KGW-TV anchor Laural Porter off until January

KGW-TV anchor Laural Porter, left, with fellow anchor David Molko, right, has posted that she will be taking time off to help care for a loved one.
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Portland-area viewers will be seeing some changes on local TV newscasts in the coming weeks, with the news that “KGW News at Sunrise” anchor Brenda Braxton and her fellow KGW staffer, reporter and anchor Ashley Korslien, will both be leaving the NBC affiliate at the end of November.

Loyal KGW-TV viewers may already have noticed that another regular presence, evening news anchor and “Straight Talk” host Laural Porter, has been absent in recent days. Porter shared the reason for that in an Oct. 28 post on Facebook and Instagram.

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In a photo of Porter with her co-anchor David Molko, Porter praised Molko, who joined KGW in January of 2022, as “the best co-anchor and friend a person could ask for,” and went to write that she’ll miss Molko and the KGW news team “while I take some time off. I’m taking advantage of Oregon’s new paid Family Leave Act to help take care of a loved one. I’ll be back in January. My thanks to KGW and the state of Oregon for making this opportunity possible. And thanks to our entire news team for all your support and your incredible talent. ‘You’re simply the best!’”

Porter has been a mainstay of KGW since joining the station in 2000. Prior to coming to KGW, Porter worked at stations in other markets, including Idaho Falls, Idaho; Boise, Idaho; Santa Maria, California; and Orlando, Florida.

In her career with KGW, Porter has won several awards, including regional Emmy awards, and an Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting.

In an Oct. 28 post on his Instagram account, Molko thanked Porter for welcoming him “with open arms,” adding, “I couldn’t ask for a better co-anchor, colleague, and friend. From debate night, to dance parties, to burritos and biscuits (and meatloaf!), it’s been a whirlwind of hard work, camaraderie, and adventures. So, as you take a few months off to spend time with those nearest and dearest, I want to thank you for the partnership (and joy) you’ve brought to both my professional and personal lives. Can’t wait to have you back at the @kgwnews anchor desk in January. Until then, I’ll be cheering you on (and keeping your seat warm)!”

In email, KGW News Director Greg Retsinas wrote, “As Laural Porter shared with her social media followers, she is taking time away from work to take care of a loved one. We hope to have her back with us in mid-January. ‘Straight Talk with Laural Porter’ is on hiatus while Laurel is away and will also resume next year.”

More of our coverage:

Brenda Braxton announces she’s leaving Portland’s KGW-TV after 34 years

Ashley Korslien is leaving Portland’s KGW-TV to work for Clark County Sheriff’s Office

— Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

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