Joint Base Charleston officially renamed for Lindsey Graham

MORNING HEADLINES | Joint Base Charleston is now officially Joint Base Lindsey Graham to honor the late U.S. senator from South Carolina’s decades of military and public service.

Meanwhile, S.C. polls open today for special Republican U.S. Senate primary to replace Graham on the November ballot. Some 61,775 South Carolinians cast ballots during three days of early voting in the race. Polls are open through 7 p.m.

At Joint Base Charleston on Monday, several luminaries — S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Sen. Darlene Graham, the late senator’s sister, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent of Charleston – joined U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to recognize Lindsey Graham for his service in the Air Force, Congress and the S.C. General Assembly.

Nearly 200 members of the U.S. Air Force also were in a tent outside Joint Base Charleston for the unveiling of the installation’s name change.

The base is also moving forward with a new $29.5 million fire station, which military officials say will improve emergency response capabilities and protection for service members working at the installation.

Graham served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, including active duty, service in the South Carolina Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. He retired as a colonel in 2015.

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In recent headlines

BREAKING: Desrosiers to lead S.C. Coastal Conservation League. Megan Derosiers, a former conservationist at the S.C. Coastal Conservation League, will return after 13 years in Georgia to become its new executive director, according to a Tuesday morning press release. Also, the league’s Lori Cary-Kothera, the chief conservation officer who has served as interim executive director since former head Faith Rivers James stepped down in February, will now be deputy executive director.

“It’s hard to imagine a more opportune time to have Megan return to the Conservation League and South Carolin,” said SCCCL founder Dana Beach. “Our rivers and rural communities are threatened by growth pressures that are chipping away at some of our most iconic natural areas. Megan’s experience makes her uniquely suited to face these challenges.”

CP NEWS: North Charleston police chief Camacho resigns. North Charleston police chief, Ronald Camacho, resigned from his position just after 1 p.m. Monday. No reason for the resignation was given despite questions from reporters.

CP FOOD: Charleston chefs obsess over banana pudding. Banana pudding, like many Southern favorites, is usually best when it’s made by someone’s grandmother. But what if you don’t have a mam-maw to make you the classic dessert? Charleston has a variety of banana pudding options across the city.

Two cities named fastest-growing for jobs and new talent. LinkedIn’s annual study named Charleston as the No. 6 city on the rise, with Myrtle Beach following at 16.

Gas prices fall this week in S.C. The average gasoline prices in South Carolina have fallen 14.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.48 today, according to GasBuddy.

Charleston Co. launches plans to reshape peninsula schools. The Peninsula Promise initiative focuses on increasing access to early learning, strengthening family support services and creating new academic and career opportunities for students in downtown Charleston.

Mount Pleasant’s temporary GREEN Commission could be here to stay. The GREEN Commission was originally meant to last for just two years, but its tenure was extended until Aug. 31, 2026.

CALENDAR: How to find cool things to do around town

Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.