Laural Porter

Laural Porter can be seen weeknights anchoring KGW NewsChannel 8 @ 6:30 with Tracy Barry and NewsChannel 8 @ 11 with Joe Donlon, and at 10:00 on Newschannel 8 on Portland's C-W.

Laural joined NewsChannel 8 in 2000 after a varied career in the broadcasting field. Laural started in radio at KSON-FM radio in San Diego,as the "KSON cowgirl", doing local events and reporting the news. Her first television position was at KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho, doing weather reports and feature reports called "Porter Reports." Her career took her to various destinations; she was an anchor and reporter at KTVB (NBC) in Boise, Idaho and WESH-TV (NBC) in Orlando, Florida.

Laural has been honored with numerous awards including the National Award from the Mental Health Association for coverage of mental health issues. She is a five-time Northwest Regional Emmy award winner, recognized in 2008 for her story on extreme mountain biking and how it's transforming the tiny timber town of Falls City, Oregon into a mountain biking mecca.

In 2007, she won an Emmy for feature reporting for her inspiring story on Oregon soldier Christian Bagge, who lost both legs in Iraq. Through hard work and determination, Bagge learned how to use special prosthetic limbs and, six months after his injuries, he ran around the White House lawn with President Bush.

She also won three Emmys for her exclusive story "Where's Molly?" "Where's Molly" chronicled Jeff Daly's search for his sister, Molly, who had been sent away 50-years ago to the Oregon Institution for the Feeble Minded. "Where's Molly" uncovered how the state of Oregon warehoused "less than perfect children", until only recently when it closed the facility. Jeff's search also led to a new Oregon law helping others to reunite with long-lost family members.

Also in 2007, Laural and KGW were honored by the ARC of Multnomah and Clackamas counties with their Community Service award for helping raise awareness about people with disabilities. In addition, she has received numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Idaho Press Club, and Idaho State Broadcasters Association. The Florida Educators recognized Porter for coverage of education issues, and she was nominated for two Northwest Emmy Awards for writing and spot news coverage while working in Idaho.

In 2003, Laural ran the Portland Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon, which she ran in record heat during April 2004. She has run the Portland Marathon on several occasions with the Leukemia Society's Team in Training and has raised $7,000 for the Society. Laural says it's one of the most rewarding things she's ever done. She ran in memory of her Step-Dad who died from Leukemia.

Laural is serving as the 2008 Honorary Co-chair of the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure in Portland and Vancouver. This is the fifth year Laural has taken on that role. She has also been one of the race's top 100 fundraisers for the past two years. It's a cause important to Laural, since her mother-in-law is a survivor, and she recently lost her Step-Mom, who had also battled breast cancer.

Laural received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She was also named The UCSB Communication department's Outstanding Graduate.

Most of all, Laural enjoys being a Mom and spending time with her husband and four children.