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.
In 2002, the Howard University (HU) graduate made history as the first female mayor of the city in addition to becoming the first black woman to be elected mayor of a major southern city. Under Franklinâs leadership Atlanta transformed from having one of the lowest percentages of âLeadership in Energy and Environmental Designâ-certified buildings to one of the highest.