Blair Best
Reporter for KGW8 News
23/04/2023
Honored and excited to share I’ve been nominated for two Regional Emmy awards this year! ✨
Congrats to all my colleagues at KGW-TV and WGME CBS 13 News, Portland on their nominations!
12/03/2023
I’m stepping into the weekend anchor position at KGW!
Grateful to work with such a supportive team and excited for what this new chapter will bring!
02/01/2023
First morning show of the new year ✨
29/09/2022
My photographer and I went on a ride along with the Portland Police Sergeant who’s the point of contact for homeless issues.
“It’s all about demeanor.”
Responding to Portland’s homeless crisis through the eyes of a Portland police sergeant KGW rode along with Portland Police Sgt. Matt Jacobsen, the Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team leader. He's also the point of contact for homeless issues.
08/09/2022
With school back in session for Portland students, we sat down with Mayor Ted Wheeler on his new emergency declaration to ban homeless people from camping near school campuses.
‘Work with me’: Mayor Ted Wheeler pleads with Portlanders to not give up on the city Wheeler told KGW the city has removed 50 camps, referred seven people to addiction treatment centers and helped 350 people get into shelters.
06/09/2022
Homeless people living in a large campsite in Longview, Wash. raced to clear out their belongings and animals Monday morning after the city declared their camp a public health emergency.
Homeless people race to move out of Longview, Wash. encampment after city declares public health emergency The city of Longview says it does not consider homelessness a crime, so they are letting campers move to an adjacent city-owned parking lot.
26/08/2022
Longview, WA police are working overtime to increase patrols around a homeless camp where roughly 150 people live on the corner of Alabama Street and Oregon Way.
Homeless camp in Longview draws complaints as residents demand action from city Longview police are working overtime to increase patrols around a homeless camp where roughly 150 people live on the corner of Alabama Street and Oregon Way.
13/08/2022
A shot from this week as we talked with the man who lives in this trailer along NE 33rd Dr. He watched as the city bulldozed trash into his campsite in an effort to force him out. They told him he had one day to move. This is just one of the dozens of campsites along this road, which has become a hotspot for homeless campers.
Full story: https://bit.ly/3zWComO
23/04/2022
First week at KGW-TV in the books!
22/04/2022
Got the exciting news this morning that I’ve been nominated for a New England Emmy Award!! Thankful for photographer, David Hill for his work and partnership on the piece. Feeling so honored! Also, a huge congratulations to my former colleagues at WGME on all of their nominations!
29/03/2022
Leaving WGME CBS 13 News, Portland today with such a full heart ❤️ What a beautiful journey this has been. I am one lucky girl to have worked with such an amazing crew.
22/03/2022
Some personal news…
This is my last week at WGME CBS 13 News, Portland!
After three years reporting in my home state I will soon be leaving for the West Coast. I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted a reporting position at KGW-TV in Portland, OR ✨
Throughout my time in Maine I went from print to broadcast, from the assignment desk to the field, reported on the front lines of a pandemic, had co-workers who are now life-long friends, and had the honor of telling some pretty incredible stories. Thank you to everyone who trusted and believed in me.
Maine will always be home but for now it’s time to say goodbye to East Coast Portland and hello to Portland, OR!
03/03/2022
: Maine is at a "medium" risk for COVID spread and masks are no longer universally recommended to be worn indoors.
CDC says every Maine county now at 'medium' risk for COVID spread PORTLAND (WGME) -- The CDC has put the entire state of Maine in its "yellow" category. Also read:Masking requirement lifted for Maine lawmakersThat means Maine is at a "medium" risk for COVID spread and that masks are no longer universally recommended to be worn indoors. Also read:Portland schools n...
WATCH | Parents and child care providers left with tough decisions under the state’s new mask guidelines.
WATCH | Inflation is a problem almost everyone is facing right now, whether it’s through rent, gas or groceries.
FOREVER CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION | Misty Brook Farm in Albion just found toxic “forever chemicals” or PFAS in their cow’s milk.
They’ve pulled their products from the shelves of 35 local grocery stores.
Only On 13.
My bovine bestie 😂
WATCH | Hundreds of asylum seekers from the southern border continue to come to Maine. Now lawmakers have introduced a bill that would cut down the amount of time they have to wait to work.
10/02/2022
WATCH | A family-owned business in Farmington is facing an unexpected bill from the government.
Farmington business hit with $300,000 tariff bill FARMINGTON (WGME) -- A family-owned business in Farmington is facing an unexpected bill from the government. Kemp Enterprises distributes wooden dowels, many of them from the U. S. As mills have closed over the years, they’ve had to look overseas. Now they’re facing tariffs they weren&rs...
WATCH | Road crews across the state are preparing for this weekend’s storm. Here’s what you can do to help.
28/01/2022
Here is everything you need to know about the storm heading our way this weekend and what the timeline is looking like right now!
https://bit.ly/3Gc1Vtr
TIMELINE: Blizzard conditions likely in parts of Maine Saturday, expect heavy snow PORTLAND (WGME) -- A major nor'easter will bring heavy snow and strong winds to Maine. Here's a breakdown of the timeline and impacts: SATURDAY MORNING:Snow arrives from south to north between 6 AM and 9 AM. At this point, the snow should be relatively light, but intensity will increase near the coa...
WATCH | Amanda Cohen is a substitute art teacher at a Brunswick elementary school.
Two weeks ago she was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. This time, though, the doctors say she has one year to live.
The community is now rallying to help her and her family - one they say has been an inspiration to all.
20/01/2022
TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS | Amanda Cohen is a substitute art teacher at a Brunswick elementary school.
Two weeks ago she was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. This time, though, the doctors say she has one year to live.
Tonight hear from Amanda and the community on how they’re rallying to help her.
To help Amanda and her family call the Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School.
WATCH | COVID-19 puts pressure on Maine home care providers - leaving some families to fend for themselves.
WATCH | A tractor trailer jack-knifes into an apartment building in Woodstock today. I talked with the family inside during the crash only on 13.
17/01/2022
BREAKING NEWS | A tractor trailer jack-knifes into this apartment building in Woodstock around 10 o’clock this morning.
When we arrived, crews were still on scene. This part of route 26 was closed for about three hours.
We talked with the only family inside at the time of the crash. Hear what they experienced tonight at 5 & 6 Only On 13.
WATER RESCUE | A man fell from the Maine State Pier around 6:30 this morning. Firefighters say when they arrived he had already been pulled to safety.
Today I talked with one of the men who rescued him.
WALMART SHOOTING | Around 6:30 last night, a man started shooting in the Scarborough Walmart parking lot.
Police have arrested and identified the shooter as Bryan Wallace Johns, 36.
He is being charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
Police don’t know if anyone was injured from the gun shots.
NEW DETAILS | This morning on Good Day Maine we have new details on the case of a missing five year old out of New Hampshire.
Harmony Montgomery vanished three years ago but was not reported missing until late last year.
12/01/2022
It’s bright and early! ☕️ But lucky to be reporting from inside on this chilly morning for Good Day Maine.
We still have an hour and a half left of news and weather over on FOX23.
Hope you join us!
12/01/2022
WATCH | While most people avoided Tuesday’s cold by hunkering down inside, some people had no choice but to be in it.
Mainers who work, live outside brave cold temperatures PORTLAND (WGME) – While most people avoided Tuesday’s cold by hunkering down inside, some people had no choice but to be in it. Also read:Here's what to expect as brutal cold hits Maine on TuesdayThat includes many Mainers whose jobs take them outside. From 6:30 a. m. to 6:30 p. m. , Ali...
11/01/2022
WATCH | A hospital in Lewiston is allowing health care workers positive with COVID to show up to work.
Lewiston hospital allows COVID-positive health care workers to return to work PORTLAND (WGME) -- A hospital in Lewiston is allowing health care workers positive with COVID to show up to work. Also read:US hospitals letting infected staff members stay on the job. The same hospital and city leaders are urging people to mask and get vaccinated as cases go up. “We need to l...
08/01/2022
WATCH | Check out our snow coverage from today. Big thanks to my photog, David Hill for standing out in the cold with me and getting all our video that helped bring this story to life!
Nor'easter causes dangerous travel conditions across southern Maine S**O (WGME) – There were multiple crashes across York County due to snowy conditions Friday. Also read:TIMELINE: Here's what Mainers need to know about Friday's snow stormThe snow finally stopped falling around 2:30 p. m. Now Mainers are seeing lots of light and fluffy powder coating the sidew...
31/12/2021
From the anchor desk to the field…
Today was my last day filling in on Good Day Maine this week.
Back to my normal schedule next week and then I’ll see you on mornings again for a few days in the middle of January!
Now time to catch up on some sleep! 😴☕️
AUBURN NYE | Here’s what you can expect tonight if you’re heading to Auburn for their New Year’s Eve celebration!
31/12/2021
GETTING RESULTS | In direct response to a story I did earlier this month, a family with two kids in Auburn now has affordable housing.
Their landlord decided to sell their house to an out-of-state buyer. After reaching out to more than 500 home listings and having no luck due to high rent prices, they didn’t know where to turn.
A viewer saw the story and offered them a home in Turner. They were just approved and they move in come the new year.
“Thank you so much for putting our story out there. Thank you times a million!”
STORY> https://wgme.com/news/local/auburn-family-struggles-to-find-place-to-live-while-being-forced-out-of-home
'We feel defeated': Auburn family about to lose home struggles to find new place to live AUBURN (WGME) – A family with two kids in Auburn is about to lose their home, and the current market is making it nearly impossible for them to find an affordable place to live. The days are numbered for the family of four in Auburn before they have to leave their rented home that’s just...
30/12/2021
Putting hand warmers in my gloves this morning…total game changer!
It’s currently about 30 degrees in Portland but feels like in the 20s!
Got lucky this morning with Lexie’s Weather Trivia Wednesdays!
29/12/2021
I am so proud of this station and the work that we do. Last week we shared with you the story of 1 year old Caleb who has been hospitalized since birth and in need of a liver transplant. After our story about him aired on CBS13, more than 200 people applied to be a donor.
On Sunday morning, his family got a call from the doctors at Boston Children's Hospital saying they found a donor for a full liver transplant. Caleb was in surgery for 8 hours yesterday and his mom told us today Caleb's surgery went wonderfully.
THIS is what we do this job for. THIS is why local news matters! THIS restores my faith in humanity.
https://wgme.com/news/local/1-year-old-bowdoinham-boy-gets-liver-transplant
📸: Tamara Orthman
29/12/2021
Sharing the anchor desk this morning with Katie & Lexie ✨
We still have another two hours of news and weather on Good Day Maine this morning.
Hope you tune in!
Blair Best
Blair Best started as a reporter/multimedia journalist for CBS 13 in March 2020. Before stepping into the role of a reporter, she worked as one of the station’s assignment editors.
Blair grew up in the midcoast of Maine and graduated with honors from New York University in May 2018, where she double majored in Journalism and Acting. While at NYU, Blair reported for The Washington Square News and wrote an honors thesis that re-evaluated the work and radicalism of a forgotten twentieth-century American playwright. This work earned her an NYU Tisch School of the Arts Honors Certificate in Theatre Studies.
Before joining CBS 13, Blair wrote for The Forecaster newspaper, Maine magazine, and was an arts and culture reporter for The Portland Phoenix.
Blair is happy to be back in Maine and living in Portland, where she enjoys following the city’s arts scene, training at Portland Ballet, and exploring the islands off the coast.
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