What's Knox County Government's Big Secret?
By Jeaneane Payne, Owner/Editor
August 9, 2026, 5:53 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - I am writing to inform the public of the ongoing difficulties the Knoxville Daily Sun has encountered in obtaining Public Notices for publication, as well as broader issues of communication and transparency with various departments within Knox County Government.

The Knoxville Daily Sun has encountered a troubling pattern of obstruction and unresponsiveness from various Knox County government departments regarding the publication of Public Notices—a fundamental service that promotes transparency and accountability in local governance. Despite persistent efforts by owner Jeaneane Payne to secure these notices for the Sun, she has been met with rudeness, misinformation, and evasive behavior from multiple city and county officials.

This situation raises serious concerns about fairness and equal opportunity in the distribution of Public Notices, especially considering the Tennessee Press Association's expressed desire to award these notices to the Knoxville Daily Sun and their initial assurances of advertising support—none of which have materialized. The lack of cooperation undermines the principles of open government and raises questions about possible favoritism toward incumbent media outlets.

In April 2025, following discussions initiated by the Tennessee Press Association’s (TPA) Executive Director, Mark Millsap, the Knoxville Daily Sun was optimistic about collaborating with government entities to publish Public Notices, especially given recent changes in state laws governing their dissemination. While assurances were made that the Sun would be included in advertising outreach created by TPA, no advertisements have materialized to date.

Subsequent attempts to engage with city and county officials to formalize receipt of Public Notices have been met with consistent resistance, unresponsiveness, and in several instances, rudeness. Despite completing all required registrations—including payment of mandated fees totaling $440—and persistent follow-up efforts across multiple departments over several months, access to the full volume of Public Notices remains severely limited.

Notably, communications with Penny Owens, head of the City of Knoxville’s Purchasing Department, were dismissive, and numerous calls and emails yielded no corrective action. Similarly, outreach to Knox County Commission leadership and associated legal counsel resulted in only a fraction of the expected Public Notices being received. Efforts to resolve this matter through Mayor Glen Jacobs’ office, including scheduled meetings and repeated correspondence with staff member Mandi Benedict, have regrettably gone unanswered or unmet without explanation.

This pattern of obstruction raises serious concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and equitable access to essential public information. It is imperative for the integrity of local governance and the free press that all qualified newspapers, including the Knoxville Daily Sun, are afforded equal opportunity to publish Public Notices as mandated by law.

Knox County Government must address these issues transparently and promptly. Denying a legitimate local newspaper access to Public Notices not only restricts public information but also diminishes the competitive spirit essential for a healthy press. We urge county leaders, including Mayor Glen Jacobs and the Knox County Commission, to respond to these concerns, ensure equitable treatment for the Knoxville Daily Sun, and uphold the integrity of the public notice process.

The community deserves a fair, transparent, and accessible system where all qualified newspapers can participate without discrimination or undue delay. It’s time for Knox County Government to end this “merry-go-round” of excuses and provide the Knoxville Daily Sun—and, by extension, its readers—with the respect and opportunities they rightfully deserve.

Publishing Public Notices on behalf of Knox County Government would produce considerable revenue for the Knoxville Daily Sun, which has served our community for sixteen years.

We respectfully request a thorough review of the processes governing the distribution of Public Notices within Knox County and the City of Knoxville. Additionally, we seek clear guidance on the steps necessary to obtain all relevant notices moving forward and urge improved responsiveness and professional conduct from all government representatives involved.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We remain committed to fostering open and collaborative relationships with local government to serve the public interest better.