Keith Grant
Multi-Media Journalist
Rapid City, SD
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Keith Grant joined KOTA Territory News and KEVN Black Hills Fox News as a multi-media journalist in April 2022.
South Dakota through and through, Keith was born and raised in the small Black Hills town of Whitewood.
After graduating from Sturgis Brown, he attended the University of South Dakota where he studied marketing and communications. Before his time as a reporter, he had a short stint as a marketing coordinator.
Keith has a passion for celebrating the arts and culture of the Black Hills area.
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One man is dead after a drowning incident at Memorial Park. The Rapid City Police and fire departments responded to a call this evening at Memorial Park around 7 PM, just before festivities got underway for the fourth of July holiday.
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Fourth of July celebrations were in full swing in the Black Hills, towns scattered around the hills held their own celebrations. In Belle Fourche a tradition remains alive, The Black Hills Round-Up started as a fundraiser for World War One and has since become an annual celebration.
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It’s another year with fireworks in Rapid City. The show is in the middle of being prepared for the big event on July 4, at dusk around 9:30. A fireworks show like the one in Rapid City doesn’t happen overnight. It takes thousands of pounds of fireworks and a three-person team to get the show rolling.
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Since the Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion up to the individual states, the decision left some people uneasy about the potential to look at other court cases involving same-sex marriage and contraception.
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The state’s COVID weekly dashboard updates every Wednesday, and COVID numbers are on the rise. For the first time since the state switched to reporting cases weekly, numbers exceed 1,200.
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A longtime wildland firefighter was named the new director of the South Dakota State Wildland Fire Division by the Department of Public Safety. Jay Wickham, who worked as a deputy director for the wildland fire division replaces former Chief Jay Esperance.
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On June 29, 2002, around 2 PM the Deadwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call that help was needed for a fire; and on this day 20 years ago, the Grizzly Gulch Fire started to burn 11,000 acres that inched close to Deadwood.
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The Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills made a stop at General Beadle Elementary in Rapid City on June 29 to narrate “The Tortoise and the Hare” in a musical way.
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It was a safety training day for first responders and West River Electric crews. Working on electrical lines is one of the most dangerous jobs in America and while not overly common, utility workers can be killed or seriously injured in accidents involving electricity.
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Right after Senator Mike Rounds made the announcement that he and members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee would not allow the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission to make changes to the current system, Hot Springs Mayor, Bob Nelson spoke about the roller coaster that the city has been on to keep the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital (VA) in town.
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On June 27, Senator Mike Rounds visited Hot Springs to make a special announcement for the Veteran Affair (VA) healthcare facilities that were under consideration to be closed. He said the facilities will no longer be closed in an effort by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
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For the second-day protestors have rallied together across the United States in their anger against the reversal of Roe v. Wade. In Rapid City, a demonstration was held in front of the federal courthouse once again.
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It’s a free event for a great cause, Dead End Records has been organizing shows for nearly two years and it has now become a festival.
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On June 21 Black Hills Energy started the process of taking overhead power lines underground. The energy company hopes this prepares for future growth in the downtown area and improves safety.
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Recent rains have alleviated the drought in Western South Dakota, but the area is still experiencing drought, except for northwestern South Dakota.
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As shortages in food and other products come and go, you never know what will be next. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people shifted toward urban gardening or community gardens to secure their fresh produce.
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Nationwide there is a lifeguard shortage and Rapid City pools are seeing the effects. Over the weekend one of the outdoor pools had to close due to a staffing shortage.
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At around 8:45 P.M on June 20th the Wall Fire Department received a report that there was a fire at the Cactus Café and Lounge and upon arrival, the fire had escaped to the lower level and was coming out of the doors and windows.
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Joyce Jefferson came to South Dakota because she was a “military brat”, originally from Louisiana, Jefferson is a southern girl at heart. When she and her husband moved here, knowing about African Americans in the area was important to the couple.
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It’s a common theme, “the housing market in Rapid City is hot!” People are moving here at an exceptional rate, averaging 8 to 10 people a day. What happens to the market when there is too much demand and not enough supply?
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The second annual Chaplain’s Smoke Butt Challenge at the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office was June 14. The event brings together four different departments to judge shredded pork and have lunch with each other.
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Recent vandalism at parks in Rapid City forced the Parks Department to close restroom facilities. The facilities at College and Roosevelt parks are now closed after the continual issues.
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A long-awaited road saw its first car today. The ribbon-cutting for Homestead Street gives convenient access to Highway 79 and opens a new area for development on the eastern edge of Rapid City.
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Rapid City’s tax revenue for April showed signs of returning to increases prior to last year’s exponential growth. April brought nearly $2.9 million, up 7% from a year ago.
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Around Rapid City muralists create art for walls and bridges, but some have fallen victim to being tagged. The most recent mural that fell victim to graffiti is near Anamosa Street.
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On June 1, Vast Broadband became bluepeak. Current customers were notified about the transition via email and information cards.
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Shredding down the mountain in January, and riding your bike downhill in June, Terry Peak is making the mountain a year-round destination.
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Kids can be quite fickle when it comes to the toys, one day the love it, the next day, it’s hidden behind the couch. So, what’s a parent to do? “Best Kept Secret” cracked the code.
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During the school year Feeding South Dakota fills bags of food for kids in school, known as the Backpack Program, but even though the summer is over, kids still need secure access to food. So, with a few changes, the Backpack program is extended into the summer at spots across Rapid City.
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With over 80,000 registered voters in Pennington County for the 2022 primary election, how many people showed up at the polls?
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On May 27 it was announced that a $1.1 billion meat packing plant would be opening in Rapid City, and on June 6 Kingsbury and Associates, along with Sirius Realty announced the name of the proposed meat packing plant as well as their partnership with the Farmers Union Industries.
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On June 8 forest officials are asking for public comment on a proposed exploration drilling project, the comments will be considered in the final decision by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Community building continues in Box Elder. Construction for Liberty Plaza is on pace and on June 6 construction of a shared-use path began in Box Elder, the path will connect Liberty Plaza with the Douglas Schools.
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The South Dakota Department of Transportation says beginning June 6, 2022, through July 1, 2022, the eastbound Interstate 90 ramp at exit 59 will be closed.
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On June 9 communities in the Black Hills will remember the flood that destroyed communities and rallied people to come together. The recovery from the flood took months and changed the way that towns are developed today, especially in Rapid City.
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The critical issue of conversation today with the business community in Rapid City is education. Elevate Rapid City hosted a panel with Rapid City Schools Superintendent Dr. Lori Simmons and Douglas Superintendent Kevin Case, joined by community business leaders.
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After being pushed back a few weeks, a new food truck hit the streets of Rapid City. “Bean There, Done That,” a coffee and tea truck had its official first day June 1.
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Pools around Rapid City opened their gates day. Although it was a chilly day, staff were ready to show off their nearly seven months of preparation for opening day. Jimmy Hilton, Parkview, and Horace Mann are staffed and ready for the summer.
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Where can a cannabis business be located in Butte County? That’s a question still to be answered a year and a half after voters approved medical marijuana in the state.
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Standing on Main Street in Sturgis, you may see some empty pedestals on the street corners. That's because four new sculptures are being added to the Sturgis Art Walk.
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Many out-of-state license plates were spotted at attractions and on the roads as tourists flocked to the area this weekend. However, did high prices at the pump impact vacation plans?
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The day before Memorial Day, the Black Hills National Cemetery gets a change. Lines of white headstones get an American Flag placed in front of the grave.
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The second Black Hills Renaissance Faire was on May 28 and May 29 in Lead, SD. Booths and people dressed in medieval-themed costumes filled Manuel Brothers Park overlooking the Homestake Open Cut.
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As a result of a housing summit in 2018, where a conversation revolving around community access showed a clear gap between tenants and property owners.
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Across the nation, catalytic converter theft has been on the rise and the Rapid City Police Department says Rapid City is not being hidden from the thieves.
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A group of seven kids called themselves the “Spiky Balloons” and the team took home first place in the Global Finals Destination Imagination Contest in Kansas City.
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The Pennington County Board of Commissioners met on May 25, 2022, to evaluate the growth happening in the area.
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Rapid City sees an increase in airport travel during the summer months and sometimes the security line can be a nightmare for some.
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The end of May is the unofficial beginning of summer, and even though summer can feel like it’s gone in the blink of an eye.
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26 students at Stevens High School were recognized for their commitment to continue music at the collegiate level.