Past Contributions

• 31 Days, 31 Ways: Revisiting a Month's Worth of Changes

  By KK Rebecca Lai Sept. 3, 2013

  Throughout August, The Texas Tribune featured 31 ways Texans' lives would change come September, the month most bills passed by the 83rd Legislature take effect. Take a look back at our stories, videos, animations and data interactives. Full Story 

• New Law Protects Bison Alongside Cows, Llamas

  By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal, and KK Rebecca Lai, The Texas Tribune Aug. 27, 2013

  Texans can now rest assured that their bison are protected under the state's agriculture code if they wander off their property. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• New Education Training to Promote Mental Health Intervention in Schools

  By Alexa Ura and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 19, 2013

  Under new training requirements, teachers, administrators and staff will undergo mental health intervention training intended to inform educators about recognizing mental and emotional disorders. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• Some Worry New DNA Law Will Create Delays

  By Brandi Grissom and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 18, 2013

  Lawmakers this year approved a bill requiring DNA testing in death penalty cases. Some prosecutors worry more testing could simply delay a guilty defendant’s inevitable conviction. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• State Board of Education Will No Longer Approve Charter Applicants

  By Morgan Smith and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 15, 2013

  For the first time since the charter school system was created in 1995, the state education board will no longer play a central role in determining which charter schools get approved. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• More Hospitals to Collect Sexual Assault Evidence

  By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News, and KK Rebecca Lai, The Texas Tribune Aug. 13, 2013

  All Texas hospitals with emergency rooms will soon be required to have staff trained in at least basic collection of forensic evidence from sexual assault victims. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• Dental Board's Review Process Gets Makeover

  By Ian Floyd and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 7, 2013

  After hearing critics take aim at the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, legislators approved new regulations that they hope will improve the board's efficiency. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• Proxy Marriage Limits End Inmate Weddings

  By Elizabeth Koh and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 6, 2013

  A new constraint on proxy marriage in Texas — a measure intended to prevent fraud — will have a secondary effect: It will end prison inmates' ability to tie the knot. This story is part of our month-long 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• 31 Days, 31 Ways: How the 83rd Legislature Will Affect Texans' Lives

  By Brandi Grissom, Travis Swicegood and KK Rebecca Lai Aug. 1, 2013

  Every day this month, the Tribune will reveal a new way that the laws and budget lawmakers passed in the 83rd legislative session will affect Texans' lives come Sept. 1. See the latest stories published or use our interactive calendar for an overview. Full Story 

• Scenes from Day One of the Second Special Session

  By KK Rebecca Lai July 1, 2013

  As thousands descended on the Capitol for the opening day of the second special session, they snapped a lot of photos. Here is an unfiltered stream of Instagram pics location-tagged in and around the Capitol building. Full Story