News Briefs

Australians Brace For Further Flooding

The Australian state of Queensland has faced record floods over the past month with even more expected during the next week. Flooding is also expected to increase in the state of Victoria during the next 10 days.

The flooding has been described as a giant lake nearly 55 miles long. More than 75 towns have been affected in Victoria including many that have been cut off from emergency services.

The Victoria State Emergency Service has issued evacuation warnings to all communities east of the city of Kerang. Many people living near rivers or streams have been making their own makeshift levies as floodwater runoff is expected to build up in the next 10 days.

Since flooding began last month, 30 people have died with another nine missing in Queensland, which has been hit the hardest. Further north in Brisbane, flooding has significantly subsided since there was nearly 15 feet of water only two weeks ago.

Officials have already stated that the flooding is one of Australia's most costly natural disasters. Experts estimate nearly $3 billion lost in coal exports and agricultural production with an additional $20 billion expected in reconstruction costs through Queensland and Victoria.

Cuba Stops Postal Service To U.S.

The Cuban postal service has suspended all deliveries to the U.S. until further notice. The suspension was made in response to a stricter security measure implemented by the U.S. last year.

The U.S. increased its air cargo security as a result of an attempted terrorist attack on a cargo delivery from Yemen. The increase in security led to many Cuban deliveries to be denied entry in the U.S.

The cost to have these denied deliveries sent back to Cuba has been very high, which led to the suspension of all Cuba-to-U.S. mail.

Postal service between Cuba and the U.S. had been restricted for 42 years until it was resumed in 2009. President Obama renewed the service to repair relations between the countries. This latest setback may diminish Obama's efforts at improving international relations.

University Park Added to National Register Of Historic Places

Efforts by the City of Buffalo and New York State Historic Preservation Office have landed the University Park Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Homes in the University Park area are now eligible for certain state and federal tax credits. These tax credits will serve as incentives for homeowners to maintain upkeep of their historic houses.

The focus of the incentives is geared toward rehabilitation, not restoration of the historic homes.

The tax credits are available through the New York State Homeowners Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, which is in its first year after being signed into law in 2009 by former Governor David Paterson.

The University Park Historic District is directly across from UB's South Campus. The area is also part of UB's Home Loan Guaranty Program. This program encourages UB employees to buy South Campus homes to improve the surrounding neighborhood.