Tales from the Morgue: Comic books corrupt spelling abilities

Johanna Eubank Arizona Daily Star

There are times for each of us when we wish for elves to help us in our work when we are sleeping or away. The Morgue Lady refers to the fabled elves who helped the poor shoemaker.

Tales from the Morgue: Gina Celaya's horrifying past

Johanna Eubank Arizona Daily Star

In 1994, Gina Celaya became the youngest person to be tried for murder in the first degree in Pima County. She was accused of killing Trinidad Lopez, 50, in December 1992, days after her 14th birthday.

Investigation of Stonewall Jackson's death

General Stonewall Jackson died May 10, 1863, in Caroline County, Va., 150 years ago Scholars have long questioned whether it was an infection or pneumonia that killed Jackson, who gained the nickname "Stonewall" early in the Civil war and wen…

Tales from the Morgue: A victim of the desert

Johanna Eubank Arizona Daily Star

Even now, the desert is not a friendly place for someone unprepared. Add illness or injury and a much longer travel time, and the desert can be deadly.

Photos: A look back at UA Commencement ceremonies

As students graduate with a combined sense of relief, accomplishment and fear of the future, they take part in commencement exercises that include illustrious speakers, cheers and a few shenanigans.

Photos: More work ahead in Alabama for Scottsboro Boys' pardons

Though the Alabama Legislature has cleared the way for posthumous pardons of the Scottsboro Boys, much work — from legal documents to public hearings — remains before the names of the nine black teens wrongly convicted more than 80 years ago …

Tales from the Morgue: Youthful criminals keep police busy

Johanna Eubank Arizona Daily Star

The Morgue Lady has been a bit hard to find lately, but she will attempt to revive this blog. Other duties have kept her away for a while.

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong: Dream A Little Dream Of Me

Dream A Little Dream Of Me(Kahn/Andree/Schwandt)

Happy birthday Ella Fitzgerald

Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald would be 96 years old today. Take a look back at her career.

Photos: Woodstock - Three days of peace and music

Folk rock icon Richie Havens died Monday after suffering heart attack at the age of 72. Havens was widely known as the impromptu opening act for the 1969 Woodstock Festival in upstate New York. What was to have been a 25 minute gig for Havens…

A history of violence in and from Chechnya

While the Boston Marathon bombing suspects probably weren't connected to Chechen militants, Chechnya does have a violent past, most notably in its dealings with Russia. NOTE: Some images are disturbing.

Arizona Daily Star eBooks

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Some “Tales from the Morgue” series are now available as eBooks along with some other Arizona Daily Star special sections. Click the links below the book covers to go to the pages on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com

Photos: April Fool's Day pranks and celebrations

April Fool's Day is a favorite of comedians and pranksters everywhere. Some just celebrate it by doing something zany, but many play tricks on the unsuspecting. Even Mother Nature has played a few tricks.

Tucson Memories: Supreme Cleaners explosion

Arizona Daily Star

Editor's note: This story about the Supreme Cleaners explosion in 1963 originally appeared in the book "Tucson Memories" by Bonnie Henry in 2006. Henry wrote stories about Tucson's past for more than two decades for the Star before retiring i…

A look back at Alcatraz

The last prisoner left Alcatraz March 21, 1963, 50 years ago. Here is a look back at the federal prison.

Miranda 50th anniversary

Ernesto Miranda was arrested March 13, 1963, in a case that led to the landmark self-incrimination case that reached the Supreme Court and resulted in Miranda Rights that law enforcement uses when arresting a suspect.

Old Tucson gunfighters reunion

Actors and stunt people from Old Tucson's storied past will gather on Saturday, March 16, to relive their glory days — days of getting shot, stomped and pushed off roofs. It’s the 50th anniversary of the theme park’s street shows, and 50 form…

Tales from the Morgue: Locked in at Biosphere II

Johanna Eubank, Arizona Daily Star

On Sept. 26, 1991, a grand experiment began. Eight people were locked in the giant terrarium, Biosphere II, to live without physical contact with the outside world for two years.

A look back at the early days of Biosphere II

More than 20 years ago, eight crew members went into Biosphere 2 for a two-year experiment. They emerged exactly two years later.

Stories from the first Fiesta de los Vaqueros

Tales from the Morgue presents some glimpses from the first Fiesta de Los Vaqueros in 1925.

Past 'Best Picture' Oscar winners

Take a look at some of the past Oscar winners for "Best Picture." Not represented here by a photo are: "The Broadway Melody," 1928-1929; "Grand Hotel," 1931/1932; "Cavalcade," 1932/1933; "The Great Ziegfeld," 1936; "The Life of Emile Zola," 1…

The AFI's 100 greatest love stories of all time

In honor of Valentine's Day, we present the American Film Institute's list of the greatest love stories. This list was compiled in 2002, so if you've swooned or wept over a new love story since, don't take it personally when you don't find it here.

Photos: In memory of brave explorers

The past week has marked the anniversaries of three NASA tragedies: Apollo 1, Space Shuttle Challenger and Space Shuttle Columbia. These men and women gave their lives in the pursuit of exploration.

Women in U.S. military service through the years

Women served and died on the nation's battlefields from the first. They were nurses and cooks, spies and couriers in the Revolutionary War. Some disguised themselves as men to fight for the Union or the Confederacy. Yet the U.S. military's of…

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A look back

A look at the career of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his fight for civil rights, peace and equality.