Red Cross schedules blood drives

The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets in February to help build up the blood supply after thousands of donations went uncollected last month.

People of all blood types — especially those with type O negative blood — are encouraged to make and keep donation appointments so hospitals can continue to ensure critical care for patients this winter.

Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of blood drives have been canceled and more than 16,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected due to severe winter weather and wildfires.

As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives. Flu and other seasonal illnesses are spreading, which could also force more people to cancel scheduled donation appointments.

The Red Cross has blood drives scheduled for this month in Clatsop County:

• Feb 18 and Feb. 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Warrenton High School, 1700 S. Main Ave.

• Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Warrenton High School, 1700 S. Main Ave.

• Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Knappa High School, 41535 Old Highway 30.

• Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Elks Lodge No. 1748, 324 Avenue A, Seaside.

• Feb. 26, 1 to 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 204 W. Marine Drive, Astoria.

• Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Clatsop Community College, 1651 Lexington Ave., Astoria.

Sleep medicine provider joins CMH

Debra White is joining the Columbia Memorial Hospital-Oregon Health & Science University Health Pulmonology Clinic as a sleep medicine provider.

White previously was an urgent care provider at Columbia Memorial.

Before joining CMH, White worked as a nurse practitioner and operations manager in sleep medicine for the Pacific Sleep Program in Astoria. She earned her master’s degree from Washington State University in Vancouver.

White is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and she is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

— The Astorian

Hummus maker issues recall notice

King Harvest Hummus has issued a voluntary recall on all hummus varieties due to the potential for bits of plastic to be found in the dip because of defective packaging, the Portland-based company announced.

Customers can dispose of the product immediately or seek a refund from the store where it was purchased.

All of the hummuses recalled were of the 10-ounce size and would have been purchased at various grocery stores including Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Safeway and more across Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Washington.

The recall applies to 10-ounce tubs of King Harvest hummus in the following flavors: balsamic, black olive, chipotle, classic, jalapeño, lemon, roasted garlic, roasted pepper, sesame, spinach, sun-dried tomato and toasted onion.

Intel executive leaves for Nokia job

The head of Intel’s data center and artificial intelligence business, Justin Hotard, is leaving the chipmaker after just a year on the job to be CEO of Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia.

Hotard’s new role is a big step up for him, but his exit leaves Intel with another top job vacant at a time when the company is also searching for a CEO.

Intel hired Hotard in February 2024 to run its data center business, which is under threat because of competition from other chip designers like AMD and because much of the data center market has moved to artificial intelligence – a space where Intel has no competitive products. He had spent eight years at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.

— The Oregonian

Nokia surprised investors Monday with word that CEO Pekka Lundmark is stepping down at the end of March and that Hotard will take over.

Intel’s own executive ranks are in flux. CEO Pat Gelsinger resigned abruptly in December, apparently amid a dispute with the board about the chipmaker’s direction. Intel appointed two interim CEOs to take over when Gelsinger left and continues to search for a new CEO.

— The Oregonian