Lauren Dake
Lauren Dake is a political reporter and producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Before OPB, Lauren spent nearly a decade working as a print reporter. She’s covered politics and rural issues in Oregon and Washington. She’s spent time in a maximum-security prison in Bogota, Colombia (for a story!) and sat in a sweat lodge on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
Send Lauren the best story ideas.
Latest Stories
Oregon Legislature adjourns 2025 session as Democrats’ transportation plans stumble
State lawmakers didn't pass a signature transportation package but they did tackle other topics.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Salem drama reaches fever pitch as sine die looms
The end of Oregon's 2025 legislative is nearing.
Oregon Senate overrides Gov. Kotek veto, while governor sees priority child welfare legislation die
In a rare legislative move Wednesday, the state Senate voted to override one of Gov. Tina Kotek’s vetoes and re-approve a measure aiming to protect the rights of children placed in the state’s custody.
Oregon state lawmakers approve budget bill to help stem public defense crisis
The latest budget is a signal from state lawmakers that they want to ensure the current dollars are being spent wisely.
Oregon lawmakers approve measure to help pay for wildfire prevention
The measure, House Bill 3940, would tax oral nicotine products and tap the interest on Oregon’s rainy day savings account and put the money toward wildfire mitigation.
Oregon lawmakers approve measure to limit National Guard deployment by the federal government
The bill, which passed 32-16, comes as the Trump administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles is playing out in the courts.
Marion County DA says complaints at Oregon youth facility are ‘overwhelming’; convenes grand jury to investigate
In the past several months, there have been several allegations of misconduct at Oregon Youth Authority and a handful of civil lawsuits filed. The allegations gained momentum after revelations that a backlog of complaints existed at the youth authority.
Oregon state lawmakers recently passed a bill blocking their personal addresses
In a sign of mounting concerns about political violence, Oregon state lawmakers recently passed a bill blocking their personal addresses — hours before a Minnesota lawmaker was shot and killed in her home.
Former Oregon foster youth sent out of state worries about bill to revive that practice
She was a foster kid sent out of state. Now, she reflects on lawmakers changing the law to allow other children to be sent across state lines.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Oregon legislative session is almost over — what have they done?
Oregon lawmakers have just a few weeks to go in the 2025 legislative session.
