The scoop on Tuesday, Jan. 5: 5 things to know this morning

March 18, 2014 Atlanta - Gov. Nathan Deal speaks during the ninth annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Metro Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA), GEORGIA BIKES! and event sponsors host more than 1,000 cyclists from the metro Atlanta region for the ninth annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol. Police escorted rides depart from Decatur and Roswell. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

March 18, 2014 Atlanta - Gov. Nathan Deal speaks during the ninth annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Metro Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA), GEORGIA BIKES! and event sponsors host more than 1,000 cyclists from the metro Atlanta region for the ninth annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol. Police escorted rides depart from Decatur and Roswell. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

3. Falcons headed for offseason of uncertainty

The Falcons packed their bags, signed autographs and headed out to other parts of the country for their offseason after the team finished 8-8 following a 5-0 start under first-year coach Dan Quinn. Read more

4. GBI: 'Hate rhetoric is not a crime'

GBI Director Vernon Keenan's comments follow the second day that anti-government activists occupied the headquarters at a National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon. Concerned citizens have contacted Georgia law enforcement, but Keenan said the GBI has no open investigation. "There has to be some kind of criminal activity," he said. "Rhetoric does not fall into that territory. Hate rhetoric isn't a crime. It's protected by the First Amendment." Read more.