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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Latest Stories
‘OPB Politics Now': Kate Brown vetoing budget bills, Oregon GOP and the voter pamphlet deadline
We’re catching up on an assortment of Oregon politics this week. Gov. Kate Brown announced she will veto budget bills — but those vetoes might not be legal. The Oregon Republican Party will appear in your voter pamphlet after all — because nobody is quite sure what constitutes a deadline these days. And here in the home of vote by mail, some Oregonians may end up casting their ballots in person.
Gov. Kate Brown’s proposed vetoes could be illegal, legislative officials say
Brown has signaled an intention to block budget decisions lawmakers made last month, but some say she's overstepping her constitutional power.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announces vetoes to help fund wildfire response
With the vetoes, Brown will block more than $18 million in planned cuts to state agencies. She'll also snatch back $100 million legislators had earmarked for emergency spending on the pandemic.
Oregon leaders: Weather brings optimism even as wildfires rage
In a Monday briefing, Gov. Kate Brown and top fire officials said the state continues to make headway on dozens of fires. But they warned recovery will be slow.
Improving weather conditions put Oregon firefighters on ‘offense’
But Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon fire officials caution that there is a lot of work to be done in order to defeat 16 large fires throughout the state.
At Oregon State Fairgrounds, some worry about their homes. Others know they’re gone.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from towns east of Salem, as fire has torn through the Santiam Canyon.
Thousands evacuate, emergency declared as ‘unprecedented’ fires spread through state
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that some people fleeing fires in the Santiam Canyon needed to receive hospital treatment for burns.
Federal authorities signal a change in approach with new protest charges
Two cases revealed Wednesday mark the first federal charges related to recent protests in Portland that did not involve federal property or officials.
Oregon GOP fails to recall Gov. Kate Brown, again
Brown’s political staffers recently showed they were taking the effort seriously.
Oregon Gov. Brown announces plans for stepped-up policing in Portland
The plan includes more involvement from federal authorities, along with assistance from state and county agencies.