Dirk VanderHart
Dirk VanderHart covers Oregon politics and government for OPB. Before barging onto the radio in 2018, he spent more than a decade as a newspaper reporter—much of that time reporting on city government for the Portland Mercury. He’s also had stints covering chicanery in Southwest Missouri, the wilds of Ohio in Ohio, and all things Texas on Capitol Hill.
Dirk’s byline has appeared in USA Today, The New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, The Columbus Dispatch, The Oregonian, and more. He’s got a journalism degree from Michigan State University.
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The announcement scuttles speculation Merkley was getting ready to end his congressional career.
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Gov. Tina Kotek is suggesting she’ll call lawmakers back to avoid steep cuts.
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In Oregon, the impacts of the legislation will be significant.
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It’s been nearly a week since Oregon Democrats’ road-funding hopes imploded, but the fallout from that failure is still hitting home.
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She says the state may begin layoffs in the coming week.
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The 2025 legislative session ended Friday evening at 11:15 p.m. after a marathon day packed with more drama and uncertainty than any session in recent memory.
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The party was scrambling Friday to come up with a modest alternative to its multi-billion dollar road funding bill.
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After tweaks that reduced its price tag, HB 2025 found at least one Republican supporter.
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An amendment unveiled Wednesday would scale back some proposed tax increases in House Bill 2025.
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A previous version of SB 916 failed in a surprising vote Tuesday.