The Morning Call Podcast

Everyone speaks of Jillian Massey's legacy as one to carry on. The 5-year-old died this month after an 18-month battle with brain cancer, but this holiday season, pediatric cancer patients at hospitals in the Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley region will feel her presence among the 24,633 toys her Sassy Massey Toy Drive collected for them. Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with a reporter who has covered Jillian's journey, and Jillian's mother, Janelle Massey, at a rally held in Jillian's honor Dec. 18.

Discussions with two Morning Call court reporters and a local forensic detective on what it's like to be the ones who sort through digital evidence of crimes like child pornography and gruesome murder -- often horrifying images and videos only partly shown when these cases go to trial. Warning: Parts of this podcast include descriptions of graphic content. Music is from Paul Lawler, Martin Gratton and Lee Rosevere Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Here's a question our newsroom has been asking in light of the very public sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood and in Washington: How might this reckoning change the dynamic among coworkers, especially since studies show that one out of three of them have dated someone they met at work? In this episode, host Kayla Dwyer talks with a Bill and Jane White, a couple who met at The Morning Call and have been married for 36 years, and Tim Darragh, who reported on a story on this question. Music is by Timothy Whitelaw and George Beck. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

In the two months since Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico, tens of thousands have come to the U.S. seeking refuge -- many, with children, whose schools in the U.S. territory remain closed. Schools in the Lehigh Valley have taken in hundreds of children fleeing the damage -- more than 230 have enrolled in the Allentown School district and nearly 100 in the Bethlehem school district. (Numbers presented in this podcast are up to date as of Friday, Dec. 1.) Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with local teachers and The Morning Call's education reporter about the impact this has had on Lehigh Valley classrooms. Music is by Martin Gratton, Gavin Skinner and George Beck. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

For a special Thanksgiving-themed episode, host Kayla Dwyer looks at the relationships between the Moravians -- Protestants who settled in Bethlehem in 1741 -- and the local Native Americans throughout the 18th century, through the lens of their diaries and letters. Her guides through these records include Paul Peucker of the Moravian Archives; Katherine Faull, professor of German studies at Bucknell University; and Madeline Morris from Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites. Music in this episode is by Paul Lawler. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley.

This year in Allentown, there have been 17 homicides, 15 of which were gun deaths -- a record for the city. Host Kayla Dwyer dissects a reporter's experience covering these homicides; in particular, the recent death of 19-year-old Parris Lane. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Music this week is by Marton Gratton, Paul Lawler and Thomas Brown.

Host Kayla Dwyer talks to reporters and editors in the newsroom about this week's elections: how we covered them, how Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski won a fourth term despite federal corruption charges pending, and how the Lehigh Valley fits into the national scene in terms of municipal and statewide election turnover. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley. Music in this episode is by Matthew O’Connor, Huw Jones and Sam Brown.

The warehouse industry in the Lehigh Valley -- fulfillment centers, logistics, transportation -- has exploded over the past five years as major e-commerce companies have planted operations here. But the industry is nearing the ceiling in terms of available land and available workers. On the bright side, there's an untapped workforce of ex-inmates that the state department of corrections is molding into skilled workers for hire. Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with business reporter Jon Harris and cops reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder about the growing pains of this market and how adults with criminal records may fill in some gaps. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Special thanks to our sponsor, the Lehigh Center for Clinical Research.

For a special Halloween episode, we take a trip into Pennsylvania's colonial past, which had a brief brush with accusations of witchcraft. Listen to excerpts from a reenactment of the 1684 trial of Margaret Mattson, the Witch of Ridley Creek -- Pennsylvania's only witch trial -- put on by local actors at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. Plus, host Kayla Dwyer discusses this hysteria with two experts on the Salem Witch Trials, which took place eight years after Mattson's trial. Music for this episode is by Christian Lloyd and Martin Gratton. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Special thanks to our sponsor, the Lehigh Center for Clinical Research.

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley has gained national prestige as a favorite prospect for the Heisman trophy. But to the Lehigh Valley, he's a local hero, known to the community as a humble and selfless teammate from Whitehall-Coplay. Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with The Morning Call's Penn State reporter, Mark Wogenrich, and Barkley's former high school football coach, Brian Gilbert, about Barkley's success and his roots. Music in this episode was written and produced by Matt Freiler, a junior at Penn State. This podcast is brought to you by the Lehigh Center for Clinical Research, conducting research of potential new treatment for Migraines, Memory Loss, Social Anxiety and Depression. Call 610-820-0342 or visit lehighcenter.com for current studies. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley.

In light of breast cancer awareness month, host Kayla Dwyer speaks with participants in the 25th annual Women's 5K Classic in Allentown, a race that raises money for research on cancers affecting women. Four women share stories of their journeys with breast cancer and what the race means to them and their community. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley.

The City of Allentown is just weeks away from selecting its next mayor. Host Kayla Dwyer talks with Christopher Borick, Muhlenberg College professor and pollster, and Emily Opilo, The Morning Call's Allentown city hall reporter, about the results of a recent poll gauging voter opinion on the candidates, including incumbent Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who has recently been charged with 54 criminal counts in a public corruption scandal. Valley View is a production of The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

McCrae Williams, 19, had just begun his freshman year at Lafayette College in Easton, when his life was cut tragically short on Monday, September 11, 2017. While his community mourned, the events leading up to his death were largely unknown to most for more than a week. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli then released an approximate timeline detailing what his office believes happened to Williams. Host Kayla Dwyer speaks with reporters and editors at The Morning Call in a behind-the-scenes look at how the story unfolded in the newsroom and the key ethical questions they had to address along the way. Valley View is The Morning Call’s general news podcast, serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

Host Kayla Dwyer and Morning Call visual editor Craig Larimer tour the Downtown Allentown Beer Festival on Saturday, September 9, talking to local brewers about their craft and tasting beers along the way. Music at the end of this episode is by local band Tavern Tan. Valley View is The Morning Call’s general news podcast, serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

It's not often you get to hear an insider's secrets to carnival barking and haybale throwing. Host Kayla Dwyer chats with Laurie Mason Schroeder -- by day, The Morning Call's cops and courts reporter, but during the Allentown Fair, the Mason on the Midway columnist -- about her take on these two arts. Valley View is The Morning Call’s general news podcast, serving the Lehigh Valley and beyond.