At arts school, auditions replace exams

The Baltimore School for the Arts isn't just any public high school. The institution prepares its students for careers in the arts, and fewer than 9 percent of the 1,323 kids seeking admission will win a coveted spot in next year's freshman class. Acceptance and rejection letters began going out last week to the anxiously waiting, middle-school hopefuls. It takes a long time to hand-sign that many letters, so some youngsters might not receive notification until the middle of March.

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  Pictures: Securing their star

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  From the Archives: Baltimore School for the Arts leader to depart at end of school year

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  From the Archives: Baltimore School for the Arts sophomore on 'The Good Wife'

Baltimore's police commissioner is demanding a review of the decades-old practice of granting exclusive rights to the city's multimillion-dollar towing business to a small circle of companies without requiring them to compete for contracts. Other city officials are also calling for a closer look at the towing system— just days before the contract was scheduled for a two-year renewal.

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  Video: Ripple effect of towing scandal feared

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  Towing corruption investigation expands

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  Arrest of officers causes reshuffling, concerns

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  Few systemic corruption cases made against cops