them was 33-year-old Venezuelan Hermanie Blanco who arrived in Panama days after Trump took office Fleeing economic crisis and political turmoil in her home country but decided after crossing the Darien Gap that she would try to seek refuge in Panama saying she’s been stranded in the nearly abandoned settlement for months waiting for an answer A sign at the heart of Lajas Blancas acts as a reminder Panama and other countries across Latin America have scrambled to meet demands by the Trump administration to crack down on migration north BEFORE - Migrants wait in the rain outside an immigration post after trekking across the Darien Gap AFTER - Facilities stand empty at a migrant reception center that once received hundreds of people daily after they crossed the Darien Gap on their journey north to the United States recently recognized Panama’s efforts to reduce migration through the Darién region with a State Department spokesperson saying it has dropped by 98% who split his time between Baltimore and Houston Monday in Baltimore County Circuit Court for jury selection He’s charged with disturbing school operations Circuit Judge Jan Marshall Alexander is expected to preside over the trial which court records indicate could last for one week Pikesville High AI suspect faces additional child sexual exploitation charges Suspect in Pikesville High AI case arrested on child porn charges Ex-athletic director accused of framing principal with AI arrested at airport with gun Darien used AI to create a clip of Principal Eric Eiswert purportedly making racist and antisemitic comments behind closed doors The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. Darien was the athletic director at the high school Eiswert is now the principal of Sparrows Point Middle School in Edgemere Police also assert that Darien approved a $1,900 payment to his roommate under the pretense that he was working as an assistant coach on the girls soccer team Officers arrested Darien at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport as he tried to board a flight to Houston A Baltimore Banner investigation revealed that Darien made at least 29 false claims on four job applications using two names He also did not meet the minimum requirements to hold his position The Florida Department of Education in 2016 flagged Darien in a clearinghouse used to screen teachers that he was denied a teaching certificate because of “test or document fraud.” Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Myriam Rogers has maintained that the system followed its hiring process Darien’s lead attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jasmine Hope, has called the charges a “sad attempt to criminalize conduct that is not criminal.” Darien was originally supposed to stand trial on Jan but the FBI arrested him one day before when he showed up to court for a motions hearing Law enforcement alleges that Darien victimized two teens and possessed child sexual abuse material District Court in Baltimore with sexual exploitation of children receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography Those charges carry mandatory minimum sentences ranging from five years to 15 years in prison Bredar has put deadlines on hold in the case and ordered a status and scheduling conference on May 28 to discuss next steps Darien is being detained in the Chesapeake Detention Center Dylan Segelbaum dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com Dylan Segelbaum is the courts reporter at The Baltimore Banner Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism Statement from Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta pic.twitter.com/TNQrqw3me2 Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies Click here to view our Terms of Sale.\n \n Click here to learn more about supporting local journalism.\n Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com Iowa State Cyclones cornerback Darien Porter runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine General Manager John Spytek and Director of College Scouting Brandon Yeargan address the media to recap the 2025 NFL Draft Quarterback Tommy Mellott addresses the media after being selected 213th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Linebacker Cody Lindenberg addresses the media after being selected 222nd overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Quarterback Cam Miller addresses the media after being selected 215th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Watch as Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek call wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr Watch as linebacker Cody Lindenberg is selected with the No Watch as quarterback Cam Miller is selected with the No Watch as quarterback Tommy Mellott is selected with the No Defensive tackle JJ Pegues addresses the media after being selected 180th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Watch as defensive tackle JJ Pegues is selected with the No Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway addresses the media after being selected 135th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft addresses the media after being selected 108th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Watch as defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway is selected with the No Watch as Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek call running back Ashton Jeanty to let him know he is a Raider Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine Get an exclusive look as Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek call wide receiver Jack Bech to let him know he is headed to Las Vegas General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll address the media to recap Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft Tackle Charles Grant addresses the media after being selected 99th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Offensive lineman Caleb Rogers addresses the media after being selected 98th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Watch as tackle Charles Grant is selected with the No Watch as offensive lineman Caleb Rogers is selected with the No Cornerback Darien Porter addresses the media after being selected 68th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Wide receiver Jack Bech addresses the media after being selected 58th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 2:39:57 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); fans and analysts have begun settling in with each draft pick assessing the selections with greater clarity and vision While not every pick will turn out to be a home run many have already formulated the list of players that they're most excited for in the upcoming season Pro Football Focus recently shared their thoughts on each team's draft pointing out their favorite pick from each franchise that honor went to third-round selection Darien Porter (No "Porter is a great scheme fit for the Raiders," PFF stated. "His length and speed make him an ideal outside cornerback for Pete Carroll’s Cover 3-heavy defense Porter earned a 91.1 PFF coverage grade while allowing just a 29.6% completion rate in 2024 A team that desperately needed cornerback help got a good one." Porter was the first of three 3rd-rounders that the Raiders selected offensive linemen Caleb Rogers (98th overall) and Charles Grant (99th overall) were picked in consecutive order Porter was one of the biggest risers in the pre-draft process going from a possible Day 3 pick all the way to the top 70 prospects Standing at 6-foot-3 height and measuring in at an arm length of 33⅛ impressed numerous scouts and coaches on the field Notching a 4.3-second 40-yard dash surely didn't harm him as it tied for third among all players who ran Porter showed that he has elite athleticism and skills despite his age (24) Porter also proved to be a high-value special teams player Porter played 6 seasons of college football and even switched from wide receiver to defensive back in 2022 He immediately impacted Iowa State's second game of the season coming down with two interceptions in a 20-19 win over their rival Iowa He only snagged one more pick over the rest of the season Please follow along with us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr so you never miss another breaking news story again We would love to interact with you now when you check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. IDAN OZIdan Oz attends UCLA and brings a unique writing style to On SI as he covers the NFL. Born outside the USA, he brings a fresh focus, love, and appreciation for the game of football that shines through his writing style. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The Las Vegas Raiders make their first defensive pick in the 2025 NFL Draft selecting cornerback Darien Porter from Iowa State at No Porter started his collegiate career as a wide receiver before transitioning to the secondary heading into his redshirt junior season In his three seasons as a full-time cornerback he appeared in 36 games – recording six career pass deflections and three interceptions his senior season in 2024 he recorded the fastest times among all cornerbacks in the 10-yard split His 4.3 40-yard dash time was also the third fastest of any player in attendance Stay up-to-date with the Raiders' draft picks With the 68th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter The Raiders selected players from 11 different college teams in six different conferences Here's a look at the latest jersey numbers changes Spytek sat down with Raiders.com's Eddie Paskal to discuss the team's draft strategy and the 11 new members of the Silver and Black Raiders.com's Levi Edwards breaks down a few of the team's additions made in the draft last weekend He can have an immediate impact and be another weapon," Raiders Hall of Famer Marcus Allen said of Jeanty Spending draft capital on offensive and defensive linemen was a necessity for Raiders in later rounds NFL Network and Raiders.com contributor Rhett Lewis breaks down each of the Silver and Black's 2025 draft selections and how they fit in on the roster John Spytek and staff received strong reviews following his first draft as Raiders general manager Mellott will be catching passes from North Dakota State's quarterback that's defeated him in three FCS playoff games Take a closer look at the 11 newest Raiders The team selected 11 total players in the 2025 NFL Draft – seven on offense and four on defense Lindenberg earned the opportunity to be a leader and driving force of Minnesota's defense serving as a team captain and green dot linebacker Get an exclusive look at photos from phase two of the Raiders' offseason program Jeanty's first day with the Las Vegas Raiders was filled with nerves Business staff members of the Las Vegas Raiders volunteered at Betty's Junior Achievement BizTown a program immersing students in a simulated town allowing students to apply what they learn in school to the real world The Las Vegas Raiders and Vegas Sports Foundation hosted the girls division Silver and Black League playoffs at Western High School Patch comes to Las Vegas from the Philadelphia Eagles where he was a part of two Super Bowl Championship teams Raiders.com's Levi Edwards is joined by defensive tackle Jonah Laulu to discuss growing up in Las Vegas The Raiders hosted a Junior Raiders Training Camp at Berkeley Bunker Elementary School View the best photos from the Raiders' offseason program workout at Intermountain Health Performance Center Raiders.com's Levi Edwards is joined by safety Lonnie Johnson Jr Johnson joins the Raiders after spending the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears (2023-24) The recording quickly spread across social media and Eric Eiswert said his life forever changed Eiswert was working as the principal of Pikesville High School on Jan. 17, 2024, when a clip that purported to contain audio of him making racist and antisemitic remarks behind closed doors started to circulate all over the internet, including on the Instagram account @murder_ink_bmore which chronicles crime and boasts 261,000 followers he was a respected educator who had served students and their families in Baltimore County for 27 years people viewed him as a “racist and antisemite who said vile things about students and teachers.” Though people later learned the recording was fake he knew “my life would never be the same.” “I am slowly rebuilding my professional career and I’m beginning to heal,” Eiswert said on Monday in the Baltimore County Courts Building “But this experience will never leave me.” The man who used artificial intelligence to create the recording, Dazhon Darien entered an Alford plea in Baltimore County Circuit Court to one count of disturbing school operations That means he acknowledged that prosecutors could prove the case against him but did not admit guilt Circuit Judge Jan Marshall Alexander then sentenced Darien the former athletic director of Pikesville High School who split his time between Baltimore and Houston to serve four months in the Baltimore County Detention Center Darien not only harmed the principal and school community but harmed the legacy of those who’ve actually experienced racism and discrimination “But we can’t just throw it out there every time we feel like it — it’s got to be deserved.” Alexander said a “good section of the community” will always look at Eiswert in a different light “whether it’s deserved or not.” “It is clear that he did not make that recording,” Alexander said “He will always have to take that with him.” Pikesville High AI suspect faces additional child sexual exploitation charges Ex-athletic director accused of framing principal with AI arrested at airport with gun Assistant State’s Attorney Brigid McCarthy read a statement of facts into the record to support the conviction: Baltimore County Police launched an investigation into the recording and interviewed Eiswert the same day it started circulating on the internet Eiswert told detectives he never made those comments and believed AI was used to create the clip He said he thought that Darien was responsible That’s because Eiswert reported that he had conversations with Darien about not renewing his contract due to poor performance inability to follow procedures and unwillingness to adhere to the chain of command Police tied Darien to a Gmail account that was used to send out the recording to two teachers with the subject line “Pikesville Principal — Disturbing Recording.” The clip appeared on social media about 30 minutes later an associate professor at the University of Colorado Denver and director of the National Center for Media Forensics performed an “extensive analysis” and concluded that the audio contained traces of AI-generated content Grigoras also determined that someone then edited the clip and added background noises to make it seem more realistic Law enforcement executed a search-and-seizure warrant for Darien’s cellphone but were not able to crack the device for nine months Detectives later discovered that he had searched for “AI Voice Cloning” and used a website to make the recording purchased a subscription and uploaded audio of a private conversation he had in 2023 with Eiswert in his office to generate the clip Investigators uncovered evidence that Darien had uploaded audio files to his Gmail account Baltimore County Public Schools immediately removed Eiswert as principal of Pikesville High School and community members inundated the front desk with phone calls expressing concern and anger Staff members reported that they felt unsafe Teachers also feared that Darien could have planted recording devices in other parts of the building including one that stated the “world would be a better place if you were on the other side of dirt.” He’s now principal of Sparrows Point Middle School in Edgemere Deputy State’s Attorney John Cox called Darien’s actions reprehensible and added that they had an enormous effect on the principal and school community was still not accepting full responsibility,” Cox said “even though the evidence was clear what he did.” thanked police and prosecutors for “taking the matter seriously.” Darien has been held accountable by the criminal justice system,” Cathell told reporters “We’re also confident that the civil justice system will hold Mr the school system and other individuals involved accountable.” Gboyinde Onijala, a spokesperson for Baltimore County Public Schools, declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation. Eiswert is currently suing the school system asked the judge to consider her client’s lack of prior criminal record along with the nonviolent nature of the crime which she described as a “new type of situation.” could not have anticipated that his actions would lead to charges or other consequences “I think this has been a lesson for every party involved here.” Darien experienced difficulty navigating his position as athletic director Hope detailed hardships and trauma that her client experienced during his childhood has a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in educational leadership and was pursuing his doctorate But a Baltimore Banner investigation found that Darien made at least 29 false claims on four job applications His resume included a bachelor’s degree in history education and master’s degree in educational leadership from Langston University But Darien never graduated from the institution Darien was originally supposed to stand trial on Jan. 28, but FBI special agents arrested him one day before on new charges after he showed up to court for a motions hearing He’s now charged in U.S Bredar has set a status-and-scheduling conference for May 28 to discuss the next steps in the case When he was given the opportunity to address the court Darien said he was taking responsibility “for my part.” Darien apologized and stated that he loves the students teachers and Pikesville High School community “It was never my intention to cause or create or spread any harm to anyone,” he said “I just did what I thought was right based on the knowledge that I had I made a decision and I have to live with the consequences of that decision.” He said it’s never right to take his anger and frustration out on others “regardless of the lack of leadership.” He added that he had the opportunity to leave the school Darien told the judge he’s done a lot of good He said he’s spent most of his life giving back to others — “more than I’ve ever gotten back from them.” he sees his prosecution as an opportunity to learn how to navigate and grow from difficult situations Watch as cornerback Darien Porter is selected with the No After picking offensive players with their first two selections in the 2025 NFL Draft the Raiders added to the defense at pick No 68 with Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter Get to know the newest member of the Silver and Black's secondary Despite finishing his collegiate career as a cornerback Porter originally joined Iowa State as a wide receiver Porter played wide receiver his first three seasons before switching to cornerback prior to the 2022 season he became a starter and saw action in 12 games notching a career-high 18 tackles and three interceptions – two of which came in a win against rival Iowa The 64 career games Porter played in over his six seasons (2019-24) with Iowa State are a school record After his first season as a starter in 2024 he earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference he saw action primarily on special teams in his early seasons He blocked a total five kicks over his collegiate career – the most by any player in Big 12 history The Raiders are getting a true "Pete Carroll cornerback" in Porter as he has speed length and physicality – traits that the head coach notably covets in his secondary ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February which was the third-fastest of any player at the annual event He also turned in a 36.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-11 broad jump "Sixth-year senior with elite traits and special teams talent but only one year of starting experience at cornerback," NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote when examining the CB's traits "Porter's rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism burst and speed to handle more man coverage He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence A perfect example of this is that last year they had one of the most inefficient ground games in the NFL and they remedied that by drafting Ashton Jeanty Other than Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, their receiving group was subpar. They used their second-round pick on Jack Bech a receiver who's not fast and adept at contested catches and fits in line with the type of players the Raiders want to draft seven were used to address the offensive side of the ball John Spytek made sure to surround Geno Smith with reliable weapons so that he could better support this Raiders team The first pick they used on a defensive player was in the third round when they selected Iowa State University cornerback Darien Porter and intercepted three balls and returned them collectively for five yards Spytek recently took part in an interview with Carter Owen a digital content associate for Raiders.com in which he broke down the drafting strategy for the Raiders and talked about how the coaching staff all bought in on drafting Porter "Guys like him are cool because that to me shows the connection between the scouting staff and the coaching staff," Spytek said "It's very easy to recognize that Darien Porter is an elite-level athlete there's so much elite physical ability in his body He's making a transition...When you have Coach Carroll and Joe Woods and 'PG' (Patrick Graham) and all of them say This is who we're looking for.' As a scout that really is empowering because it's like we can bring players like him to the staff and they're going to work with them and they can have a vision for them" Porter is a part of the incoming defensive rookies alongside Tonka Hemingway and he'll have the opportunity to shine in a cornerback room that isn't defined yet for the Raiders His experience as a wide receiver in the past will help him match up against NFL wide receivers and I wouldn't be surprised to see him snag a couple of balls out of the air in his rookie campaign Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and weigh in on the Porter pick We would love to hear from you now about this pick when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. FERNANDO ALFARO-DONIS Live Music, Music, Things to Do Our favorite time of year is just around the corner —outdoor concert season And Darien Lake Amphitheater happens to be one of the best venues to catch some major touring acts Interested in seeing who’s coming to town this summer Mark your calendars for these upcoming shows below Darien Lake • 9993 Alleghany Rd Darien Center Nelly is well known for his multi-platinum hits such as "Hot in Herre," "Just a Dream," and "Batter Up." ... Multi-Platinum entertainer Thomas Rhett announces today that he’ll be hitting the road in 2025 with his BETTER IN BOOTS TOUR, Fueled By Marathon. Produced ... Event is rain or shine. For the safety, comfort and experience of all fans, outside lawn chairs are NOT allowed into the venue. A limited number of lawn ... Live Music ... Cyndi Lauper is a groundbreaking Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performing artist with global record sales in excess of 50 million. ... +LIVE+ and Collective Soul just announced their 2025 co-headlining Summer Unity Tour with special guests Our Lady Peace and Greylin James Rue. ... Featuring Scissor Sisters & Rose Gray. ... Live Music ... with special guest DaBaby ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Live Music ... Submit an Event List a Business Make a Deal List a Deal About Us Advertise With Us Contact Us Careers Privacy Policy List an Event List a Business List a Deal List a Community Update Advertise With Us Resources Press Coverage Events and festivals by the Step Out Buffalo Team Accessibility Statement Porter is the third player the Raiders have selected so far following the Raiders’ pick of Boise State running back and consensus generational talent Ashton Jeanty on Thursday and TCU wide receiver Jack Bech with the No Porter will play a key role for the Raiders in 2025 and will be a key piece alongside Jeanty as the Raiders continue to reload under new head coach Pete Carroll the Raiders now have three rookies who can make an instant impact and change how the Raiders approach game day Expect Porter to compete for an early role with the Raiders during his rookie season Per a scouting report from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: "Sixth-year senior with elite traits and special teams talent but only one year of starting experience at cornerback Porter’s rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press his contest and his tackling in run support More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter’s continued ascension as a CB2/CB3." The Raiders finished last year with a 4-13 record and entered the offseason with massive changes on both sides of the ball the Raiders have invested two picks to ensure they have the right pieces in place moving forward to keep the momentum moving in a positive direction The Raiders have made big splashes this weekend and they have enough picks to continue to do so Make sure you stay locked in on our coverage as we look at what the Raiders will continue to do over the draft weekend Below is each pick the Raiders have left in the draft Be sure you follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr and never miss another breaking news story on the draft again Please then let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE MICHAEL FRANCE The Monroe Boys tennis team pulled through with a 4-3 win against Delavan-Darien on April 29 at Delavan It was a classic “grind it out” conference dual in which the Cheesemakers did just enough to get the job done The Cheesemakers are now 7-2 overall and 3-0 in the Rock Valley Conference The Cheesemakers took on East Troy at home on Thursday for another conference match 1 - Matthew Setterstrom of Monroe defeated Julian Rocha of Delavan-Darien 3 - Allen Gerrits of Monroe defeated Robert Paul of Delavan-Darien 4 - Shawn Kirkpatrick of Delavan-Darien defeated Cash McCabe of Monroe 1 - Yash Patel and Jaden Volkert of Delavan-Darien defeated Carsen Bartholf and Hamilton Stites of Monroe 2 - Ty Hillson and Celedonio Velazquez of Delavan-Darien defeated Travis Saunders and Caleb Figi of Monroe 3 - Graysan Bartholf and Eli Salzwedel of Monroe defeated Christopher Elguero and Sebastian Duran of Delavan-Darien .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comParker Febo recorded one goal and four draw controls for Summit Darien (CT) led 6-4 at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter with four more goals The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices EDMONTON – The Canadian Football League announced today that Elks second-round draft pick Darien Newell has received a one-year suspension for violating the CFL substance policy “The Edmonton Elks organization was aware of Darien Newell’s impending suspension before selecting him on Tuesday night we completed our due diligence on Darien and came away satisfied with both the person and the player The organization is committed to supporting Darien throughout this process and we look forward to when he can join the Green and Gold,” stated Edmonton Elks Vice-President of Football Operations & General Manager Ed Hervey Darien has dropped his appeal and begin serving his suspension immediately The Elks organization spoke to Newell and he released the following statement: “I’m incredibly grateful to have been drafted by the Edmonton Elks and given this opportunity to continue chasing my dream at the highest level I was notified by the league that I had tested positive for banned substances I believe that the substances in question came from products I took while attending my pro day in Buffalo where I did not have access to my usual supplements I did not knowingly or intentionally use a product that violated the league’s substance policy I must take full accountability for everything I put in my body This experience has taught me how important it is to be diligent and thorough moving forward I’ve taken steps to ensure this never happens again and I’m committed to maintaining the highest standard of professionalism as I enter the next chapter of my career I will accept the league’s ruling and put this incident behind me I’m thankful to the Edmonton Elks organization for believing in me and I’m ready to get to work and earn everything that comes next.” © 2025 CFL ENTERPRISES LP. All rights reserved. Terms Of Use Privacy Policy — Disgraced former Pikesville High School athletic director Dazhon Darien pleaded guilty to Disturbing School Operations Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Jan Alexander sentenced Darien to four months behind bars on Monday Darien used Artificial Intelligence to create a hate-filled racist rant impersonating the voice of former Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert This caused a scandal within the Baltimore County Public School System leading to threats of violence against Eiswert From the get-go Eiswert suggested Darien was the likely culprit Eiswert advised that he believed the recording was created using artificial intelligence and was adamant that he has never thought or spoken those words He stated that he believed the athletic director for Pikesville High School identified as this Defendant Dazhon Darien was responsible for creating and circulating the audio clip," detectives wrote in charging documents Eiswert explained that there had been conversations with the defendant about his contract not being renewed due to his poor performance at the school his inability to follow clearly laid out procedures and his unwillingness to follow the chain of command Issues between the administration and the defendant had started in the latter part of 2023 leading up to the release of the audio recording." Investigators ended up corroborating Eiswert's version of events Turns out Darien used a PayPal account to buy a voice cloning application that linked to his Apple iCloud Investigators described the computerized app's capabilities in charging documents "Web service that can turn text into speech using computer-generated voice where it can turn the user's voice into that of a celebrity One can also upload a sample of an individual's voice to then read back text that the user inputs." Detectives discovered Darien's usage of the app through internet browsing history investigators found a pair of audio recordings from a private conversation he had with Eiswert in 2023 Darien uploaded portions of that audio into the app making it seem that Eiswert spewed racist remarks Darien emailed it to three school co-workers under the alias TJ FOUST The subject line of the email read "Pikesville Principal-- Disturbing Recording." and claimed to have nothing to do with the recording Darien's phone number happened to be attached to the TJ FOUST G-Mail account the account was first opened at his grandmother's home in Los Angeles Eiswert has since sued over the trouble he went through He's currently principal of another school in the county RELATED:Former Pikesville principal sues Baltimore County school system, employee who used AI to frame him he was hit with federal child pornography charges Agents found Google accounts and Apple IDs in Darien's name containing files of teenage boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct At least one text message appeared to show Darien sexually coercing a minor One victim recalled meeting Darien on Snapchat They admitted to sending Darien 'content' starting at age of 15 in exchange for money Phone records show Darien last paid the victim just three days before they were interviewed by police Darien allegedly paid the victim nine times A search of Darien's social media accounts revealed four more victims MORE: Former Pikesville High athletic director faces federal child pornography charges Each recounted Darien asking for either sex Darien remains in federal custody pending trial His state sentence related to the school AI case is running concurrent The first week of play for some teams in the Northeast Region immediately impacted the national ranking.  Westhampton (N.Y.) handed New Canaan (Conn.) a loss in its first game of the year and that helped Darien (Conn.) ride its unbeaten start to be the new No 1 in the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25 Two spots behind is West Chester Henderson (Pa.) which handed Downingtown West (Pa.) its first loss West Chester Henderson's only loss came to private school Bishop Shanahan (Pa.) Smithtown West (N.Y.) also used a huge victory to climb into the Top 25 The Bulls knocked off Sayville (N.Y.) as part of their perfect start and debut at No 11 heading into a monster matchup against No It will be the first loss of the season for one of them Coronado (Calif.) enters the ranking at No The Islanders beat another ranked West Region team this week to follow eye-opening wins over privates St Stephen’s & St Agnes (Va.) and Loyola (Ill.) the week before They’ll play Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.) on Tuesday in another key West matchup 3 Severna Park (Md.) are on a collision course Manchester Valley hasn’t allowed more than seven goals in a game and has outscored opponents 94-20 Severna Park picked up a 10-6 win over IAAM contender Archbishop Spalding (Md.) on Monday The Maryland juggernauts will meet next Thursday The USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 lists can also be found here in our rankings hub with each team's previous ranking denoted in parenthesis Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country these rankings will be updated weekly on Thursdays Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas) USA Lacrosse is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 52-1765246) General Manager John Spytek got excellent value with this pick landing a player who had an outside shot of being a first-round pick The Raiders desperately needed to upgrade their secondary and they get a player with impressive upside in Porter For a team that had few long-term options at an important defensive position Porter immediately shores up the Silver and Black’s cornerback group According to Pro Football Focus, Porter was targeted 16 times and allowed only five receptions for 70 yards and did not allow a touchdown in coverage. The Raiders could be getting an elite cover corner with Porter did the Raiders land the steal of the draft It is hard to say with four rounds left to announce but General Manager John Spytek definitely found a diamond in the rough The Raiders have a few solid young corners in Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson but Porter may have a higher ceiling than both those players Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham loves smart cornerbacks He did not commit a penalty in 2024 for the Cyclones Spytek knows how important it is to defend the pass in today’s NFL so he got a player who should immediately upgrade the team’s secondary giving him length that will be bothersome for opposing wide receivers NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein compared Porter to Seattle Seahawks star Tariq Woolen, who was one of the top steals of the 2022 draft class. With similar traits, Porter could prove to be that for the Silver and Black The Raiders have done a nice job of improving the roster during Spytek’s first year as general manager, drafting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and TCU wide receiver Jack Bech Porter should add to this group of immediate contributors There are still plenty of players to be picked in this draft but the Raiders have done an impressive job thus far Don't forget to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr and never miss another breaking news story again Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE CARTER LANDIS Carter Landis studied journalism at Michigan State University where I graduated in May of 2022. He currently is a sports reporter for a local television station, and is a writer covering the Las Vegas Raiders Running back Ashton Jeanty on being drafted 6th overall General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll address the media to recap Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll on the draft process General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll address the media to announce Smith's contract extension Running back Raheem Mostert on signing with the Silver and Black Linebacker Elandon Roberts talks joining the Silver and Black defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and more Cornerback Eric Stokes on Head Coach Pete Carroll Safety Jeremy Chinn on signing with the Raiders Defensive end Malcolm Koonce talks re-signing with the Raiders Defensive end Maxx Crosby talks being a Raider and signing a multi-year contract extension with the Silver and Black Head Coach Pete Carroll on General Manager John Spytek General Manager John Spytek on the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine A 47-year-old Norwalk man set up a hidden video camera in the bathroom of a Darien business The police account described here includes accusations not proven in court: charged with four counts of voyeurism with malice 23 that the camera was discovered in a business’ bathroom An investigation revealed that the camera had been there since the day before Police did not say whether the establishment was a store or other business An investigation led police to arrest Eric Gaucher He wasn’t an employee of the business The camera contained videos showing unsuspecting people using the restroom along with a deleted segment that clearly identified the suspect With no faces shown of the unsuspecting victims police couldn’t identify any of them Police applied for and a judge approved an arrest warrant for Gaucher He is charged with four counts of voyerism with malice Gaucher turned himself in at Darien Police Headquarters He posted a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear April 21 in state Superior Court in Norwalk A Twitter List by TheDarienite Dog Licenses are available beginning June 1 and it will cost dog owners more if they don't get a new license by June 30 according to an announcement on the Darien government website a dog researcher and author of "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves," will share her knowledge and insights in a presentation at New Canaan Library on Thursday evening and it comes at a time when animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are overflowing with dogs of all breeds Journey below the surface of the ocean and experience life through the eyes of a sea turtle in the awe-inspiring “Turtle Odyssey 4D” now playing at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk along with “OCTOPUS: Blue Planet II 4D Experience.” (more…) Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News and wide-ranging professional education options Join us as we tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges Our world-class faculty and two research centers are at the forefront of social justice leadership and innovation Learn more about the countless opportunities to build connections and explore the many ways you can support the future of BUSSW Looking for media contacts or Marketing & Communications resources Darien Alexander Williams, PhD, an assistant professor of macro practice at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW), co-authored a historic amicus brief for the U.S Taylor that addresses whether public schools infringe upon parents’ religious freedoms by utilizing LGBTQ+ inclusive materials without opt-out provisions The brief was filed by Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) on behalf of eight organizations including Queer Muslims of Boston (QMOB) where Prof Williams serves as a lead organizer and stewarded the input process The brief’s filing marked the first instance of LGBTQ+ Muslim organizations coming together to present a unified stance at the Supreme Court Highlighting the nuanced experiences of queer Muslims the brief advocated for inclusive educational practices that respect both religious and LGBTQ+ identities In a press release from A4TE Williams said: “Our community is vast and includes so many ways of living and worshiping within its traditions … [Queer Muslims of Boston] affirms this in our work especially alongside peer Muslim organizations that build spaces that hold this complexity rather than shut it out.”    As a faculty member in BUSSW’s Macro Practice Department who teaches community organizing Williams’ participation in the amicus brief reflects a broader commitment to advocacy It’s also a prime example of the school’s mission to address complex societal issues through advocacy and scholarship and community organizer whose research centers on environmental and climate justice engaging Black and Muslim urban planning history View all posts Check out photos of all eleven of the Silver and Black's newest rookies With the 222nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Minnesota linebacker Cody Lindenberg With the 215th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller With the 213th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott With the 180th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues With the 135th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected South Carolina defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway With the 108th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Tennessee wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr View photos from Las Vegas Raiders 2025 first-round draft pick running back Ashton Jeanty's first day in Las Vegas With the 99th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected William & Mary tackle Charles Grant With the 98th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected Texas Tech offensive lineman Caleb Rogers With the 58th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders have selected TCU wide receiver Jack Bech Take a look at photos from the Las Vegas Raiders' 2025 Draft Party at KAOS Nightclub at The Palms Home News Highlights Best of AP — Second Winner AP documents radical migratory shifts under Trump’s administration in the Darien Gap jungle AP’s Megan Janetsky and Matías Delacroix have worked extensively to cover major shifts in migration under the Trump administration the duo traveled deep into some of Panama’s most rural regions to document a dramatic change in the Darien Gap — a once-overwhelmed migrant corridor that has now nearly emptied The transformation of this key transit point became the focus of a project combining strong reporting Delacroix proposed powerful before-and-after visuals showing the area under the pressure of mass migration and in its current AP’s Mexico and Central America correspondent used her contacts to gain access to Lajas Blancas a former migrant reception center closed to journalists for months Janetsky and Delacroix began interviewing the few remaining people and gathering visual material — just in time as Panamanian migration officials soon arrived and revoked their access arranging boat transport through rivers and jungle to reach remote communities affected by the collapse in migration-related commerce Their reporting captured the economic ripple effect of the sudden drop in migrant flows since Trump took office The final package featured Delacroix’s photos and video The duo also co-produced a social media explainer video especially the striking before-and-after visuals Megan Janetsky and Matías Delacroix are this week’s Best of AP — Second Winner Visit AP.org to request a trial subscription to AP’s video For breaking news, visit apnews.com Discover the best of AP content in every format Explore diverse topics through our world-class journalism and we've got you covered with in-depth scouting reports on all of the top prospects at every position in this year's class Here's everything you need to know about Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter heading into the 2025 draft: WeaknessesLike most corners with his physical profile as his long limbs make it tougher for him to get in and out of his breaks with instant quickness Shifter receivers will be able to challenge him on complex intermediate routes as he’s forced to play catch-up with his lower body movements in short areas lean frame makes it hard for Porter to get effective leverage as a run defender leading him to get blocked out of plays by the lower man Updated 2025 NFL Draft Rankings By Position A former track star and converted wide receiver Porter has physical traits you just can’t teach at the position and NFL defensive coordinators and defensive backs coaches will be clamoring to get their hands on a player with those tools and while he might never be the most complete player who can mirror quicker receivers on shorter routes he’s still growing into the position but he’s got the upside to be a star down the road with more than two decades of experience covering college football He is a regularly featured guest on ESPN Radio — The lineup for this year's Live Nation concert series at the Darien Lake Amphitheater has been unveiled Concertgoers also receive free admission to the park CLICK HERE to buy tickets or learn more which was expected as they spent plenty of money in free agency to address the defensive side of the ball the Raiders still have plenty of positions of need on the defensive side of the ball their defense should be one of the best in the league with Maxx Crosby on the defensive line They had stretches and games where they lived up to their potential there were times last season when their defense was flat out bad it doesn't excuse how they were playing at times Now that Pete Carroll is the head coach, there should be an increase in intensity across the board, but especially defensively. That's why, with their first pick in the third round, the Raiders decided to draft Darien Porter from Iowa State University Porter played his entire collegiate career with the Iowa State Cyclones and will not squander his opportunity to make an impact in the NFL In a press conference after day two of the NFL draft Porter was asked about his character and what he brings to the Raiders organization I'm a great athlete and a physical specimen I'm also a guy who works as hard as he can and has had to work for everything I played receiver in college and switched to corner they're getting a hard worker and someone who will do whatever it takes to succeed" Porter had 18 total tackles and defended against two passes; he also had three interceptions He's projected to be the backup left cornerback behind Eric Stokes but that can easily change throughout the course of a season Carroll will prioritize players with grit and intensity Make sure you follow on X (Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr and never miss another breaking news story again Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here drinking hot tea from an English tea set while snow falls outside and the smell of freshly baked apple cake fills the house it’s hard to imagine a more perfect afternoon “That’s the point of Pantry Hill,” says Darien “I want you to feel like you can stay all day.”   Pantry Hill is the name of Darien’s house in Greenfield an ever-evolving tribute to the Rozells’ way of life Because while Darien is indeed the creative force that transformed a 2016 spec house located 10 minutes from downtown Saratoga into a country-style home rich with character and family history her interior decorating skills are but a small piece of the Pantry Hill puzzle Darien isn’t just designing her dream house—she’s designing her dream life While big things are on the horizon for Pantry Hill in 2025 (more on that in a minute) when Darien and Eric moved from Boston back to the Saratoga area to be closer to family “My family and Eric’s family have both been in this area for 250 years,” Darien says “We wanted to give that rich history to our boys—that sense of place and belonging This is where we come from.” Darien points to a specific instance that illustrates what she’s talking about: When she was building her garden a major focal point of life at Pantry Hill who was able to give her gardening advice that she’d learned from her grandmother “so she was dealing with all the same things that I’m dealing with in the garden.” While Darien dreamed of finding a historic home to raise her family in it was ultimately a newer house on a hill—located a mile from where her grandfather grew up—that checked all of her and Eric’s boxes But Darien still craved the warmth and character of an older home “We lived in it for three years before we did anything,” she says of the home “I didn’t even hang a piece of wallpaper because I was like ‘What is this place?’ We wanted the property to talk to us.” which ultimately ended up informing some of their interior design choices: They turned what was previously a mud room into a prep kitchen where they could wash vegetables brought in from the garden and added a window that looks out at the garden gate The rest of the house has been somewhat of a group effort that Darien calls a “forever project.” In the main kitchen the doors of which were created by a neighbor Also during that time, Pantry Hill, the Instagram account, was born. Heeding advice to “stay in the game” from a mentor at her former digital media job and at the encouragement of a neighbor who was inspired by the life the Rozells were building, Darien created @pantryhill to share her family’s ongoing story when the whole world was staying home and focusing on their gardens She told herself that if she could grow her Instagram following to 10,000 by November of that year Throughout her rise to what some would call influencer status Darien has been very conscious of the dichotomy between her message—which focuses on themes of family and connection to nature—and the platform on which she shares it There’s something to be said about the very real connections that can be formed on social media but posting heirloom family recipes to tens of thousands of strangers on an app didn’t seem to Darien like the best way to honor her family’s legacy she started sharing them via a more intimate online newsletter where she also promotes her in-person pie workshops “My goal was for a subset of people who connect with the story to be able to come and experience it tangibly and learn something from me that is generational,” says Darien “It’s my great-grandmother’s pie crust recipe She raised her family on Hutchins Street in Saratoga Just to be able to share that with somebody and then to have them take that home and share that with their families is so cool to me That was a way to make the story a little bit more real.” Darien expected the workshops to bring in mainly local people—friends of friends she now has guests who travel in from out of state (Texas And while she loves being able to invite her followers to experience Pantry Hill in person prepping the whole house for a nine-person pie workshop turned out to be a ton of work.  “It takes five days to get this place looking like what you expect to see from my Instagram account,” she says “You’re seeing bits and pieces of it on my Instagram but you’re not getting out of your car and turning 360 degrees ‘Do not open any cabinet door because I literally shoved things in there.’” The fact that she has to hide her family’s stuff to give her guests the “Pantry Hill experience” they expect also began to weigh on Darien “It seems a little hypocritical because I’m posting about building this place for our family and then you come in and I’ve shoved things into closets so it looks like we don’t live here,” she continues in an effort to preserve her brand’s identity Darien and Eric commissioned an all-local team to build a custom 2,000-square-foot three-story timber frame barn to house Darien’s studio (yes there’ll be a kitchen in there for her pie-baking workshops) Eric’s dad’s workshop (he’s a retired contractor who’s been commissioned by his son and daughter-in-law to work on projects around the house) and Eric’s brother’s lavender distilling operation (he and his wife own a lavender farm in Wilton) is the project engineer; Eric’s childhood friend is a partner in Northern Builders the contracting company; and Tall Pine Timber Frames a company the couple heard about through friends which just so happens to have been sourced from the forest located behind Eric’s childhood home Darien and Eric invited their family and friends over for an old-fashioned barn-raising party the barn will not only ease the burden of maintaining a spotless house with three young boys but it will also give Darien more space for future creative endeavors—two of which are already in the works a YouTube show produced by Bright Sighted Media that was inspired by Darien’s daily ritual of sitting down with a cup of tea to catch up with friends and family It’s a tradition she grew up practicing with her mom and grandma and that she has since passed on to her boys “We want the show to feel the same as casually catching up with a friend over tea,” Darien says “It’s going to pull the curtain back a bit on Pantry Hill and provide a more candid look at how we’re tapping into the knowledge and skills of our ancestors and community as we continue to create home.” On the show Darien plans to cover seasonal celebrations as well as deeper conversations about the hows and whys of what they’re building and the general chaos of life with young kids so there is a veil over that,” Darien continues “What I’m hoping to do with this show is to give a little bit more insight into the relatability of it all but that’s how we’re getting all of those things done.” Afternoon Tea is scheduled to launch in May Also coming this spring is a literal afternoon tea—one Darien is producing in partnership with Saratoga Tea & Honey (though you can certainly drink it in the morning) Darien describes the Pantry Hill Blend as “a cozy cup of home with notes of maple Darien is heralding in a new era of Pantry Hill she’s largely refrained from monetizing her Instagram account despite being approached by several brands (She did agree to partner with Pottery Barn the brand her wedding registry was through.) “I didn’t want to tire out my followers by selling other people’s things,” she says “I needed to build this longevity and respect for the brand first.” And now that she’s built that trust she’s ready to start selling her own products but more Pantry Hill–branded products may soon follow For those looking to create their own version of what the Rozells have built at Pantry Hill Firstly: “You don’t have to be in the exact right place at the exact right time What do you want out of where you’re currently living Pull that into your every day.” And secondly: “You don’t have to have a legacy of 250 years—that legacy can start with you You can start building that feeling for your children and starting those traditions we follow a lot of the traditions and practices that my family has for generations And while the point of Pantry Hill is to share how her family is living intentionally by honoring the legacy of their ancestors and making their home and garden a priority Darien is under no illusion that what she’s doing is a one-size-fits-all formula for a happy life she shares her family’s story in the hope that others will use it to dive into their own version of comfort and happiness “It’s just thinking about what you value,” she says and what you value is being close to friends and family—your community And so that’s what you build your life around Darien seems to have her priorities straight: Welcome those interested in her story behind the scenes “I do love when my house looks exactly how I pictured it would,” she says “But my favorite version of our home is when it’s messy and chaotic and there’s family here and the kids are here That’s the happiest version of home.”   A 22-year-old woman who stole two Rolex watches from a home on Shady Acres Road was arrested on Feb including accusations not proven in court: charged with first-degree larceny in connection with the theft of two watches The victim told police that the Rolex’s are a Milgauss and a Sea-Dweller and they were stolen along with their boxes and paperwork An investigation found that the watches had been pawned at Pawn King in Stratford Police did not say whether the watches were recovered although the police news release said “evidence collection” and interviews were parts of the investigation according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website Police did not say why Recinos was in the home Police applied for and received an arrest warrant charging Shanti Recinos of Grandview Road in Fairfield with one count of first-degree larceny she turned herself in at Darien Police Headquarters early in the morning so she was sent that day to state Superior Court in Stamford where the bond was dropped and she was released Channel 4 News accompanied a group of migrants on a perilous journey across the Darien Gap – a 60-mile stretch of thick rainforest that separates Colombia from Panama The only land crossing between South and North America thousands of migrants braved the Darien Gap every day crossings are at their lowest level since records began 25 years ago