Marcellus Outreach Butler will host a meeting at 1:30 p.m. May 7 at the Butler Public Library, 218 McKean St.

It will feature Ron Gulla, a farmer from Washington County who has experienced some of the negative impacts of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

For information, visit www.MarcellusOutreachButler.org or call 724-791-2754.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford said it earned $2.6 billion in the first quarter, helped by new vehicles like the Ford Explorer.It was Ford's best first-quarter performance since 1998. The company earned 61 cents per share, compared with 50 cents per share in the same quarter a year earlier.Ford's revenues rose 18 percent to $33.1 billion. The company was profitable in all regions even as commodity cost rose.Ford ended the quarter with $16.6 billion in debt, down $2.5 billion from the beginning of the year.

Delta Air Lines said raising fares should allow it to make up for the higher fuel prices that drove a $318 million loss in the first quarter.Airlines have been raising fares all year as fuel prices rise. Delta spent $483 million more on fuel than a year earlier — a 29 percent increase. Revenue rose 13 percent to $7.75 billion.Delta will reduce flying as the year goes on. Delta President Ed Bastian said that plus what he calls “aggressive fare actions” should allow it to cover the higher cost of fuel.Last week United Continental and American reported quarterly losses on fuel expenses as well.

NEW YORK — Luxury bag maker Coach said its third-quarter net income rose 18 percent as higher demand in North America helped offset a $20 million hit to its revenue from Japan's tsunami and earthquake.The results Tuesday offer further evidence that spending by affluent shoppers is rising more quickly than for others.Coach also said it is increasing its cash dividend by 50 percent to 90 cents per share annually.Net income rose to $186 million, or 62 cents per share, for the three months ended April 2. That compares with $157.6 million, or 50 cents per share, last year. Analysts expected earnings of 60 cents per share, according to FactSet.Revenue rose nearly 15 percent to $950.7 million. Analysts expected $946.5 million.CEO Lew Frankfort said the company was “deeply saddened” by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, where Coach makes about a fifth of its sales.“The immediate impact to our Japanese business was significant, with improvement more recently,” he said.