OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (AP) — The state Department of Health has approved Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare's request to build a 100-bed hospital in Olive Branch.

The approval by state health officer Dr. Mary Currier and the state Board of Health was announced Thursday.

Memphis-based Methodist Le Bonheur plans a $137 million hospital in Olive Branch on 20 acres off U.S. Highway 78.

Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Healthcare, which operates Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, and Alliance Healthcare System Inc. of Holly Springs had opposed the Methodist request in the past but did not this time.