Top Headlines: Small business relief, Hyundai halts production

Department of Revenue offering relief to Alabama small businesses
The Alabama Department of Revenue is giving more time to small businesses that won’t be able to pay their sales tax liabilities on time due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. In a release Wednesday, the department said any small retail business that averaged monthly retail sales of $62,500 or less during the previous calendar year will be able to file their monthly sales tax returns for February, March and April without paying the state sales tax reported as due. Late payment penalties will be waived through June 1. – WHNT

Hyundai halts production after employee tests positive for coronavirus
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama announced Wednesday it was suspending production after a team member tested positive for the COVID-19 illness. “HMMA is suspending production in all areas, for all shifts, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2020,” the company said in a statement. “HMMA has already deployed additional sanitation measures across the entire facility and will now follow ADPH’s protocols for disinfecting the affected work area.” – WSFA

Work continues at Mercedes, other automakers slowing production
Work continues at Mercedes-Benz’s Vance manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa County. However, a report said the plant is being affected by shutdowns in Europe related to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier Wednesday, Honda announced a plant shutdown related to the virus for all of its North American facilities, including its Lincoln plant. – AL.com

Huntsville airport bracing for $10 million loss
The joyful days of January when Huntsville International Airport was voted the nation’s best small airport seem a faint memory these days as the coronavirus pandemic has devastated America’s airline industry. The Huntsville airport, the state’s second busiest, said Wednesday it forecasts losses between $7-10 million over the next three months after sharp declines in passenger traffic and its residual effects. – AL.com

Baldwin County Commission wants state to close public beaches
The Baldwin County Commission is holding a meeting Thursday morning to discuss COVID-19 in relation to the county’s beaches. The commission will “consider and/or authorize the Baldwin County Commission to request the Governor of Alabama to close public beaches located in the unincorporated Baldwin County areas due to the Coronavirus.” – WKRG

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But will the ABC store cash my coronavirus check?
The Treasury Department said Wednesday it wants to dedicate $500 billion to start issuing direct payments to Americans by early next month as the centerpiece of a $1 trillion plan to stabilize the economy as the coronavirus epidemic threatens a body slam to taxpayers and businesses. – AP

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