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 state lawmakers delay gathering for 2021 legislative session, brace for armed protests
Oregon state lawmakers are preparing for the possibility of another armed protest at the Capitol in Salem and will delay gathering in-person on the first day of the 2021 legislative session.
Oregon US Rep. Kurt Schrader apologizes after likening second possible Trump impeachment to ‘lynching’
U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, considered the most moderate Democrat in Oregon’ congressional delegation, reportedly told his colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus on Friday that he was against impeaching President Donald Trump for inciting the mob that broke into the U.S. Capitol. Then Schrader likened the attempt to remove Trump to a “lynching,” according to reports from ABC News.
Kayse Jama, community organizer and Somali immigrant, nominated to Oregon Senate
Commissioners from Multnomah and Clackamas counties selected Kayse Jama to fill the seat being vacated by Shemia Fagan, who has been sworn in as the next Oregon secretary of state.
Gov. Kate Brown will ease COVID-19 related restrictions placed on schools, urges more to reopen in February
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is easing the statewide restrictions placed on school districts with the goal of seeing more students return to in-person instruction by February; the governor’s latest announcement comes despite a continued surge in the number of people being diagnosed with the coronavirus in the state.
‘OPB Politics Now’: A special session wrap up and Capitol security concerns
The Oregon legislature met in a special one-day session this week. On paper, it was a remarkably smooth day of lawmaking. But in person, it said some worrisome things about what 2021 could bring.
Oregon lawmakers offer relief for renters, restaurants as protesters vandalize Capitol
In a one-day special session, the Legislature also passed bills to help school districts reopen and increase spending on battling COVID-19.
Far-right protesters disrupt Oregon Legislature special session
Oregon State Police declared on unlawful assembly at the State Capitol Monday as a group of far-right protesters led by Patriot Prayer attempted to storm the building.
‘OPB Politics Now’: New year, new pandemic protections?
The new year is coming, and with it a lot of potential pain for renters, landlords, business owners, and pretty much everyone.
Most Oregon counties remain in ‘extreme risk’ categories for spreading COVID-19
Most Oregon counties are currently at “extreme risk” for the spread of COVID-19 and will continue to see ongoing restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Lawmakers remain cagey about a special legislative session
While the pandemic continues to batter Oregon, a moratorium on evictions expires at the end of this year if legislators don’t act. But Oregon Governor Kate Brown and state legislators haven’t yet settled on a plan.