Dirk VanderHart
JPR Oregon State Capitol CorrespondentDirk VanderHart covers Oregon politics and government for Oregon Public Broadcasting, a JPR news partner. His reporting comes to JPR through the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington. Before barging onto the radio in 2018, Dirk spent more than a decade as a newspaper reporter—much of that time reporting on city government for the Portland Mercury.
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A recent opinion by legislative attorneys suggested the longstanding rule is unconstitutional. -
A new revenue forecast suggests lawmakers have about $100 million more than they’d been planning for. -
The proposal to disconnect from some pieces of H.R 1 is likely to generate friction in the brand-new session. -
A proposal from one Democrat would ask voters to allow the state to keep some of the money that would otherwise flow to taxpayers. -
Labor groups say the politicians need to take a vote that would help the state budget – but functionally raise taxes. -
The state’s most powerful lawmakers said Wednesday they can’t preempt the vote as Gov. Tina Kotek requested. -
While the state has helped thousands of people out of homelessness, recent counts show the problem increasing in much of the state. -
The Department of Homeland Security said its agent shot at gang members in self-defense. Still, hundreds protested at Portland’s ICE facility, and hundreds more held a vigil at City Hall. -
The development comes after a Republican-led campaign delayed key tax increases in the bill. -
Many of the biggest political stories from 2025 are not going away. -
The proposals come after revelations that hundreds of possible noncitizens were registered to vote in error. -
Hundreds of bills passed in the first half of 2025 take effect New Year’s Day.
