On July 10, the area entered the history books when the mercury climbed to a blistering 134 degrees Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius) at Furnace Creek, California, breaking the record for the highest temperature ever recorded.
Carl Stokes, the first black mayor of a major American city: Black History Month. View full sizePlain Dealer file photoCarl Stokes, shown in 1968 in downtown Cleveland, focused many of his efforts as mayor on improving city services and helping Cleveland's poorest residents.
Malchester Reeves, seated, meets during his 1961 campaign for 15th Ward supervisor with campaign treasurer William Canedy, at left, and campaign manager Milton Fields, at right. Reeves, the first black elected to public office in the Syracuse area, died Wednesday. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Malchester Reeves got up early and went to bed late. He had a lot of life to live â there were three daily newspapers to read, fish to catch and four children and four grandchildren to keep tabs on.