After many years as the nation's top hospital for cardiology and heart surgery, Cleveland Clinic has fallen to No. 3 in that category, per the U.S. News and World Report's 2025 rankings.

Why it matters: The annual report, released today, is considered the gold standard in hospital rankings.

• U.S. News evaluated more than 4,000 hospitals across the country in over 30 medical and surgical services.

State of play: Cleveland Clinic once again made the U.S. News "Honor Roll," which recognizes the nation's top 20 hospitals overall in lieu of numbered rankings.

• It is deemed Ohio's best hospital and is Northeast Ohio's largest employer.

In ranked categories, the Clinic placed in the top 10 in numerous specialties, including No. 2 in rheumatology and No. 3 in gastroenterology.

• For decades, it was the country's premier facility for heart care.
• In the current ranking, both NYU Langone Hospitals and Mount Sinai Hospital leapfrogged the Clinic.

What they're saying: "Cleveland Clinic has been honored to be recognized as the nation's No. 1 hospital for heart care by U.S. News & World Report for 30 consecutive years," spokesperson Andrea Pacetti told Axios in a statement.

• "While this year our rating shifted, we are still proud to be ranked in the top 3 in the country for heart care and are deeply proud of our excellence in quality, innovation, research, and the dedication of our caregivers."

Flashback: The Clinic has multiple cardiovascular breakthroughs to its name, performing the world's first "stopped-heart" surgery in 1956 and pioneering the world's first minimally invasive heart valve surgery in 1996.

• In 2020, the Clinic successfully completed its 2,000th heart transplant.

Rip currents are the leading cause of lifeguard rescues, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and part of what can make Lake Erie dangerous at times.

Why it matters: These powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water, also known as "drowning machines," can pull you out into the deep before you even realize what's happening.

Zoom in: As recently as July 17, the National Weather Service in Cleveland issued a warning of dangerous swimming conditions due to a high risk of rip currents.

What they're saying: Talk to lifeguards before swimming to learn about current conditions and restrictions, U.S. Lifesaving Association vice president Tom Gill tells Axios.

If you find yourself in a rip current, per the Los Angeles County Fire Department that manages the coast's lifeguards, get out safely by:

1. Not panicking. A rip current won't pull you under — it pulls you away from shore.

2. Don't try to swim straight back to shore — you'll exhaust yourself fighting the current. Instead, float or tread water calmly and then swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current.

3. Once free, swim at an angle back to shore, away from the current's pull.

🇺🇸 Vice President JD Vance stopped by a Canton steel manufacturer Metallus yesterday to tout President Trump's "big, beautiful bill." (WKYC)

💸 The City of Cleveland settled a lawsuit filed by former Cleveland Community Police Commission head Jason Goodrick, agreeing to pay him $75,000 and give him a new job. (Fox 8)

🎰 Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is the second Cleveland pitcher to be put on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a MLB's investigation into sports betting. (ESPN)

🎒 Worthy of your time: Signal examines the outcome of Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Say Yes Cleveland scholarship program after six years.

The national bobblehead craze hit Progressive Field last week when the Guardians hosted "Superman Night."

State of play: The night included bobblehead giveaway, with several of the Man of Steel figures given to ticketholders going for big bucks on eBay the same night.

What they're saying: "We're seeing bobbleheads sell for hundreds — even thousands — of dollars" on the resale market, Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, tells Axios.

• "You can probably get a ticket for $50, but the bobblehead's going for $200," Sklar said. "Some people don't even stay for the game."

The big picture: Resale website StockX told Axios the Travis Scott x Houston Rockets bobblehead, which was given out in 2020, has fetched the highest average resale price of any bobblehead on the platform — $158.

• More recently, a coveted Pittsburgh Pirates "Mac Miller" bobblehead had multiple sales on the platform around $300 this week.

What's next: The Guardians recently announced a Tom Hamilton bobblehead giveaway for Aug. 16.

• The longtime Guardians broadcaster was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday.