It's kind of surprising that 's Sam Beam has ended up making his living in music. Early on, he received a cautionary lesson from his dad.

"My father used to book Motown bands in college," Beam says. "And he imparted some wisdom on me that it's an easy gig to lose your shirt in."

Beam grew up in South Carolina; he studied art in college, then got into making movies. Music was just something he did on the side, for fun.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -  A leading health organization in Kentucky is putting the pressure on Governor  Steve Beshear to expand Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act. 

Kentucky Voices for Health Executive Director Regan Hunt says her group is launching a two-week radio ad campaign pressure Beshear to expand Medicaid. The radio ad campaign will be partnered with a month long online ad campaign.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The amount of bourbon produced by Kentucky distillers has topped 1 million barrels for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Kentucky Distillers' Association said Monday that 1,007,703 barrels were filled in 2012. The last time the total went over a million was in 1973 when 1,004,877 barrels were produced.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has unveiled legislation aimed at forcing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expedite the process for coal companies seeking permits to open new mines.

McConnell told about 100 people gathered inside a mining equipment sales shop in Pikeville that he intends to file the legislation next week in response to thousands of jobs that have been lost in the Kentucky coalfields.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - On the third anniversary of the death of its namesake, the Bryan Durman Act officially became law Monday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Bob Baffert won't be saddling a horse in Saturday's Kentucky Derby for the first time since 2008.

The Hall of Fame trainer said Monday that Govenor Charlie would not run. His other possibility, Code West, also won't compete in the Derby at Churchill Downs.

Sunland Derby winner Govenor Charlie was 11th on the points leaderboard that determines the 20-horse field for the 1 1/4-mile race. Code West was ranked 21st.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a longtime Fayette County elementary school teacher who was suspended without pay for nearly a year and a half for how she disciplined children running in the hall.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel has been elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand was the big winner of the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park.  He did it aboard Quimbo, a Spanish-bred horse that wasn't quite good enough to show-jump.    Nicholson also finished third on English ex-racehorse Calico Joe.