Three things for March 22
1. City of Miami Beach declares state of emergency, imposes curfew
On Saturday, March 20, the City of Miami Beach declared a state of emergency and imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
At a news conference, officials blamed overwhelming and out-of-control spring break crowds for the curfew, taking effect in South Beach, one of the nation’s top party spots. Tourists and hotel guests are being told to stay indoors during curfew hours, reports AP News.
Though unclear how long the curfew will remain in effect, Interim City Manager Raul Aguila told the Miami Herald he recommends keeping the rules in place through at least April 12. According to AP News, a countywide midnight curfew was already in place due to the pandemic.
No pedestrians or vehicles will be allowed to enter the restricted area after 8 p.m., and all businesses in the vicinity must close, said Aguila.
According to the Miami Herald, South Beach crowds were not affected by the curfew. On the first night of the curfew, social media videos showed large groups of people still partying.
Pedestrians on Twitter said Miami Beach Police SWAT teams were blocking roads and moving to disperse the crowd. Pepper balls were heard being shot, and a brief stampede ensued, reports the Miami Herald. Some videos posted on Twitter show people dancing on police cars, throwing money and ignoring police orders.
2. Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Japan
On Saturday, March 20, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the northern coast of Japan. According to AP News, the earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo and triggered a tsunami advisory for part of the northern coast. No major damage was reported, but several people had minor injuries.
The earthquake was centered off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, heavily damaged during the huge earthquake and tsunami of 2011, leaving more than 18,000 people dead, reports AP News.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were detected at nuclear power plants in the region, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which suffered meltdowns in 2011.
Japan Meteorological Agency spokesperson Noriko Kamaya urged people to use caution and stay away from the coastline due to possible high waves.
3. Tax deadline extended to May 2021
On Wednesday, March 17, the Internal Revenue Service announced the decision to delay the April 15 tax-filing deadline to May 17, giving taxpayers an additional month to file returns and pay any outstanding fees.
The postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including people who pay self-employment tax, the IRS said in a statement.
“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax-administration responsibilities,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds.”
The relief does not apply to the first-quarter 2021 estimated tax payments that many small business owners owe.
The one-month delay is not as much extra time as the I.R.S. offered last year, when the filing deadline was pushed to July 15.
Amendments made to the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill signed into law earlier this month made the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 tax-free for people with incomes of less than $150,000. According to the NYT, this is a significant change for many whose jobs were affected by the pandemic.
