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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The recall effort against longtime Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, could pit some of the state's most potent political forces against each other. -
A ballot measure passed last year was supposed to block 10 conservative lawmakers from running for reelection. They are planning to file anyway. -
In the 2024 election, Oregonians will decide how leaders are elected, what they're paid and whether they can be removed from office. -
Over the course of eight frantic days, the House and Senate rushed to pass hundreds of bills, most with little or no discussion. The tumult left some lawmakers with little positive to say when asked how they’d describe the session. -
Lawmakers had high hopes of finishing their work Saturday, but top Democrats were having trouble finding agreement on one of Gov. Tina Kotek's priorities. State law requires them to conclude their business by Sunday. -
Abortion access has declined dramatically nationwide, but many states have further protected abortion by enacting "shield laws," allocating funding, stockpiling medication and repealing old laws. -
The state is one of just two that prevents many drivers from fueling up. That would end under a bill headed to Gov. Tina Kotek. -
In a sign they're ready to acknowledge their last plan didn't work, legislative Democrats now insist quorum rules should change. -
After nearly 10 hours of negotiations over the weekend, top lawmakers arrived at a tentative framework for rescuing the 2023 session. Both sides stress a deal hasn't been made. -
One thing that is clear is that hope for an end to the five-week walkout has been rekindled in recent days partly because of a friendship between two lawmakers: Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, and Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland. -
Subpoenas show the U.S. Attorney's Office has demanded a wide range of documents from the state involving Fagan and the owners of the La Mota dispensary chain. -
UFCW Local 555 says it's well on its way to forcing a recall election on Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene. Senate Democrats have tried to intervene.
