Business

Christus Health will close its Christus Schumpert St. Mary's Place medical complex in Shreveport and consolidate many services into its Highland Medical Center in Shreveport. CEO Stephen Wright announced at a news conference Monday that the cost cutting move will eliminate 200 jobs over the next two years, trimming its workforce by about 10 percent. Wright said the Sutton Children’s Medical Center, which has been running a $10 million annual deficit in recent years, will also close.

The Arc of Acadiana Northwest, a residential facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has opened seven resale clothing stores and a nursery and pottery business at its 100-acre campus in Bossier City. Arc employee Ruth Fox moved to Bossier City in December to start preparing for the launch of the resale stores that are in a converted activities building. She finds the new nursery has been the biggest draw for shoppers.

Dozens of pecan growers across Louisiana met at the LSU AgCenter Pecan Research Station in Shreveport earlier this month to discuss how proposed federal regulations could impact their operations. State pecan specialist Charlie Graham said the Food Safety Modernization Act will bring about more stringent guidelines that will be harder for small farmers to implement and adhere to. Under the proposed regulations, Graham said, pecan growers may not be able to run cattle in their orchards.