A Central Florida father was sentenced Wednesday to 37 years in prison for his role in a 2023 car crash that killed a grandmother and three of her grandchildren — even though it was his 15-year-old son who was behind the wheel. Richard Seymour Ferguson, 69, was convicted last October on four counts of manslaughter…
On the 21st day of Black History Month, we proudly honor Thomas L. Jennings, a trailblazer whose ingenuity and courage left an indelible mark on American history. On March 3, 1821, Jennings became the first African American to receive a U.S. patent—an extraordinary achievement not only for its innovation but also for its timing. Jennings’…
On this 20th day of Black History Month, we proudly recognize Valerie L. Thomas (born 1943) — a pioneering NASA scientist, physicist, and inventor whose groundbreaking work helped shape modern imaging technology. A physicist by training, Thomas played a vital role at NASA, where she managed image-processing systems for the Landsat program, helping enable some of…
On this 19th day of Black History Month, we proudly celebrate Dr. Charles R. Drew — a pioneering surgeon, visionary medical researcher, and humanitarian whose work transformed modern medicine. Dr. Drew revolutionized the way blood plasma is processed, preserved, and stored, making transfusions safer, more efficient, and widely accessible. His innovations laid the foundation for modern…
This Black History Month, we spotlight Alice H. Parker, an African American inventor from New Jersey whose groundbreaking 1919 patent helped reshape the future of indoor heating. While hers was not the first furnace ever created, Parker’s invention marked one of the earliest gas-powered central heating systems — a bold step away from inefficient fireplaces…
The Savannah community is mourning the loss of Linda Davis, a beloved special education teacher who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Monday morning during what authorities say began as a federal immigration-related traffic stop. According to the Chatham County Police Department, officers responded around 7:45 a.m. to a collision at Whitefield Avenue and Truman Parkway in Savannah….
Investigators believe a 39-year-old mother of four died in a tragic accident after falling into a trash compactor at a Brooklyn housing complex earlier this month, police said Friday. Michelle Montgomery, who lived with her partner and their four children, was discovered Feb. 1 inside a trash compactor area at the Borinquen Plaza public housing complex in…
Today, we honor the life and legacy of John Albert Burr (1848–1926), an African American inventor whose innovation helped shape the modern lawn mower and transform everyday lawn care. Born in Maryland to formerly enslaved parents, John T. and Anna Wanger Burr, young Burr came of age during the Civil War era. As a teenager,…
This Black History Month, we celebrate Marjorie Joyner — a trailblazing businesswoman, educator, inventor, philanthropist, and activist whose innovation transformed the beauty industry. Joyner is best known as the inventor of the permanent hair-wave machine, a device used by people with both curly and straight hair to create long-lasting styles. In 1928, she became one…
On this day of Black History Month, we proudly spotlight Engineer Henry T. Sampson — a groundbreaking nuclear engineer, inventor, and trailblazer whose scientific achievements helped shape modern technology. Early Life & Education Born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1934, Dr. Sampson began his academic journey at Morehouse College before transferring to Purdue University, where he earned his Bachelor…
