Tori Gaines
Tori Gaines is a reporter for KTVU Fox 2 News.
Tori was born and raised in Montana. After graduating from Claremont McKenna College, she made California her home.
She grew up obsessing over national and local politics, often watching primetime news with her parents. Her appreciation for debate grew when she served as captain of her speech and debate team and led them to nationals.
She was issued her first press pass as a high school student in 2008, when she covered her hometown’s visit from then-presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Tori’s love of storytelling grew as she studied acting. She is trained in classical theater, with a focus on Shakespeare. She previously taught theater performance in juvenile detention facilities, in elementary schools, and on college campuses.
Tori started in news at a San Francisco television station, where she covered everything from self-driving technology to breaking news. She built deep connections with the Bay Area community as she reported on local stories, including the mass killing of farm workers in Half Moon Bay and the poisoning of an elderly woman at a San Mateo care facility.
Tori’s reporting has been cited by The Associated Press, and her byline has appeared in several national publications, including The Hill, the Miami Herald, and The Sacramento Bee.
When she isn’t at work, Tori loves spending time with her wife and enjoying all the beauty the Bay Area has to offer.
Tori is honored to serve our community with the Bay Area’s top-rated news station.
If you have a story idea for Tori, please email her at tori.gaines@fox.com. You can also reach out to her @ToriDoesNewsNow on X or @ToriGainesNews on Instagram.
The latest from Tori Gaines
Incarcerated firefighters are helping save SoCal—what happens after they get out?
As fires continue to rage across the Los Angeles area, 939 incarcerated firefighters have joined the front lines to support the efforts of local fire crews, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed to KTVU.
Here's how Jimmy Carter helped one San Jose family fix up their first home
Tiruwork Leyew and her husband purchased a home through Habitat for Humanity back in 2013. That year, former President Carter and his wife Roslyn rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the family's home.
San Francisco: 2K pounds of 'unlawful catch' fish seized from fisherman
A commercial fisherman could be in a load of trouble after officials found unlawfully caught fish behind a false wall on his boat at San Francisco's Pier, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Oakland Zoo takes in malnourished spider monkey seized by CHP
A spider monkey seized during a traffic stop on Monday has now landed safely at the Oakland Zoo, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Several Downtown Palo Alto restaurants burglarized over holiday break
Restaurant owners in Downtown Palo Alto are on edge, after several were targeted by burglars over the past two weeks.
Four Oakland gas stations robbed in early morning hours
A string of robberies at gas stations across Oakland early Sunday morning left station clerks scrambling to clean up the damage.
East Bay Habitat for Humanity CEO reflects on President Jimmy Carter's humanitarian legacy
In 2013, President Carter and his late wife Roslyn headed to the East Bay to help build homes for people in need. Janice Jensen was there during that trip, and she remembered his legacy fondly.
Oakland donut shop struggles to find eggs amid bird flu shortage
As suppliers navigating the bird flu crisis have cracked down on how many eggs you can buy, small businesses like Donut Savant in Oakland are feeling the bite of higher egg prices.
84-year-old Santa Rosa woman swindled out of $600K by cyber fraudsters
A family in Santa Rosa is reeling after their elderly loved one lost more than half a million dollars to a sophisticated fraud scheme this year.