BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A battle is raging between two southern Illinois hospitals over whether a new facility needs to be built. The Belleville News Democrat reports officials from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville are seeking approval from the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board to move the operation from a 60-year-old facility to a new 144-bed hospital. The new facility would be five minutes from where Memorial Hospital is building a second hospital in O’Fallon. Leaders of St. Elizabeth’s say Memorial’s opposition could shut them down. But one Memorial Hospital official is disputing the claim. Chief Operating Officer Michael McManus tells the News Democrat the move would divide the community and risk access to health care for underserved residents. The project is expected to cost $253 million.