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.
Send Dirk the best story ideas.
Latest Stories
Oregon’s voter registration errors stretch back further than DMV officials initially indicated
Data entry errors that allowed noncitizens to be registered to vote in Oregon go much further back than state officials previously acknowledged, a report issued by the Oregon Department of Transportation on Friday shows.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Oregon’s legislative session hits the midway point
Salem lawmakers are halfway through the 160-day legislative session.
Oregon GOP chair resigns after ‘deeply troubling’ revelations
Jerry Cummings, a Columbia County pastor, had only been the leader of the party since February.
As Oregon’s legislative session hits the midway point, plenty of big issues remain
Salem lawmakers have yet to tackle the biggest items — such as passing a budget and debating a major transportation package.
Oregon Democrats unveil ambitious road funding proposal. Now the haggling begins
A framework released Thursday includes a major gas tax hike, several entirely new taxes and a lot more.
Bill to end vote-by-mail slows Oregon legislative website to a crawl
The bill stands little chance of passing, but inspired a torrent of testimony that flooded the site Monday.
How Oregon’s laws on forcing mental health treatment could change this year
The state has wrestled for years with ordering civil commitments for people with severe mental illness. Here’s what you need to know.
Oregon transit agencies warn lawmakers of service cuts without a funding hike
They are lobbying for a five-fold increase to a tax paid by Oregon workers.
Oregon’s top elections official pans Trump order on voter registrations
Secretary of State Tobias Read, a Democrat, says the order would disenfranchise eligible voters without increasing security.
Oregon Senate OKs bill that might end twice-yearly time change
Senate Bill 1038 would tie Oregon's temporal fate to Washington and California.