What Axios Cleveland readers couldn't stop reading in 2025
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You let us know the stories that captivated you most in 2025 by what made you click.
Why it matters: We covered big news about the Browns' stadium, Mayor Justin Bibb's reelection and the "Superman" movie flying through downtown.
- Yes, but: None of those stories cracked the top 10 most-viewed stories on Axios Cleveland's website this year.
The intrigue: The top story from 2025 was Frank Lloyd Wright's last home being built near Cleveland.
- Apparently, there are a lot of architecture fans like Sam among our readers.
State of play: A new house designed by Wright, regarded by many as the most influential American architect, was completed in Willoughby Hills.
- The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house dubbed RiverRock is available for overnight rentals.
Second place: No. 2 was our coverage of Trump-ordered ICE raids impacting Northeast Ohio in January.
- President Trump's immigration crackdown was one of the biggest stories of the year nationwide.
Zoom in: More than 50 people in Northeast Ohio were detained by ICE at the Geauga County Safety Center.
- Among them were six employees at Cilantro Taqueria in Cleveland Heights.
- Bibb issued a statement condemning the raids, while saying local police would not enforce federal immigration law.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony may have taken place in Los Angeles, but the debate over who should get in was popular on Axios Cleveland.
The intrigue: Our third most-popular story focused on the Rock Hall's Mariah Carey problem.
- Troy's favorite diva was nominated for the second consecutive year but failed to earn induction.
Between the lines: She wasn't the only one. Our No. 4 story touted Phish's dominance of the annual Rock Hall Fan Vote.
- The Vermont jam band won the vote by a landslide, but became just the second winner of the annual poll to not earn induction.
State of play: Rounding out our top five was the end of the Cleveland Clinic's streak.
- After several years as the nation's top hospital for cardiology and heart surgery, the Clinic fell to No. 3 in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 rankings.
Yes, but: The medical center once again made the U.S. News "Honor Roll," recognizing the nation's top 20 hospitals overall, and was deemed Ohio's best hospital.
Nos. 6–10
Anti-Trump "No Kings" protests set for Cleveland, Northeast Ohio (June 12)
- More than a dozen protests took place around Northeast Ohio as part of nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations.
When and where to see fireworks in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio (July 3)
- You guys really, really like the Fourth of July.
DeWine appeals order to retrieve $900 million in pandemic aid (Feb. 21)
- Gov. Mike DeWine bewildered many when he appealed a Franklin County judge's order to restore $900 million in federal pandemic unemployment benefits to Ohioans.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame odds: 14 nominees' chances of induction (March 11)
- Troy went five out of seven in his early predictions for this year's Rock Hall class.
Ohio passes new congressional map ahead of 2026 election (Oct. 31)
- Ohio's redistricting drama ended with a rare moment of compromise.