KC Casinos, Bars Close. U.S. Unemployment Claims Up

Casinos in the Kansas City Metro area are closed, as well as bars in Kansas City, Mo., creating what will likely be a serious unemployment situation.

The Department of Labor said this morning, for the week ending March 16, total U.S. claims for unemployment hit 281,000, up 70,000 from the prior week, representing the most claims in a week since September 2017, when they were at 299,000. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said that unemployment could hit 20 percent, in a worst-case scenario. 

Harrah’s North Kansas City is closed for now.

Most Kansas City eateries are now only offering food delivery and drive-thru pickups.

Meanwhile, all hotels haven’t yet shut down in the city. As of this morning, the Crossroads Hotel, in that neighborhood, is still open. You were also able to book a room at the Downtown Marriott online this morning.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Hilton Hotels Worldwide had a meeting with President Trump on Tuesday and said that most of its hotels in major cities were starting to close, including in New York City and Washington, D.C. The executive,  Christopher Nassetta, said global occupancy rates could plunge to 10 percent during the COVID-19 crisis. The 800-room Loews Kansas City Hotel is scheduled to open in April, and there has been no word if those plans have been put on the back burner.