**FILE** Violet Ball-Lee holds a portrait of her son, Antwaun Ball, at her D.C. home in 2008. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Kaya Henderson was named permanent chancellor of D.C. Schools, despite the absence of a national search to replace Michelle A. Rhee. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)
**FILE** D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
**FILE** Kwame R. Brown. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown wants a pro-bono adviser to help the council with upcoming budget challenges. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)
FOCUSED: New D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown says the governing body won't be just a rubber stamp. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)
New D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown says he is "all in" when it comes to policies designed to improve a child's academic lot in public school. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Special to The Washington Times)
D.C. Council member Yvette Alexander of Ward 7 says "no way" her constituent office's phone bill was more than $5,000 in arrears to Verizon. (Rod Lamkey Jr. for The Washington Times)
