Jeff Martin

Alabama

Publisher and Columnist at Montgomery Independent

Publisher: The Montgomery Independent & INDY Magazine. Columnist. Lobbyist. Realist. Dad of a teenage daughter. Sometimes 🏖️ bum. WDE.✌🏻

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Articles

New Website, Trump Tariffs, Legislature & Gambling

3 weeks ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Join us behind the paywall and check out the new look of our website. Subscribing is easy and we accept PayPal. The Montgomery Independent is a weekly print publication, but we post news daily online. Be sure to visit often for your daily dose of local sports, news, commentary, and community happenings.
Across The Publisher’s Desk

1 month ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Sunshine WeekThe Good:Supported by Governor Kay Ivey and sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa), the bill sets specific timelines that public entities in Alabama must follow when responding to public records requests. It marks the most significant amendment to Alabama’s public records law in over fifty years. The Bad:We still have a long way to go when it comes to transparent government. Some in the Legislature want to remove public notices from newspapers.
The Water Cooler - March 2025

1 month ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Tuberville vs. Ainsworth? Senator Tommy Tuberville has sounded the alarm that he is giving strong consideration to a run for governor, but his potential candidacy will not clear the field of challengers. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth responded to the news with a social media post: “I’ve been eating my Wheaties and getting into running shape.
Weed, Business Licenses, and Tweets From The Throne

2 months ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Big changes are coming to The Montgomery Independent. The most notable will be our new website, debuting in the next couple of weeks. The redesign is optimized for phones and tablets, which is how most people get their news these days. The new site will also require a subscription, but if you're reading this in our print edition, your current subscription includes full digital access—as well as our quarterly magazine, INDY.
Legislature, Space Command, and Trump Return

2 months ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

I’ve been down with the crud for the last week, causing me to miss a scheduled dentist appointment after having some wisdom teeth pulled a few months ago. Just my luck—over the weekend, I began experiencing what felt like a new tooth growing where a wisdom tooth had been. After a quick Google search, I self-diagnosed with hyperdontia, something so rare that spell check doesn’t even recognize it.
Tuberville, Trust, and Beach Snow

2 months ago | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Every week, I will strive to bring you a mix of stories that matter, observations that make you smile, and a little political intrigue to keep things spicy. This week is no different, so let's dive in. Tommy "Gaslighting" TubervilleLike many Americans, on January 6, 2021, I was glued to the television, staring in disbelief as I watched the attack on our U.S. Capitol. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is trying to convince us that what we witnessed that day was an optical illusion.
We’ve Moved, and the Website is Getting a Facelift

Jan 23, 2025 | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

At the moment, I find myself wrapped in a blanket, staring at the newly named Gulf of America, deciding whether to head north while I still can or remain in hope for snow on the beach tomorrow. I’m leaning toward the latter. I mean, how often does it snow at the beach? I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions; however, I am committed to getting back in the habit of writing my column weekly, as opposed to sporadically.
Gone Phishing

Dec 11, 2024 | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

At least when the junk mail arrives in your mailbox on a post in your front yard, it only takes seconds to toss it in the trashcan. But unwanted email? That’s a whole other beast. These nuisances seem to multiply daily, impossible to stop, and deleting them feels like a never-ending chore. Just today, I spent ten minutes attempting to unsubscribe from unsolicited junk clogging my inbox. And yet, the garden-variety junk mail is the least of our worries.
The Water Cooler: Usual Suspects

Nov 26, 2024 | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

The rumored departure of Alabama Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed came to fruition last week. Though he won’t officially resign until December 31, Reed will soon lead the state’s consolidated workforce development efforts. His seat will remain vacant for the next legislative session, which could prove notable if there’s another push for gaming, an effort Reed supported last session. It’s not just about who’s leaving but also about who’s stepping up. Reed’s exit has stirred up some drama.
“Holy Crossers” And All

Oct 29, 2024 | montgomeryindependent.com | Jeff Martin

Ten years ago, Olivia, our now-high-school-senior, climbed into the backseat in the Holy Cross Episcopal School carpool lane and announced with conviction, “Coach Proctor needs me on the basketball team, and I’m supposed to be at practice tomorrow.” Holy Cross didn’t have enough girls to fill a team—honestly, not even enough boys—so Olivia and a few other girls joined the boys’ team and her love for the game began.