Natural gas costs going up locally

Warmer weather is doing nothing to bring down natural gas bills. Cinergy Corp. Wednesday announced higher natural gas cost adjustments for May. A typical Cincinnati Gas & Electric residential customer, using 10,800 cubic feet of gas, will pay $118.92 starting Saturday compared with $112.98 this month. The typical Union Light, Heat & Power customer in Northern Kentucky will pay $119.08 in May, up from April's $113.46. By law, the utility passes on to customers the cost of gas it buys, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Cinergy expects gas costs to stay up through the summer because of increased industrial use.

Improve factory production

Midwest Manufacturing Solutions is sponsoring a free session Friday morning for manufacturing managers on improving their operations. The 7:30 a.m. session at Manor House in Mason features a presentation on changes at U.S. Playing Card Co. To register: (513) 381-7200, ext. 104, or go to www.MMSresults.com.