🎃 This spot’s a Halloween must—if you dare

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Ever wondered why some places just feel haunted? Turns out a grisly accident can leave more than skid marks 👻🚂

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Cleveland’s most notorious ghost story sits in a rusty, dusty train-lover’s paradise that is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. 

Welcome to the Midwest Railway Preservation Society — where romance for another time and dreams of bringing it back to life reside. 

Located at the bottom of Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, the not-for-profit organization rehabs train cars that were left for dead. 

Just don’t call it a graveyard of trains.

It boasts a circa-1907 Historic B & O Roundhouse – one of three of its kind still functioning in Ohio and 15 in the country — and 28 hulks from a long-gone time.

There’s a rare 1918 Light Mikado locomotive and cars that Robert Redford rode in “The Natural” and President Jimmy Carter rode to a golden era of trains.

It’s  also home to the notorious train that was involved in one of the most grisly in American transportation: "The Death Car." 

In 1943, the Nickel Plate Railroad 62 was heading 80 mph westward through New York toward Buffalo when it collided into a freight train. The conductor hit the brakes and couldn’t stop the accident, which derailed five cars and damaged its steam engine – which proceeded to emit scalding-hot steam into the car.

It claimed the lives of 29 passengers, but the car was left unscathed. 

The car has attracted paranormal investigators from around the country and is a magnet for ghost hunters this time of year. Tours are available on Saturdays. Info.

Lakewood resident William Saki thought it would be cool to get ‘GAY’ vanity plates. Not cool, according to the Ohio BMV — which rejected his application as “Inappropriate.”

So he applied for “QUEER”, then “HOMO”… also “Inappropriate.”

No more. 

The BMV agreed to loosen restriction on personalized license plates after U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster ruled that such restrictions are unconstitutional.

The agreement follows lawsuits by Saki and Cyrus Magdavi, a Strongsville resident who tried to use “MUSLIM” on his plates.

On Sept. 9, they filed a joint suit in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio alleging the BMV violated free speech and equal protection under the law.

The suit alleged that plates reading, “NO GAYS”, “STR8”, “ATHEIST”, “BAPTIST” and “SIKH” were listed as available.

The BMV agreed to revise its policy on vanity plates and unlock 62,000 “inappropriate” words as long as they are not “offensive, disparaging or socially insensitive.”

The Federal Reserve will issue its decree on interest rates today — and it will have implications for Cleveland house hunters.

Economists expect the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points three times this year, which could stimulate a housing market that has stagnated this year. 

“If the Fed cuts rates by 25 basis points — and follows with another cut — mortgage rates could gradually decline in response, though not always immediately or directly,” says Emerson Lindsley, of Conrad Mortgage in Strongsville. 

“For homebuyers, even a half-point drop in mortgage rates can significantly boost affordability,” he adds. “For example, on a $400,000 loan, that could reduce monthly payments by over $100, making it easier for more people to qualify for a loan or afford a more expensive home.”

Further cuts could bring more buyers into the market, says Dave Sharkey, president of Cleveland-based Progressive Urban Real Estate. “But it could also increase competition for the still limited supply and drive up prices, depending on what market they are looking in,” he adds.

W.I.T.C.H.: The Zambian band led the Afro-rock movement in the 1970s. It’s now hailed as one of rock’s pioneers — and it’s back, with two albums since 2023 and a tour that brings it to the Beachland Ballroom. 7 tonight. Info.

Superchunk: In the ‘90s, Superchunk mainlined punk into indie-rock. At tonight, the North Carolinians hits the Grog Shop. Info. 

10x3: Brent Kirby’s showcase of 10 songwriters each playing three songs takes the Bop Stop at 7 tonight. Info.

Cro-Mags: The NYC band that pioneered the fusion of hardcore with trash metal hits the Grog Shop. 7 p.m. Thursday. Info.

Marky Ramone: Hey, ho, let’s go. The former Ramones drummer will perform songs by the punk’s founding fathers in the Beachland Ballroom. 7 p.m. Thursday. Info. 

Bob Marley: The irreverent comedian known for observational humor and having his name in Guinness Book of World Records with the longest continuous stand-up routine. At 7 tonight, he hits Hilarities for the first of four shows through Sunday. Info. 

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Spacious kitchen. Secluded yard. Cathedral ceilings. Many things define ‘dream home.’ 

A custom-built, 7,396-square-foot home in Gates Mills that just hit the market says, ‘Hold my beer.’

Yes, it comes with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms, and a three-car garage.

But a Guinness guzzler will raise a pint, or 12, when they see that it also boasts an Irish Pub in the basement. And if they buy the house, they might never leave. 

Designed to mirror the 'hearty and festive pubs of Ireland', it features wood reclaimed from old barns for the floors and rough-hewn ceiling beams, spans 1,800 square feet.

It also accommodates 100 — so round em up and pool your money to buy it: $1,599,999. Here’s the listing.

Browns quarterback Brian Sipe lead the Kardiac Kids to a 30-24 overtime win against the Chargers on Sept. 25, 1983 in San Diego. The team had a winning record (9-7) that year, but didn’t make the playoffs.

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77 °F 🌡️ 61 °F | 🌤️ | 1% | 💨 WNW 8 mph (≈ 7 knots)

79 °F 🌡️ 63 °F | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 WNW 6 mph (≈ 5 knots)

76 °F 🌡️ 60 °F | ☀️ / 🌤️ | 2% | 💨 NNE 8 mph (≈ 7 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Home vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00pm September 21 (Sunday)

Away vs. Tigers, 6:40pm Wednesday

Away vs. Tigers, 1:10pm Thursday

Away vs. Twins, 8:10pm Friday

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