The Power Rankings from Signal Cleveland are a weekly roundup of the people, places and things wielding their power, for better or worse, in Greater Cleveland.
Press the arrows for more insights into this week’s rankings.
Bus-ness deal
The theater district purchased the nearby Greyhound station and vows to preserve the historic building. That includes interrupting shows with garbled P.A. announcements about the bus to Wapakoneta leaving in 20 minutes.
True team player
The Browns’ star running back agreed to a team-friendly contract restructuring while recovering from knee injury. Deshaun Watson is probably asking if the savings can be used to pay his guaranteed deal off a little faster.
Bringing the heat
Cleveland joined other Ohio cities in suing the state legislature for blocking their efforts to regulate tobacco sales locally. Legislators are busy still messing with the recreational weed law that voters passed in November.
We say it with love
FAN EXPO brings stars from “The Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter” and other franchises to town for autographs and selfies. Rumor has it that Jimmy Haslam will be there cosplaying as Scrooge McDuck.
Making herself at home
The infant gorilla born in Texas is thriving at the Cleveland Zoo. Best sign so far that she’s been accepted: adoptive older and slightly jealous brother Kayembe is threatening to run away and live with lemurs.
Ice, ice baby
The American Hockey League team secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2019. It’s a great time for local sports fans, with the Cavs still battling for a post-season position, the Guards off to a strong start and the Browns not playing at all.
Lorain campaign
The transit agency won a federal grant to study improvements and development along the Lorain Avenue corridor. Welcome news after some parking garages charged $80 on eclipse day. (We wish that were a joke.)
Regional Income Tax Authoritarians
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for the agency that even the IRS fears.
Don’t throw them away!
Drop them off at one of the many collection sites around the county and Astronomers Without Borders will recycle them.
Blockin’ out the scenery
The Planning Commission approved the restaurateur’s plans to build a 150-foot-tall digital billboard atop a Flats building. Hearing the news, Tim Misny rises slowly from his chair, spreads his arms, looks up and bellows, “My head will be visible from spaaaaace!”