St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic to lay off 200

DULUTH (AP) -- The number of layoffs planned by St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic, the city's largest employer, now is expected to reach 200, double the number of job cuts that had been announced in late January.

Continued financial losses triggered the second round of layoffs, SMDC spokeswoman Beth Johnson said Thursday.

During the first eight weeks of cuts, 123 jobs were eliminated, including nurse educators, a podiatrist and 45 managers. Remaining first-round cuts affected union and nonunion workers.

Health system officials blamed the cuts on financial losses from fast-growing expenses, including drugs, highly paid temporary workers and employee health benefits.