Proponents of legalizing industrial hemp in Kentucky say momentum for their cause is growing. But, some key law enforcement agencies still aren’t enamored of the idea. [Ronnie Ellis]

Driving safely and avoiding accidents isn’t just common sense — injuries hurt, car wrecks are bad — but also a way to make sure drivers keep their auto insurance premiums down. But according to figures released by a consumer group recently, insurance companies are in the habit of charging higher premium to safe, low- or moderate-income drivers than to richer people who were at fault for an accident. [Consumerist]

Really, a coal company begging to move a family cemetery? Way to go, Eastern Kentucky, for maybe letting this happen. [H-L]

The gunfire ended; it was so quiet they could hear the broken glass and bullet casings scraping under their boots. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. The officers turned down their radios; they did not want to give away their positions if there was still a gunman present. [NY Times]

In a speech at a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce dinner this month, Gov. Steve Beshear made his 2013 priority clear — tax reform. Even in a special session, real tax reform is not happening in Kentucky. [C-J/AKN]

Why is the assault weapons ban probably going nowhere? Joe Biden is downplaying it, the votes aren’t there, time is the enemy, Obama and Biden don’t need the ban. [WaPo]

One can’t help but wonder why the Kentucky Retirement Systems/CERS have not gone after this guy. If the AG can finally decide to act after several years, surely the KRS can muster up what it needs to do. We hear state auditors pushed KRS to take action but nothing ever went down. [WKYT]

Of course a handful of wingnut teabaggers went insane when a parent of a Newtown victim had the nerve to share their thoughts. [Wonkette]

He who protests too much. Isn’t that how it goes? The president of the Louisville-based Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is criticizing the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to re-examine a policy that excluded openly gay scouts and scout leaders. Al Mohler is now absolutely obsessed with who does what with their wiener. A little too obsessed. [WFPL]

Students in Texas’ public schools are still learning that the Bible provides scientific evidence that the Earth is 6,000 years old, that astronauts have discovered “a day missing in space in elapsed time” that affirms biblical stories of the sun standing still and moving backwards, and that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical Christian principles. [HuffPo]

Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. is scheduled to present the 2013 State of the Judiciary address before the General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary on Thursday, Jan. 31. [Press Release]