It won’t be building the Kuga in Louisville:

Ford Motor Co. has canceled plans to move production of a small sport-utility vehicle from Europe to Kentucky as currency exchange rates no longer favor U.S. production, according to two people familiar with the decision.

Ford had planned to shift the Kuga model next year to Louisville from Saarlouis, Germany, to take advantage of lower labor costs and the weaker dollar, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is private. With the euro falling, Ford plans to continue producing the Kuga in Germany, the people said.

-SNIP-

“This is a reminder to the UAW that Ford’s U.S. cars don’t have to be produced in the U.S.,” Johnson said. “Ford’s global architecture allows them to build anywhere. That’s good news if the U.S. has competitive labor costs. It’s bad news if they don’t.”

Rocky Comito, president of UAW Local 862, which represents Ford workers at the Louisville plant, didn’t respond to a telephone call seeking comment.

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This is just one of many recent instances in which companies have decided to bail on Kentucky.

Cordish is notorious for discriminating on the basis of race. You surprised that they’re getting sued in Kansas City? [Fat Lip]

Ryan Alessi’s fancy new U.S. Senate poll has Rand Paul leading Jack Conway 40.6 to 31.4 with undecideds at 27. 12.3% have a very favorable opinion of Jack, 32.6% somewhat favorable, 12.8% somewhat unfavorable, 8.3% very unfavorable, 34.5% unsure. 19.7% have a very favorable opinion of Rand Paul, 30.1% somewhat favorable, 9.8% somewhat unfavorable, 15.9% very unfavorable. [Ryan Alessi]

Now that the Karen Sypher – Rick Pitino 15 seconds of sexytime trial is over? We can stop dry heaving. [FOX 41]

And go watch this coverage of the Syper – Pitino nightmare. The part where Claudia Coffey says Sypher is transferring custody of her daughter to her son is interesting. [WHAS11]

Tomorrow’s the art car parade on Frankfort Avenue. Go see the teabagger lady in her bumper sticker-covered van. If you’re a dirty librul, be sure to ask her tons and tons of questions on video and put them on the googlebox. [Art Car Weekend]

The Sypher – Pitino sexytime jurors are speaking to the media. How are these people not dry heaving? [WAVE3]

Big blind item: Does anyone else think it’s alarming and reprehensible that a former candidate for elected office and veteran would tell a current veteran running for office that they aren’t a “real veteran” (and mean it, getting snippy) because they weren’t in the “right” branch of the military? These are the people calling themselves “leaders” these days. And I’m disgusted. [Blind Item]

Wild & Woolly will celebrate its 13th anniversary on Friday. [Buy Tickets!]

Dear Paulbots: Ask for permission before you use my footage. [Page One]

What is it with the Jefferson County Board of Education and secrecy? Goodness gracious. Holding interviews of potential new school board members in PRIVATE? Really? [A Kentucky Newspaper]

After Todd Lally pops a vein over this, he’s going to yell at LEO really hard. He may even post comments on their website because why not? [FatLip]

Henry Humphrey, paster at Shiloh Baptist Church, swindled $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Services. [A Kentucky Newspaper]

Wendell Berry is pulling is personal papers from the University of Kentucky in protest of Wildcat Coal Lodge. [H-L]

It’s hot as balls outside. Hot enough to kill people. So Jerry Abramson threw $5,000 at the problem. [WLKY]

Buying a car? Beware. Auto dealers won an exemption from the mean old Obama Administration. [HuffPo]

The side windows read, “POVERTY STINKS!”

The Louisville Beer Store may be the next big thing on East Market. The Courier-Journal dedicated three pages to the new shop. [High Hops]

Churchill Downs is set to announce 2010 night racing plans at a press conference today at 10:30 A.M. [Press Release]

Despite breaking the law, the zoning board let JBS Swift off the hook. If the pig slaughter plant was a small local business, it would be shut down and the owners jailed for life. [WHAS11]

Could Louisville put restrictions on how long your car can idle? Not sure how it would be enforced. [Jim Bruggers]

The city has backed down on its push for a new VA hospital downtown. [C-J]

Another candidate has entered Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race and he is a, um, he’s a character… to say the least. The 86-year-old Gurley L. Martin is going to be quite entertaining. He’s published his birth certificate and a bizarre letter of intent. [Hot Mess]

Land use and the future of Butchertown. [Broken Sidewalk]

What? You mean there are discrepancies in provided reasons that Gilles Meloche provided a potential new employer? Said he’s resigning because the mayor is leaving? [C-J]

Last Call for Comedy: We’ve still got room for you Sunday. Get in touch with me through the site, or Facebook, and come see Marty Pollio with us, FOR FREE, Sunday night.

We Need Anger: I missed this campaign in 2006, but fortunately Chris Anger, a local comedian, is considering running for Mayor again in 2010. Just gotta get a Vote with Anger t-shirt.  Anger is part of the an event in Irish Hill tonight and tomorrow that includes a history lesson from Tom Owen. Check it out. [Anger]

Get On Your Horse: I know it’s airing Friday night at 10, but still, if you’re home, turn to Animal Planet (insight 60) to see the first new episode of the reality series, Jockeys.

More Politics to Watch: Tonight’s Comment on Kentucky features Jack Brammer of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Adam Walser from WHAS-TV and Stephenie Steitzer of the C-J.

What? Wayside Christian Mission, which just said it has plans to move into Hotel Louisville by November, filed an appeal related to a BOZA decision related to its pursuit of the Mercy Academy building. How about a little focus? [C-J]

Hurry Car Buyers: Imagine the traffic at local car dealerships this weekend. Cash for Clunkers, and business for car dealers, ends Monday. [WaPo]

That’s all we got, Have fun at the Fair!