Judge stops expansion of CA hospital

Now here's a situation no hospital administrator wants to face: This week, a judge ordered a San Fernando Valley hospital to halt construction on its $180-million expansion until the Los Angeles City Council decides whether more environmental review is needed. The order, which comes as the result of requests by a group challenging the expansion, requires the facility to stop work until the Council either approves the project with an eight-vote majority or orders an environmental impact report.

The hospital, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, started work four months ago on its new hospital tower. The tower will provided an initial 101 beds and as many as 35 more in coming years. However, it's being challenged by area residents and by the SEIU, which is embroiled in a labor dispute with the hospital's operator.

To learn more about the dispute:
- read this Los Angeles Times piece