Baltimore City

Baltimore County had the second-highest graduation rate among large districts in the nation in 2010, according to a report released Thursday that has annually scrutinized graduates differently than most states, which also found that Baltimore City has drastically improved from being among the worst rates in the nation. The data was published in an annual report compiled by the trade publication “Education Week,” which analyzes high school completion data published by the U.S. Department of Education, and calculates rates based on a formula that seeks to capture how many students obtain a diploma in four years.

Baltimore, coming off six decades of population decline, grew by 1,100 residents in 12 months, according to government estimates released Thursday. "It's such amazing news. … It's huge psychologically," said Seema D. Iyer, a former research chief for the city's planning department now with the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute. For years, the U.S. Census Bureau's annual calculation delivered to the city disappointing news of a falling population, but now it seems to be turning around.

A city councilwoman is challenging Baltimore's plan to charge businesses some of the highest stormwater fees in the state - and divert some of the money that had gone to Chesapeake Bay cleanup to help fund property tax cuts. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke says the Rawlings-Blake administration's stormwater plan would create a financial hardship for many local businesses. And Clarke and environmental groups object to raising revenue intended for pollution abatement to help pay for property tax relief.

John R. Johnson Sr., who worked his way up from firefighter and paramedic to battalion chief in the Baltimore City Fire Department, died of renal failure Wednesday at Carroll County General Hospital. He was 64 and a lifelong resident of Baltimore. "He was well-known and respected throughout the department," said Sheri Luck, president of the Vulcan Blazers, an organization of local black firefighters that Mr. Johnson helped found. "He cared about the people who worked for him and was passionate about the mission of saving lives," said Ms. Luck, who is a firefighter/paramedic in the department.

The two flagship beers from Woodberry's Union Craft Brewing Company - Duckpin Pale Ale and Balt Altbier - will be sold in 12-ounce cans in Baltimore city retailers by Friday, according to co-founder Jon Zerivitz. The cans will be sold in other areas of Maryland and Washington in the next few weeks. The brewery recently acquired three new 60 barrel tanks, which increase its brewing capacity by 75 percent. The expansion explains why UCB can now sell its beer in cans, Zerivitz said.

Before Lauren Preston opened the cover of the book "Spring" to read to her pre-kindergarten class at Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School, her students excitedly told her why, and showed her how, the season was underway. Daffodils - not just "yellow flowers" - were appearing from beneath the soil, they said. Hyacinths were blooming, they demonstrated with the slow unfolding of their tiny fists. And butterflies were emerging, the students showed by flapping their curled arms. In pre-K classrooms around Baltimore's school system, subtle changes like interactive reading are having a substantial effect in helping prepare 4-year-olds for elementary school - addressing an achievement gap that city schools have faced for years.

It has been nearly three years since my predecessor, Cardinal Edwin O'Brien, and the Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools released the Strategic Plan for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Since that time, enrollment declines have been stemmed in many schools; innovative new programs such as our dual language and Montessori initiatives have kept our schools competitive; and systemic changes to the governance of our schools, renewed focus on school leadership - training of principals and development of local school boards, as well as system-wide accreditation - are ensuring Catholic schools remain an excellent value (average annual K-8 cost is approximately $5,000)

Send sports notices a minimum of two weeks before the requested publication date to Patuxent Publishing/MS Sports Notices, Third floor, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; e-mail tworgo@tribune.com . Include date, time, location, contact information and subsection. Competitive Towson Rec offers a winter break soccer camp, Dec. 20-31, for boys and girls ages 6-10. http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=nerrcholidaysoccercamp, 410.262.2418. Mountain Club The Mountain Club of Maryland conducts hikes, overnight and camping trips and maintains trails.

Most Baltimoreans would probably be surprised by the political wrangling in the City Council over a charter amendment requiring periodic audits of city agencies ("Bill to put ads on city fire trucks advances," May 31). They would probably be even more surprised by Councilwoman Helen Holton's assertion that some agencies haven't been audited in 40 years. But there's nothing at all surprising about MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake's assurances that everything is fine and that no changes to the audit procedure are needed.