By: Ben Dunsmoor
KELOLAND

The public's right to know what is going on with its government is why South Dakota's new open records law passed the legislature this year.

Records that have been denied include the 911 tapes from the day Turner County Deputy Chad Mechels was shot near Marion, and the list of people who attend the Governor's annual Pheasant Hunt, which is considered proprietary information. 

"We do now have the presumption of openness, but on a case by case basis I think it's going to be hard after just one or two cases to see how everything is going to shake down," Swier said.