Jeani Garcia can tell you where and when all 49 names on her t-shirt died due to violence in Allentown.
As violence has gripped the streets in this particularly bloody summer, we turned to the mothers to see how they're helping each other, remembering their children and putting pressure on community leaders to act.
Plus, Morning Call reporter Michelle Merlin tells us the circuitous route she took to try to figure out where a mother who suspects her child is involved in a gang can seek help.
The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

What the mothers have to say about Allentown's violence spree

When mass shootings occur, most eyes turn to Capitol Hill, where the same dead-end discussions about gun policy churn, at times with a slightly different spin.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, close to a million people flocked, as they have for 36 years now, to Musikfest, a sprawling free music festival.
After a weekend of deadly mass shootings, we explore two questions: How does Bethlehem keep Musikfest safe, and what has kept politicians from landing on successful legislation in response to these events?
Guests include Morning Call reporters Laura Olson and Pamela Lehman.

The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

In response to mass shootings and threats, Musikfest beefs up and politicians gridlock

LISTEN: The frantic initial emergency dispatches when shooting erupted around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Nicetown neighborhood of Philadelphia, during which six police officers were hurt. The armed suspect surrendered after a nearly eight-hour standoff.
Audio from Philadelphia Police Dispatch - Northwest via Broadcastify

LISTEN: Frantic emergency dispatches for Philadelphia shooting that wounded six officers

Morning Call Podcast host Kayla Dwyer has been invited back to the Great Allentown Fair Grape Stomp being held Sunday, Sept. 1, at 3:15 p.m. on Centennial Stage in Ag Hall.
For this occasion, we're replaying an old favorite.
You might think you know all there is to know about grape stomping -- it's something our ancestors did to make wine, and it lives on as a cultural spectacle at harvest festivals.
But that's not the full story.
This episode answers some key questions: Is it sanitary? Why grape stomp with feet at all, when wine presses have been around for thousands of years? Are there any wineries that still do it and then sell that wine?
Special guests include Michela Centinari, an assistant professor of viticulture, and Molly Kelly, an enology educator, both at the Penn State Extension.

The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

What's the deal with grape stomping?

The scene was catastrophic. The circumstances were tragic. But most of all, they were puzzling.
Why would a 26-year-old man decide to detonate a car bomb to kill himself, a male passenger and his 2-year-old child?
One year after the car explosion that rocked center city Allentown on a Saturday night in September, a team of Morning Call reporters spoke to the families of the victims -- Jacob and J.J. Schmoyer, and David Hallman -- and to federal agents. We know much more about the events leading up to Schmoyer's final act.
Guests include Morning Call reporters Laurie Mason Schroeder and Manny Gamiz.

The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

Allentown car explosion, one year later: What we've learned

Almost a year ago, the Allentown diocese, along with five other catholic dioceses in the state, announced they would set up compensation funds for the victims of sexual abuse by priests in the wake of the scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report.
Officials said they’d pay for it by tapping available resources and selling diocese assets. Much of those assets include hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate, mostly untouched.
Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with investigative reporter Emily Opilo about how she cataloged the diocese's holdings, why this matters outside of the victim's compensation fund, and what diocese leaders take issue with.

The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

The Allentown diocese, the victim's compensation fund and $323 million of real estate

More than 300 actors, 22 makeup artists, seven haunted weekends.
We went behind the scenes and into the "Crypt" where Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt gets made - scab blood, silicone prosthetics and all.

The Haunt's final weekend runs Nov. 1-2.

The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

Behind the scenes: The making of Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt

An FBI agent's advice on how you can spot credit card skimmers, which can upload your personal information to the dark web with one swipe -- sometimes even more easily than that.
This, according to investigators, is one of the biggest holiday cyber threats to consumers.

Advice from the FBI: How to avoid credit card skimmers

The opioid crisis seemed to take center stage in 2018. Officials held press conference after press conference, declared disaster declaration after declaration, handed out Narcan; the media produced special packages and profiles on the epidemic.
What has happened since then?
Turns out, quite a bit has changed, and quite a few new problems may be on the horizon.
We brought together four experts to discuss. This is our breakdown of that conversation.
READ: https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-opioid-roundtable-follow-up-one-year-later-20191201-cphsofs5ajajtn5r7ej35jmwkm-story.html

One year later: Where are we at in the opioid crisis?

Downtown Allentown looks a world different than it did less than a decade ago.
When former City Hall reporter Emily Opilo started at The Morning Call 7 years ago, the PPL arena was a giant hole in the ground.
Has the more than $1 billion of investment and decade of redevelopment made a difference in people's perceptions of Allentown and their desire to spend time downtown? 
The Morning Call conducted a scientific poll on the matter with Muhlenberg College, and The Morning Call Academy students unscientifically polled people on their lunch hour on Hamilton Street to find out.
The Morning Call Podcast is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Kayla Dwyer is the host and producer.

Has a billion dollars of development changed the way people view Allentown?

Voice actress Lara Jill Miller recorded this COVID-19 safety PSA for the Allentown Health Bureau.

Allentown voice actress records COVID-19 PSA for Health Bureau (1)

Allentown voice actress records COVID-19 PSA for Health Bureau (2)

The Morning Call podcast dissects the top news stories from the Lehigh Valley and beyond, talking to reporters and sources about what went on behind the scenes and between the lines as stories unfolded. Further, we delve into the impact of these stories on our community.

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