SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - PG&E crews in San Luis Obispo are beginning work today on a project to reduce wildfire risk near the Bob Jones Trail.

Crews began setting up their traffic mitigation signs on San Luis Bay Drive between Ontario Road and Avila Market.

The project sill be modernizing the power lines by removing about 3,600 feet of overhead lines and replacing them with over 7,000 feet of underground lines.

The project is expected to take several weeks, and will yield a significant reduction in potential hazards created by the rich vegetation throughout recreational properties.

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – First responders gathered at Nojoqui Falls Park to help an elderly female hiker who had hurt her ankle.

According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, crews were called to the scene around 10:24 a.m. Monday and the woman was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment.

The countywide emergency response agency asks the public to stay on marked trails, wear adequate footwear, and let others know about your hiking plans before hitting the trail.

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By Morgan Rimmer, Dianne Gallagher, CNN

(CNN) — Sen. Darline Graham announced that she will run for her late brother’s seat this November, after being appointed last week to serve out the rest of Lindsey Graham’s term.

“I’ve made a decision. I’m in,” she said in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Graham acknowledged the “tremendous amount of pressure” she’s felt to make up her mind quickly, with a filing deadline looming and President Donald Trump posting on Truth Social that he would like her to run for the seat.

“I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff — I know I’m a hard worker, I learned that from Lindsey,” she added. “He cared about the people of this state. I’ve worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state. I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely.”

Graham is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She was appointed to the seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve until January 2027. A special primary election will take place August 11 to determine who will next hold the seat for the upcoming six-year term.

Multiple influential South Carolina Republicans told CNN the initial reports last week that Darline Graham planned to seek a full Senate term came as a surprise, as it was understood by them she would only complete the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that at the time McMaster appointed her to serve the remainder of her late brother’s current term, he was not under the impression Darline Graham would run as a candidate in the special primary election for a full term.

Graham, 62, has not previously held elected office. After she and Lindsey Graham’s parents died within 15 months of each other, she became orphaned at age 13 in 1976. Lindsey Graham — the first in his family to attend college, and a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps — became his sister’s legal guardian.

Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, died following an aortic dissection, according to a preliminary finding from the Washington, DC, medical examiner. He was 71.

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SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - With just about one month into summer season, the Santa Maria Air Tanker Base is currently in peak fire season readiness mode.

The tanker base is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and is located on southern edge of the Santa Maria Airport, housed within the Central Coast Jet Center.

With temperatures now hitting triple digits regularly in parts of the Central Coast, throughout the region and across California and Western United States, the base now fully staffed to assist in aerial firefighting operations when an incident occurs.

Currently, there is about 50 personnel staffed at the base who are serving in a variety of firefighting positions, including those who work on the ground and in the air.

The amount is double the amount that typically works at the base during other parts of the year.

At this time the base is the temporary home for a MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) air tanker from the California National Guard.

The MAFFS plane, as well as two smaller assist planes, are the only firefighting aircraft stationed right now at the base.

Last year, the Santa Maria Air Tanker Base celebrated the opening of its completely remodeled facility, which included the relocation of its operation center from the first floor of the Jet Center building to the second floor.

Other upgrades to the base included new and improved technology, pilot lounge, conference room, office space, kitchen, dining area and much more. 

The base has also expanded it retardant pumping capabilities, not only adding additional tanks, but also upgrading its piping system, improving mixing efficiency.

There are now two more tanks on the base, providing an additional 45,000 gallons of storage space for fire retardant.

The new tanks have allowed the total amount of retardant on the base to jump from 100,000 gallons to 145,000 gallons.

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