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Bad World Tour

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This article is about the tour. You may have been looking for the album .

The Bad World Tour is the first worldwide concert tour by Michael Jackson . It was launched in support of the artist's seventh studio album, Bad (1987) and lasted sixteen months, spanning from September 12, 1987 until January 27, 1989. The shows were sponsored by Pepsi .

The tour became the second highest grossing tour of the decade, as well as one of the most attended tours in history. As announced by Jackson himself during the last show of the tour, these were initially meant to be his last performances in history. However, the Bad World Tour was eventually followed by the Dangerous World Tour and HIStory World Tour .

• 1 Background
• 2 Awards and nominations
• 4.1 Cancelled dates
• 5.1 Live at Wembley July 16, 1988
• 5.2 Broadcasts
• 6.1 Creative Directors
• 6.2 Production
• 6.3 Dancers
• 6.5 Background Vocals
• 6.6 Stylists and Assistants
• 6.7 Sponsors

Background [ ]

For the longest time, while already releasing hit solo albums, Michael still toured with the Jacksons . At a December 1984 show of the Victory Tour , Jackson announced his departure from the group, stating it was the final show he was gonna play with them.

On June 29, 1987, Michael's manager, Frank DiLeo announced the singer was going to embark on his first solo concert tour. The shows would be sponsored by Pepsi, a company which previously got Jackson in hospital after a tragic pyrotechnics accident a few years prior.

The tour was originally going to finish in Tokyo, but Jackson suffered from swollen vocal cords after the first of six concerts in Los Angeles in November 1988. The remaining five shows were then rescheduled for January 1989. However, due to this decision, Greg Phillinganes had to leave the band in early January, as his schedule was busy as he was set to tour with Eric Clapton. Instead, John Barnes would be hired to take Phillinganes' place. With the tour ending, Michael sought medical care for vocal-chord nodules.

Awards and nominations [ ]

The Bad World Tour was nominated in 1988 for the Tour of the Year 1988 award at the now non-existent International Rock Awards.

Setlist [ ]

• " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
• " Things I Do For You "
• Off the Wall "
• " Human Nature "
• " Heartbreak Hotel "
• " She's Out of My Life "
• " Jackson 5 Medley " (" I Want You Back "/" The Love You Save "/" I'll Be There ")
• " Rock with You "
• " Lovely One "
• " Bad Groove " (Interlude)
• " Workin' Day and Night "
• " Beat It "
• " Billie Jean "
• " Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) "
• " Thriller "
• " I Just Can't Stop Loving You "

1988-1989 [ ]

• " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' "
• " Another Part of Me "
• " Smooth Criminal "
• " I Just Can't Stop Loving You " (duet with Sheryl Crow )
• " Dirty Diana "
• ' Thriller "
• " The Way You Make Me Feel "

Tour dates [ ]

Cancelled dates [ ], broadcasts & recordings [ ], live at wembley july 16, 1988 [ ].

On September 18, 2012, over two decades after the show took place, a DVD of the July 16, 1988 show at the Wembley Stadium was released as a part of the Bad 25 promo and box set. Additionally, the deluxe edition of Bad 25 includes audio from the show on the third disc as well. The full film was later uploaded to the official Michael Jackson YouTube channel.

Broadcasts [ ]

• Tokyo (September 12, 1987)
• Tokyo (September 13, 1987)
• Tokyo (September 14, 1987)
• Nishinomiya (September 1987)
• Osaka (October 1987)
• Melbourne (November 13, 1987)
• Sydney (November 1987)
• Brisbane (November 1987)
• Kansas City (February 1988)
• New York City (March 1988)
• St. Louis (March 13, 1988)
• Indianapolis (March 1988)
• Louisville (March 20, 1988)
• Hartford (March-April 1988)
• Houston (April 1988)
• Rome (May 1988)
• Vienna (June 2, 1988)
• Gothenburg (1988)
• Basel (June 16, 1988)
• West Berlin (June 19, 1988)
• Paris (June 1988)
• Cologne (July 3, 1988)
• Munich (July 8, 1988)
• Hockenheim (July 10, 1988)
• London (July 14, 1988)
• London (July 15, 1988)
• London (July 22, 1988)
• Cork (July 1988)
• Marbella (August 5, 1988)
• Madrid (August 7, 1988)
• Barcelona (August 9, 1988)
• Würzburg (August 21, 1988)
• Werchter (August 23, 1988)
• Leeds (August 29, 1988)
• Hannover (September 2, 1988)
• Milton Keynes (September 10, 1988)
• Liverpool (September 11, 1988)
• Pittsburgh (September 1988)
• Landover (October 1988)
• Los Angeles (November 13, 1988)
• Tokyo (December 1988)
• Los Angeles (January 27, 1989)

Personnel [ ]

Creative directors [ ].

• Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals, Show Director, Dancer and Choreographer)
• Peggy Holmes (Assistant Director)
• Vince Patterson (Choreographer)
• Tom McPhillips (Set Designer)
• Allen Branton (Lighting Designer)

Production [ ]

• Frank DiLeo (Personal Management)
• Sal Bonafede (Tour Coordinator)
• John Draper (Tour Manager)
• Benny Collins (Production Manager)
• Nelson Hayes (Production Coordinator)
• Rob Henry (Production Coordinator)
• Gerry Bakalian (Stage Manager)
• Tait Towers, Inc. (Set Construction)
• Clair Bros. (Sound)
• Kevin Elison (house sound engineer)
• Rick Coberly (Monitor Engineer)
• Ziffren, Brittenham and Branca (Attorneys)
• Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman (Business Management)
• Solters/Roskin, Friedman Inc.(Public Relations)
• Bob Jones (V.P. of Communications, MJJ)
• Glen Brunman (Media Relations, Epic Records)
• Gretta Walsh Of Revel Travel (Travel Agent)

Dancers [ ]

• Randy Allaire
• Evaldo Garcia
• Dominic Lucero
• LaVelle Smith
• Greg Phillinganes (Lead keyboards, synthesizers, musical director)
• Rory Kaplan (keyboards, synthesizers)
• Christopher Currell (Synclavier, digital guitar, sound effects)
• Ricky Lawson (Drums)
• Jennifer Batten (Rhythm and lead guitar)
• Jon Clark (Lead and rhythm guitar)
• Don Boyette (bass guitar, synth bass)
• John Barnes (lead keyboards, synthesizers) (1989 Los Angeles concerts only)

Background Vocals [ ]

• Kevin Dorsey (vocal director)
• Darryl Phinnessee
• Dorian Holley
• Sheryl Crow

Stylists and Assistants [ ]

• Karen Faye (Hair & Make-up)
• Tommy Simms (Stylist)
• Gianni Versace, Dennis Tompkins & Michael Bush (Costumes Designed)
• Jolie Levine (Michael's Personal Assistant)
• Meredith Besser (Assistant)

Sponsors [ ]

• Nippon Television (Japan only)

Gallery [ ]

• On this tour, Jackson performed " Thriller " live for the first time.
• During the concert in Brisbane on November 28, 1987, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance during the song " Bad ."
• The set list would be changed around for shows in the European second leg, performing " Human Nature " & " Smooth Criminal " after " Rock with You ".
• " The Way You Make Me Feel " was sometimes taken out of the set list for time constraints or other unknown reasons, so " Man in the Mirror " was performed in the " Bad " jacket, instead of classic "The Way You Make Me Feel" blue shirt. During other shows, both "Man in the Mirror" and "The Way You Make Me Feel" were removed, leaving Jackson ending the show with "Bad", as he'd done in the first leg.
• During the last 1989 Los Angeles show Michael wore a white shirt for "The Way You Make Me Feel" instead of a blue one.
• Jackson would only wear the black shirt for the first show and only time wear he would wear it. He would not wear it again due to the costume & lighting obscuring his dancing.
• 1 Palestine, Don't Cry
• 2 List of unreleased songs
• 3 Bigi Jackson

Break O' Dawn Club:   Michael Jackson Fan Fiction

Black romance stories and more.

• Oct 7, 2021

Greg Phillinganes Interview: Michael Jackson's Music Director (The Bad And Dangerous Tour).

Updated: Oct 27, 2021

A few months ago, I watched a live interview of Michael's Music Director, Greg Phillinganes—and I loved it. If you haven't had a chance to watch this interview, please do so. As a MJ fan for 30+ years, one of my favorite things to do is learn more about Michael's creative process from people who worked with him for many years.

Not only was Greg Philliganes Michael's music director (he worked on all of MJs solo albums), but he had been knowing and working with Michael and the Jackson's since the Jackson's "Destiny" Album—in which he made the musical arrangements.

Greg is very close with the Jackson family and refers to Katherine Jackson as "mom." And as stated in the interview's title, he was the musical director of Michael's " Bad " and " Dangerous " concert tours—and the "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special."

(Please note, he was the music director for only part of the Dangerous tour.)

In addition to working with the 'King of Pop,' Greg has also worked with many award-winning artists such as Stevie Wonder—who discovered him after Ricky Lawson (a fantastic drummer, also a band member of Michael's) passed him a cassette of instrumental music of his own songs done by Phillinganes. Greg then auditioned for Stevie Wonders band, ' Wonderlove ,' and then played with them for six years. Greg is a fantastic keyboardist, songwriter, and musical director to this day. One of the things I loved about this interview was hearing Greg tell stories as he played classic MJ jams on his keyboard.

And what some may or may not know, Greg also released his own version of Ryuichi Sakamoto's ' Behind the mask ,' which was recorded by artists including Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael Jackson, and Eric Clapton. In the early 80s, Quincy Jones bought the song to Michael, who contributed more lyrics and an accompanying melody. Michael was to release his version of the song on his " Thriller " album but it ultimately was left off due to a song credit dispute. However, later on, Greg, Eric Clapton, and Sakamoto (as a solo artist) have recorded " Behind The Mask " based on Michael's version of the song. Michael's rendition of the song was finally released in 2010.

Peep the full interview at the following link: https://youtu.be/2y6N5GBUBks

Here are some tidbits of the interview I loved hearing more about. Although one is sad, it touched my heart. And of course, there are loads more I found interesting, but this was from my notes at the time.

• Michael played drums (which I'm sure many have heard, but it's excellent hearing that information confirmed.)

• When Michael was alone and more comfortable, his voice became a little deeper.

• Michael studied the movements of animals to incorporate into his dancing.

• " I Can't Help It ," originally had more of a 'Latin' music vibe. (Quincy Jones asked Greg to do a new production of it.) However, upon hearing the Latin sound, Quincy wanted a sexy, slowed-down version to establish Michael as a grown, sexy man. Therefore, Greg redid the song! The new version gave a unique personality to it, and that's why the song works (per Greg in the interview.) By the way, if you never heard it, here's the demo version of " I Can't Help It. " https://youtu.be/EXTjOKMAlmk

• Greg played piano as people walked up the hill to Michael's "H omegoing Service."

• All things Michael Jackson

5 comentarios

I love their friendship ❤️💚

Michael is amazingly beautiful 😍 ❤ look at that beautiful smile..OMG.

ISN’T HE??!! 😩😍😍 I’ll never fully comprehend his beauty

I had no idea Michael played the drums! 😩🙌🏽 All I knew was piano!

The lead-in to that info is mentioned at the 52:21 mark. Michael probably dabbled in many instruments, I feel certain he did. But sometimes it gets lost in the sauce and some might have different interpretations of what "a said 'person who plays instruments," is. But yeah, our pooh was very talented. ☺💕💯

Just 'Beat It': 'MJ The Musical' on Broadway is full of hits

Whatever you think of Michael Jackson, the man had a lot of hits.

And if there's one thing audiences love, it's a show with good songs. 

"MJ The Musical," which recently opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, features tracks from "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" — and classics from The Jackson 5.  

Is it, well, bad? No, but it's not great. Like most jukebox musicals, there are good scenes. It's certainly worth seeing, but it's not special — even with a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.

The show takes place in Los Angeles at a rehearsal studio in 1992, before Jackson's "Dangerous" tour kicks off in Munich, Germany. As we walk into the theater, we see dancers on stage. Some chat, others stretch and practice dance moves. The band is there, too, tuning up. 

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A few minutes later, MJ appears, played by Myles Frost. This self-trained singer, dancer and actor is wonderful. He looks, sounds, acts and dances like Big Mike. "Beat It" kicks things off, and it's lots of fun. Director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is inspired by the famous video, including a bit of the knife "fight." Eddie Van Halen fans will be happy to know that the guitarist on stage nails the solo.

During rehearsals, MJ is being interviewed by MTV, so as he talks to the reporter (Whitney Bashor), he takes us back to how he started singing with his brothers.  

That's where we meet Little Michael, played at certain performances by Walter Russell III and at others by Christian Wilson. In the Playbill, Wilson is described as "a rising superstar," and that is spot on. His smile is infectious, and the kid can dance and sing. Costumes by Tony winner Paul Tazewell — for Little Michael, his brothers and throughout the show — are a treat.

But wait, there is a third Michael! Tavon Olds-Sample plays Jackson as an older teen, with the afro, and then the "Off the Wall"/"Thriller" Michael, working in the studio. Kudos to wig and hair designer Charles LaPointe.

On Shore stages: Broadway-studded 'Bridges' and Neil Simon shows

Frost is always the center of attention, though. As he takes us through the creative process, he really captures the eccentric spirit of the King of Pop. His childlike voice is borderline comical at times, but that was Michael. 

Fans will be happy to know there is the moonwalk during "Billie Jean," but Frost's favorite move seems to be the circular moonwalk (moonwalk circle? circle slide?). He does it several times during the show. Rich & Tone Talauega are credited in the Playbill with the "Michael Jackson movement." (The duo worked with Jackson since the 1990s.) 

The impressive Quentin Earl Darrington has a big role as Rob, who is MJ's right-hand man, and Joseph, Michael's father. Sometimes, Darrington shifts gears from one character to the other in the same scene. 

Rob is worried about Jackson working himself and the dancers too hard. He also notices when the superstar starts taking too many pills. But Darrington transforms as Joseph, becoming much more intense. It has been well reported that Joseph Jackson was abusive, and we see that here.

Ayana George plays Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother. She's loving, supportive and forgiving. In one scene, she says she knows Joseph is not perfect, and hard on the boys. He does it, she says, because he never got the chance. So he's making sure his children do.

Curtain up: Broadway Week 2022 extended to Feb. 27 with 2-for-1 tickets on sale now

During the show, Fred Astaire, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, Don Cornelius and Bob Fosse all make appearances. Each of them inspired Michael. 

Tony winner Derek McLane creates some big moments with his sets. He's at his best during "Smooth Criminal," with its city skyline and neon signs creating a spectacle appropriate for this "Bad" song. This is another time where the show's choreography is inspired by the video. Frost wears a white suit jacket and fedora, and does the famous "anti-gravity lean" dance move.

"Thriller" is teased in the first act before the zombies take center stage in Act II. "They Don't Care About Us" and "Stranger in Moscow" from the 1995 album "HIStory" are other show highlights, effectively conveying anger and isolation, respectively.   

There are bits and pieces of lots of other songs, leaving the audience wanting more a bit too often. 

The $20+ million show took a lot of teamwork, including sound design by Gareth Owen; Neptune-native Jason Michael Webb for music direction, orchestrations and arrangements; David Holcenberg for music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements; Strange Cranium for electronic music design; and music coordinator John Miller. 

Director Wheeldon does his best to bring the cast, the band, the sets and the music together. It's not surprising that it doesn't always work. Michael Jackson dreamed big, striving for heights he could not reach. He wanted "Bad" to outsell "Thriller." He wanted his "Dangerous" tour to be the biggest in the world. (The show ended up grossing $140 million and was seen by more than 4 million people. Curious enough, it never came to America.)

Story continues after gallery

"MJ" does not address the 1993 allegation that rocked the pop world, when Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1993. The allegation is implied, however. In 1994, Jackson settled the matter out of court, reportedly spending $20 million but denying he did anything wrong. Child molestation charges followed in 2003, but Jackson was acquitted in 2005. HBO aired the documentary "Leaving Neverland" in 2019, focusing on two men who said Jackson (who died in 2009) abused them when they were children. Jackson's estate filed suit against the network, saying the singer was innocent.

The encore of "MJ" is a missed opportunity. Did we need the cast singing the new jack swing song "Jam"? The cast also sings "Black or White," which makes sense. Let's come together and celebrate. We need more of that in the world — but it falls flat.

A better choice would have been "Can You Feel It" from The Jacksons. Or "Will You Be There," a top-10 song that was played during Jackson's Dangerous world tour but not included in "MJ." The song would have required some editing, but it's uplifting — and the cast could have served as the "choir." 

There are even a few "woos!" for Frost. 

Yet it's too late, as "Man in the Mirror" goes, to "make that change."

No matter what I say, say, say.

Tickets for "MJ The Musical," playing at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St., are $59 to $249 and are available via Ticketmaster.  

Bill Canacci can be reached at [email protected]

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• Jackson, Michael
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All Setlists

• All setlist songs  ( 331 )

Years on tour

• 2006  ( 1 )
• 2002  ( 2 )
• 2001  ( 3 )
• 2000  ( 1 )
• 1999  ( 2 )
• 1998  ( 1 )
• 1997  ( 43 )
• 1996  ( 45 )
• 1995  ( 6 )
• 1993  ( 34 )
• 1992  ( 53 )
• 1991  ( 1 )
• 1989  ( 6 )
• 1988  ( 101 )
• 1987  ( 19 )
• 1984  ( 2 )
• 1983  ( 1 )
• 1980  ( 2 )
• 1979  ( 2 )
• 1978  ( 1 )
• 1975  ( 1 )
• 1974  ( 1 )
• 1973  ( 1 )
• 1972  ( 2 )

Show all tours

• Bad World Tour  ( 125 )
• Dangerous World Tour  ( 82 )
• Dick Clark's The Music Thing 1975  ( 1 )
• HIStory World Tour  ( 84 )
• Michael Jackson & Friends  ( 2 )
• Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special  ( 2 )
• Avg Setlist
• Concert Map

Average setlist for tour: Bad World Tour

Note: only considered 123 of 125 setlists (ignored empty and strikingly short setlists)

• Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Play Video
• This Place Hotel ( The Jacksons  song) Play Video
• Another Part of Me Play Video
• She's Out of My Life Play Video
• I Just Can't Stop Loving You Play Video
• I Want You Back / The Love You Save / I'll Be There ( The Jacksons  song) Play Video
• Human Nature Play Video
• Rock With You Play Video
• Smooth Criminal Play Video
• Dirty Diana Play Video
• Thriller Play Video
• Bad Groove Play Video
• Working Day and Night Play Video
• Beat It Play Video
• Billie Jean Play Video
• Bad Play Video
• The Way You Make Me Feel Play Video
• Man in the Mirror Play Video

Show Openers

Main set closers, show closers, encores played.

This feature is not that experimental anymore. Nevertheless, please give feedback if the results don't make any sense to you.

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Dave chappelle announces 2 atlantic city shows. get tickets today.

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The always unpredictable Dave Chappelle is at it again.

Following a nationwide 2023 tour celebrating his 50th birthday, the “Chappelle’s Show” star is returning to the stage for a pair of gigs at Atlantic City, NJ’s Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Friday, June 28.

According to the venue, show one starts at 7 p.m. Later that evening, Chappelle will return to the stage for an encore 10 p.m. set .

This stand-up doubleheader comes on the heels of the comic’s controversial 2023 Netflix special “The Dreamer” where he took it upon himself to tackle sensitive subjects including transgenderism and disabled people.

And while we don’t know what the politically incorrect will take to the stage in Atlantic City, the only way to find out is live.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets was $188 before fees on Vivid Seats.

For more information on Chappelle’s short Atlantic City stint, we’ve got everything you need to know and more below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

Dave Chappelle Atlantic City tickets

A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets at the Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino shows can be found here:

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Dave Chappelle comedy specials

Over the course of his career, Chappelle has released 13 stand-up specials.

Here’s how you can find all of them:

Killin’ Them Softly (2000) is streaming on HBO For What It’s Worth (2004) can be purchased on Amazon The Age of Spin (2017) is streaming on Netflix Deep in the Heart of Texas (2017) is streaming on Netflix Equanimity (2017) is streaming on Netflix The Bird Revelation (2017) is streaming on Netflix Sticks & Stones (2019) is streaming on Netflix 8:46 (2020) is streaming on YouTube Unforgiven (2020) is streaming on YouTube Redemption Song (2021) is streaming on YouTube The Closer (2021) is streaming on Netflix What’s in a Name? (2022) is streaming on Netflix The Dreamer (2023) is streaming on Netflix

You can also see Chappelle win the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. here .

Dave Chappelle controversy

Over the past few years, Chappelle made waves for his insensitive material about the transgender community in his Netflix specials “Sticks and Stones” and “The Closer.”

Rather than apologize for his remarks, he doubled down and defended his point of view.

Many big names have spoken out about his baseless attacks.

“Dave Chappelle making jokes about trans people directly leads to violence, whether it’s verbal or otherwise, against trans people,” said US soccer star Megan Rapinoe in an interview with  Time Magazine .

Fellow comic Wanda Sykes shared with  Variety  that Chappelle’s material was “so hurtful and damaging to the trans community.”

That didn’t stop Chappelle from going after other marginalized groups.

In November 2022, Chappelle was asked to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” On the program, he made several anti-Semitic jokes in his 20-minute monologue.

At the time of publication, Chappelle has not issued a sincere apology to either community. His inflammatory material also caused Netflix employees to walk out in protest.

“We value our trans colleagues and allies, and understand the deep hurt that’s been caused,” a Netflix spokesperson said at the time. “We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to walk out, and recognize we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content.”

Comedians on tour in 2024

Many of comedy’s heaviest hitters are bringing the funny to venues big and small all over the U.S. this year.

Here are just five of our favorites you absolutely won’t want to miss live.

•  Katt Williams

•  Martin Lawrence

•  Marlon Wayans

•  D.L. Hughley

•  Wanda Sykes

Who else is slinging punchlines these next few months? Take a look at our list of the 107 biggest comedians on tour in 2024 to find out.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy , New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Updates: Tornado, storm damage still being felt in Iowa as clean up begins

Multiple rounds of storms spread across Iowa on Tuesday, bringing repeated severe weather warnings to the Hawkeye State.

A round of rain passed through central Iowa early on Tuesday morning and by mid-morning one round of severe thunderstorms passed through. Another round of storms, with multiple tornado warnings across the state appeared in the afternoon. By early evening, Iowans in western and central Iowa communities were trying to clean up and assess the damage.

Here are the latest updates :

8 p.m.: Greenfield injury count released

The tornado that  hit Greenfield on Tuesday  killed four people and injured at least 35 others, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Officials believe the injury count actually is higher "but these numbers reflect only those patients treated for their injuries at designated alternate care sites," a news release late Wednesday said.

1 p.m.: Greenfield, Iowa tornado rated EF3

An initial survey showed at least EF3 damage in Greenfield, the National Weather Service said on Wednesday.

Additional assessments are ongoing and the preliminary rating may change, a social media post said.

More: Greenfield tornado given EF3 rating in preliminary report from National Weather Service

11:50a.m.: Neighbors say four killed in Greenfield, Iowa tornado

Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters in a morning news conference that she couldn't say how many people were killed in the Greenfield, Iowa tornado on Tuesday. But, neighbors who told the Register they were "just thankful to be alive" said four of their neighbors did not survive the storms.

More: 'Somehow I'm here': Neighbors say four people died in powerful Greenfield tornado

11:43 a.m.: Drone video shows wind turbines destroyed by tornado near Greenfield, Iowa

Drone footage captured by meteorologist and storm chaster Reed Timmer showed wind turbines near Greenfield being bent in half and destroyed near Greenfield on Tuesday.

Watch now: Drone video shows destructive tornado topple wind turbines near Greenfield, Iowa

11:10 a.m.: Officials confirm one woman killed after storm blew her car off the road Tuesday near Corning

A woman was pronounced dead after her car was blown off the road north of Corning during Tuesday’s storms.

Adams County emergency responders were dispatched near Highway 148 and Joshua Tree Avenue at 3:30 p.m., Chief Deputy Richard Miller said in a news release. Deputies located the body of a woman, whose name has not been released.

Her body was found in their field.

Officials identified the woman as 46-year-old Monica Zamarron on Wednesday.

Editor’s note: Earlier reporting identified the victim as a possible storm chaser. Her family said that information was not accurate.

10:55 a.m.: Gov. Kim Reynolds praises pace of cleanup after Greenfield, Iowa tornado

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds toured the devastated southwest Iowa town of Greenfield Wednesday morning, which was cordoned off to all but local residents after it was struck by a huge, multi-vortex tornado the day before.

In a morning news conference, the governor said she could not report how many people had been killed or injured because search-and-rescue efforts were still underway.

She said hundreds of law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel showed up almost immediately after the storm, which struck the town at 3:39 p.m.

Reynolds praised the town for coming together despite the tragedy to launch recovery efforts.

“They are moving forward,” she said. “The cleanup that has already taken place is incredible.”

The good news was that that the historic town square, Adair County courthouse and Warren Cultural Center in the city of 2,000 had been spared. But the tornado and severe storm that accompanied it damaged dozens of homes and businesses and caused millions of dollars in damages.

The National Weather Service said it had not yet rated the storm’s strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and had personnel on the ground assessing the damage. 

Reynolds said the Iowa Department of Education has waived the last four days of school, so school is officially over for the year as the high school serves as the shelter and the makeshift hospital for anyone who may get hurt during search and rescue or need medical care.

10:45 a.m.: Damage reported south of Nevada and near Cambridge

While Tuesday’s tornado didn't travel through Nevada's city limits, City Administrator Jordan Cook said damage was reported south of town.

"A lot of the damage occurred along 270th Street and further south," Cook said.

Cook said the city is setting up a site off 270th Street for residents to dispose of tree debris.

Tuesday's tornado reportedly crossed Highway 210 and through the eastern edge of Cambridge.

Dee Gibbs, whose parents live just a mile from the damaged areas, was coming through the leftover debris Wednesday morning.

"It knocked down a lot of electrical poles," Gibbs said. "Big trees are down, power lines are down; it totally tore all the buildings down. Grain bins were picked up and thrown into the field, and there was a car in the field."

Gibbs is a utility billing clerk for Cambridge. She said the northeast portion of town and the south side of Nevada were still without electricity Wednesday morning.

10:40 a.m.: Volunteers asked to stay away from Greenfield, Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds said volunteers flocked to Greenfield after the tornado on Tuesday. But, on Wednesday, volunteers are being turned away to allow emergency responders to complete searches.

Monetary donations can be made to the recovery through the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation , American Red Cross or two local banks: Union State Bank and FNB Bank.

More: Here's how you can help Greenfield Iowa recover from Tuesday's tornado

9:15 a.m.: Power restored for many, but 9,000 power outages remain

At one point Tuesday night, more than 50,000 customers were without power in Iowa following rounds of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

As of Wednesday morning, MidAmerican Energy is reporting about 3,300 power outages remaining, including 1,800 in the Des Moines and about 1,300 in Waterloo. At one time, more than 34,000 customers were without power.

MidAmerican said late Tuesday that it had nearly 70 crews working in the Des Moines area. Most remaining outages are expected to be restored on Wednesday, but isolated areas could take until Thursday.

Alliant Energy reports about 2,200 power outages, down from nearly 17,000 on Tuesday night. The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives reported over 3,900 customers were without power, down from more than 7,000.

8:36 a.m.: Two Des Moines schools cancel classes due to power outages

Students at Samuelson Elementary School in Des Moines won't have classes on Wednesday due to a power outage at the school, said district spokesperson Phil Roeder.

Woodlawn Education Center also canceled its morning preschool session due to a power outage. The district has not made a decision about afternoon preschool yet.

8:34 a.m.: Greenfield, Iowa tornado spares Warren Opera House

Sgt. Alex Dinkla, spokesperson with the Iowa State Patrol, said the tornado appeared to move through the southeast side of Greenfield. The historic town square, with the Warren Opera House and courthouse, appears to have been spared, he said. 

More: Where is Greenfield, Iowa? Here's what we know about the deadly tornado

8:25 a.m.: Gov. Kim Reynolds begins tour of Greenfield, Iowa tornado damage

Gov. Kim Reynolds is in southwest Iowa touring damage from a tornado in Greenfield.

She said in a release Tuesday night, that she is "committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort."

A media briefing is expected later Wednesday morning.

8:20 a.m.: How much rain fell during severe storms in Iowa?

Many Iowa communities experienced heavy rainfall on Tuesday, soaking already wet ground.

Decorah, in northeast Iowa, recorded the most rain with 3.72 inches.

In central Iowa, Des Moines reported 1.52 inches and Ames reported 2.65 inches.

See more: How much rain did Iowa get during storms that brought severe weather and tornadoes?

7:15 a.m.: Iowa tornado map: where NWS survey teams are headed Wednesday

The National Weather Service in Des Moines said it would be sending three survey crews out into Iowa on Wednesday to search for tornado damage.

The first team will be searching in central Iowa, including in areas around Ankeny, Huxley and Nevada. One team will be focused just on the Greenfield area, where fatalities and large destruction have been confirmed , and a third team will head toward southwest Iowa around Clarinda, Creston and Corning.

Omaha's NWS office, which covers western Iowa, will also have teams in the state. They'll be searching in far southwest Iowa in areas like Red Oak.

Official confirmation of tornadoes and ratings for them may take several days.

7:05 a.m.: Flood warnings in effect for multiple Iowa rivers following storms, heavy rain

The National Weather Service has issued multiple flood warnings across Iowa as rivers and creeks swell from recent rainfall.

In the Des Moines area, the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers are expected to flood.

As of 7 a.m., the Raccon River at Fleur Drive was at 13.1 feet, or 1.1 feet above its banks. It's expected to crest early Thursday morning at 14.7 feet and fall back below its banks by Saturday. Water could reach low areas of Water Works Park and George Flagg Parkway.

The Des Moines River at SE Sixth Street was at 24.05 feet as of 7 a.m. Monday, that's just barely over flood stage. It's expected to reach 25.8 feet early Thursday morning and remain out of its banks until Saturday. At 25.7 feet, water will reach the base of the Simon Estes Amphitheater.

The Iowa River at Marengo and the North Skunk River at Sigourney could reach moderate flood stages.

6:45 a.m.: Traffic light damaged at major Grimes intersection on Iowa Highway 141

Travelers should consider avoiding traveling on Iowa Highway 141 through Grimes on Wednesday, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The traffic signals at SE Grimes Boulevard (Highway 141) and SE 37th Street sustained damaged during Tuesday's storms and are not working. Repairs are expected to be completed sometime on Wednesday.

The sheriff's office will have deputies at the intersection to help manage the flow of traffic during the morning commute, but delays are expected.

Gov. Kim Reynolds to visit hard-hit Greenfield Wednesday

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to visit Greenfield Wednesday morning, where multiple deaths and injuries were reported after a tornado ripped through the small city.

In a statement issued about 9 p.m. Tuesday, she said she and her husband, Kevin, were praying for "all the communities and families impacted by today’s severe weather, and especially those who tragically lost their lives in the Greenfield area. I am committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort."

The statement went on to say: “State and local officials are on the ground, assessing the situation and setting up temporary shelters for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. First responders and health care providers are onsite caring for the injured. Utility crews are working to restore service to thousands without power, and the State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate missions to support local responders. While it’s too soon to know the storm’s full impact, answers will come in the hours and days ahead.  

“It was just a few weeks ago that tornadoes hit several other Iowa communities, and it’s hard to believe that it’s happened again. Iowans are strong and resilient, and we will get through this together. 

“I plan to visit Greenfield in the morning to assess the damage with local officials and start the recovery process.” 

MidAmerican confirms wind turbines knocked over by Iowa tornadoes

MidAmerican Energy’s Geoff Greenwood said Tuesday the Des Moines utility was aware of several wind turbines in Adair County “which took a direct hit by a large tornado” and were damaged or destroyed. He said the company was continuing to assess losses in storm-damaged areas.

A social media video , described as being taken near Greenfield, shows a tornado shredding one turbine after another. Another video shows crumpled turbines on fire near Prescott in Adams County, southwest of Adair County.

Greenwood says it’s hard to know exactly where the Adair County video was taken to determine if the turbines are MidAmerican. And it's not aware of significant damage to its wind turbines in Adams County.

Nevada woman searches for doll collection ripped from home

A little over an hour had passed since a tornado hit June and Larry Handsacker’s house off of 650th Avenue near Nevada, and their family was already on the scene, pulling valued possessions from the wreckage.

Which, in June Handsacker’s case, are her dolls.

“All my dolls!” she said, pointing to a nearly intact china cabinet just inches from where the tornado cleaved her home in half. ”And those were just the dolls I bought, not the ones I made.”

She was in the dining room when the tornado passed through her home. She had left her husband in the basement for a moment to grab her phone when insulation came crashing down around her. They had to crawl over the debris to get out.

“I have over 100 porcelain dolls — ceramic pieces I made,” Handsacker said. “We don’t know where they are yet. It’ll be a matter of getting in there.”

Her own grandparents lost their home in the five-tornado spree that touched down in Charles City in 1968, and her grandfather was trapped for three days in his car. 

She said she and her husband know they’re lucky they came away unscathed; they believe that God was looking out for them.

“It pays to teach Sunday school!," she said. "Do you know how horrible those kids behave?”

Reynolds issues emergency declaration for 15 counties after Iowa tornadoes

Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster emergency proclamation for 15 counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clay, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Montgomery, Page, Palo Alto, Pottawattamie, Tama and Warren.  

With the proclamation, the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses.

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor's proclamation.

6:45 p.m.: Johnston High School cancels classes Wednesday after storm causes 'extensive' damage

There’s no school at Johnston High School on Wednesday after Tuesday afternoon’s storms caused “extensive” damage to the building, the Johnston Community School District announced on social media. 

The senior awards ceremony that had been scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed due to the damage and staff were told not to come to the building on Wednesday for their safety. 

District spokesperson Lynn Meadows told the Des Moines Register that the whole of the building has been affected, with glass shattered throughout the high school, damage to the roof, a shed that’s been ripped apart and an overhead door that’s been torn off. 

Meadows said Tuesday evening there’s not yet been a decision made about classes at the high school for the rest of the week after Wednesday. Thursday was to be the last day of school for seniors. 

She said the graduation ceremony scheduled for next week at the Knapp Center would not be affected. 

6:40 p.m.: No injuries reported after possible tornado in Red Oak, Iowa, but street department building destroyed

Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius, in a Facebook posting, said there were no reported injuries in an apparent tornado touchdown there, after a search and rescue operation.

The city street department's building "is likely a loss" and there were multiple downed powerlines. She said city street and wastewater employees who were present when the tornado touched down "are shook up but all are safe."

6:35 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Vinton area in northeast area

A tornado warning was issued for Independence, Vinton and Winthrop in northeast Iowa. The warning says it was issued for a radar-indicated tornado and the threat of quarter-sized hail. The warning expires at 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.: Where did tornadoes touchdowns reported in Iowa?

No tornadoes will officially be confirmed until the National Weather Service is able to send survey crews out into Iowa.

Unofficial reports from trained weather spotters throughout Tuesday included: A cluster of sightings in southwest Iowa in Cromwell, Prescott, Corning, Carbon, Red Oak and Villisca. Greenfield in southwest Iowa also appeared to be particularly hard hit. In central Iowa there were unconfirmed reports in Nevada, rural Story County and southeast of Polk City.

6:10 p.m.: Storm, tornado damage reports coming in to National Weather Service

Reports were pouring in from National Weather Service volunteer weather spotters around Iowa. Among the reports:

• A 71 mph wind gust southeast of Newton.
• A roof blown off and trees down just east of Johnston.
• Snapped utility poles in Windsor Heights.
• Trees down on homes and power lines in Mason City.
• A tree on a house in Carlisle.
• Damaged grain bins and trees in Hanlontown in Worth County.
• 1.5-inch hail in east of Melrose In Monroe County.
• Cropland and basement flooding in Altoona.

6:05 p.m.: Story County asks people to stay away from tornado damage

Tornado damage was reported in rural parts of Story County, Melissa Spencer, the county's emergency management coordinator told the Ames Tribune.

Damage was reported near Cambridge and on the south side of Nevada, Spencer said."We need people to stay away from the damaged areas," she said. "We’re getting a lot of people that are coming to look and see what happened."

6 p.m.: Traffic limited in Greenfield after tornado hits, damages hospital

Former state Rep. Clel Baudler said the fast-moving tornado hit shortly after he arrived back home late Tuesday afternoon from a trip to Texas, caused extensive damage and injuries in Greenfield, and caused authorities to limit traffic in and out of the Adair County town of more than 2,000.

“Ambulances are running north and south like crazy,” said Baudler, who left the Legislature in 2018. “It’s all rescue and recovery right now.”

More details: Extensive damage in Greenfield, hit by tornado during string of dangerous storms in Iowa

Baudler, a retired state trooper who lives on Highway 25 about a half mile north of Greenfield, said his mile-long farm wasn’t damaged but there was debris from the tornado in a neighbor’s yard. He was still without power at about 5:20 p.m.

He said the tornado ran “cattywampus” through town, exiting on the northeast side. He said he’d heard it damaged the Adair County Hospital at 609 SE Kent St. and the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center at 615 SE Kent.

A woman who answered the phone at the health care center confirmed it was hit, but said officials couldn’t talk as it was an emergency.

A MercyOne spokesperson previously confirmed to the Register that the hospital was damaged. The spokesperson told the Register shortly before 6 p.m. that the hospital had been evacuated. Further details were not immediately available.

The Adair County Sheriff also did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

6:00 p.m.: Delays reported at Des Moines airport passengers had to shelter

Des Moines International Airport spokesperson Kayla Kovarna said the airport halted flights as soon as a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area, and passengers and staff were escorted to storm-safe parts of the terminal.

She said Transportation Security Administration screening stations were in the process of reopening around 5:45 p.m. and that flights would resume shortly. She said some incoming flights were rerouted to other airports during the closure, but she didn't know how many had been affected.

5:55 p.m.: Overturned semis cause backup on Interstate 35 near Elkhart

Traffic is backed up for at least a mile on southbound Interstate 35 near Elkhart, Iowa.

A Register reporter observed at least four overturned semitrailers on the side of the interstate. Emergency crews were on scene.

5:06 p.m.: Tornado warning issued near I-80 for Newton

A tornado warning has been issued in Newton, Colfax and Baxter until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a radar indicated tornado and possible pea sized hail.

4:57 pm.: 'Damaging tornado' reported near Nevada

A tornado warning has been issued for Nevada, Huxley and State Center until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a damaging tornado and possible quarter-sized hail.

4:50 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Iowa Falls area

A tornado warning was issued for Iowa Falls, Alden and Radcliffe until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a radar indicated tornado and possible quarter sized hail.

4:45 p.m.: Des Moines tornado warnings include 'observed tornadoes'

A tornado warning has been issued to include Des Moines, Altoona and Norwalk until 5:15 p.m. Threats include a radar-indicated tornado and half dollar sized hail. 

In an update at 4:45 p.m., the NWS said bot warnings in the Des Moines metro included observed tornadoes.

4:20 p.m. Tornado warning includes Ankeny, Johnston and Waukee

A radar-indicated tornado prompted a tornado warning for parts of the Des Moines metro area until 5 p.m. Quarter-sized hail is also possible.

Video shows heavy damage after tornado in Greenfield, Iowa

Journalists with Des Moines TV station WHO are in Greenfield, Iowa, which appears to have been hit by a tornado earlier on Tuesday. Video posted to social media shows several damaged buildings in the town located at the intersection of Iowa Highways 25 and 92.

The Adair County Health System hospital in Greenfield was damaged, a MercyOne spokesperson told the Register.

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Des Moines metro as strong storms arrive

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued as a line of storms approaches the Des Moines metro area.

The entire metro area is included in the warning that stretches south of the metro and up north to Ames, Gilbert and Nevada. It includes Winterset on the western edge and through to MItchelville on the east side. It is in effect until 5:15 p.m.

Threats include wind up to 60 mph as well as possible quarter-sized hail and tornadoes.

Tornado warning issued around Webster City

A tornado warning has been issued to include Webster City, Jewell Junction and Stratford until 4:45 p.m.

The NWS warning is for a radar-indicated tornado and the risk of quarter-sized hail.

What is a stovepipe tornado?

A stovepipe tornado is one where the width of the tornado is about the same from when it meets the ground all the way up to where it connects to the base of the above thunderstorm, according to AccuWeather. Stormchasers have described some storms in western Iowa Tuesday as stovepipe tornadoes.

It is considered the cousin of a cone tornado, which is similar in size but tapers as it extends downward to the ground.

3:55 p.m.: Flood warning issued for Fourmile Creek in Des Moines

A flood warning has been issued for Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines, according to the NWS.

The crest forecast is 13.9 feet, assuming Des Moines gets 0.75 inches of additional rain. At 13 feet the water threatens the dog park on Hubbell Avenue At 14 feet, widespread flooding occurs, NWS said, affecting lowland areas like the community center on Easton Boulevard.

3:40 p.m. Tornado warning issued for Greenfield, Winterset, Earlham as storms move closer to Des Moines

As storms head east, they have begun to enter the Des Moines metro area.

A tornado warning centered around Greenfield is in effect until 4:15 p.m.

The warning includes Stuart and stretches to Redfield in southwest Dallas County until 4:15 p.m.

Another warning includes Creston and stretches up toward Earlham and Winterset on the edges of the Des Moines metro. That warning goes until 4:30 p.m.

3:14 p.m.: Tornado reported near Corning, Prescott

Additional tornado warnings continue to be issued in southwest Iowa.

A warning for Corning, Orient and Prescott is in effect until 4 p.m. KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre was near Prescott with a live feed of a tornado on the ground.

Video captured by a storm chaser showed a tornado around 3 p.m. near Carbon, Iowa.

A warning is also in effect for Guthrie Center, Panora and Exire until 4 p.m.

3:05 p.m.: Damaging tornado reported in southwest Iowa:

The National Weather Service is continuing a warning for Fontanelle, Orient and Bridgewater until 3:45 p.m. The alert described it as a "life-threatening situation" with a damaging tornado reported.

3 p.m.: Tornado reported in Red Oak, Iowa; warnings in southwest Iowa

Meteorologists and storm chasers in western Iowa have reported a tornado on the ground in Red Oak. An emergency manager in the area said it was located near the Red Oak airport around 2:27 p.m.

The area is under a tornado warning until 3 p.m.

A tornado warning is also in effect for areas around Essex, Hepburn, Stanton and Villisca until 3:30 p.m.

The NWS issued a new tornado warning at 2:57 p.m. for Fontanele, Orient and Bridgewater for a radar-indicated tornado and quarter-size hail possible. It expires at 3:45 p.m.

Tornado watches issued for all of Iowa ahead of next round of severe weather

All of Iowa is under a tornado watch for Tuesday afternoon.

A tornado watch issued around 1:15 p.m. covers all of central and eastern Iowa and extends into portions of western Iowa. It will be in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The main threats are several strong tornadoes, scattered softball-size hail and wind gusts up to 90 mph, according to a post announcing the watch from the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued several tornado warnings for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for radar-indicated tornadoes as the storms develop in that area.

An earlier watch covers the remaining western Iowa counties until 5 p.m. Forecasters warned of winds up to 70 mph in those areas.

When will more severe storms hit Iowa? NWS says this afternoon could be 'very dangerous'

The National Weather Service shared a graphic on social media showing the approximate timing for storms later today. In a comment on a Facebook post , the NWS said this afternoon's storms are "expected to be very dangerous"

Thunderstorms will likely start in west Iowa around 2 p.m., making their way to Des Moines and central Iowa around 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., the severe weather will be entering eastern Iowa.

What's the difference between a severe weather watch and a severe weather warning?

A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. They often cover large areas.

Warnings are issued when severe weather is actually happening and Iowans need to take action.

Read more: What's the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning?

12:10 p.m.: Thousands without power after storms hit central Iowa

Crews are working quickly to restore power to Iowans across the state. At one point, MidAmerican showed more than 7,000 people without power in Iowa as a result of Tuesday’s storms.

As of 12:10 p.m., the number of customers without power in the Des Moines metro area was around 2,100. The Council Bluffs area was down to about 100 customers, after having more than 1,000 outages this morning.

Alliant Energy was down to about 60 customers in the state without power.

11:48 a.m.: Large hail reported in Waukee, Pella

A severe thunderstorm moving through central Iowa produced large hail.

Two reports submitted to the National Weather Service around 11:20 a.m. listed 2 inch diameter hail near Pella.

Waukee experienced hail ranging from the size of a nickel to as big as a quarter, at 9:07 a.m. according to a trained weather sportter. Wind gusts up to 55 mph were also reported.

A warning issued for Pottawattamie County, home to Council Bluffs, until 7:30 a.m. warned of baseball size hail.

Hail that large is sometimes called "gorilla" hail for its large size and destructive power.

11:28 a.m.: Metro schools dismissing early due to severe weather threat

Several Des Moines metro school districts plan to dismiss classes early on Tuesday due to the threat of more severe storms this afternoon.

• Ankeny Schools : Two hour early out
• Des Moines Public Schools: Two hour early dismissal. There will be no Metro Kids Care or evening activities. Elementary schools are out at 12:40 p.m. while middle and high schools are out at 1:25 p.m.
• Southeast Polk Community School District: Two hour early dismissal resulting in no evening preschool or evening activities. 
• Urbandale Community School District: Early dismissal and no half-day preschool
• Waukee Community School District: Two hour early dismissal and after school activities are canceled. The district is still waiting for state guidance regarding state playoff events.
• West Des Moines Community Schools: Two out early dismissal 

11:18 a.m.: Storms dump nearly 3 inches of rain in central Iowa

Des Moines has received just over an inch and a half of rain since severe weather entered Iowa early on Monday, with 1.07 inches since midnight.

Some locations in the state are nearing three inches of rain since last night. Here are the highest rainfall totals as of 11 a.m Tuesday:

• Harlan: 2.99 inches
• Audubon: 2.95 inches
• Iowa Falls: 2.63 inches
• Waterloo: 2.57 inches
• Decorah: 2.15 inches
• Ankeny: 2.02 inches

9:55 a.m.: Des Moines roads blocked by storm debris

At least two roads in Des Moines are closed after a round of severe storms moved through the metro area.

The Des Moines Police Department received a small number of reports of power lines down and tree damage.

There are temporary lane closures at the 3300 block of Grand Avenue and the 3900 block of Urbandale Avenue. No significant damage or injury have been reported as of now, according to DMPD. 

9:28 a.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning extended in Polk County, to the east

The severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Des Moines metro has been extended until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Dallas County has been dropped from the warning, but it now extends into Jasper County and as far east as Grinnell and as far south as Pella.

Threats include 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. The extended warning covers over 349,600 people. 

8:42 a.m.: Sirens sound in Des Moines as severe thunderstorm warning issued

Much of Dallas and Polk counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Storm sirens began sounding just after 8:40 a.m. in the metro. Cities around Des Moines are at risk of winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.

The warning covers just north of Ankeny and as far south as Truro. It stretches to Redfield and Winterset in the west and Milo in the east.

Dallas and Polk counties both activate sirens for tornadoes or severe thunderstorms with winds over 70 mph. The warning meets that criteria, unlike a storm on Sunday night that activated the sirens in error .

Sirens do not sound continuously during a warning. They will sound for 3-5 minutes and then pause for 10-15 before repeating. There is not an all-clear sound when a warning expires.

What does the Des Moines, Iowa doppler radar show?

Here's a look at the current National Weather Service radar loop for central Iowa:

8:10 a.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued on edge of Des Moines' western suburbs

Areas around the Des Moines metro are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The warning extends from Dallas Center, down to Winterset and as far west as Adel. Possible threats include winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.

Just over 34,000 people live within the warning area.

What is Tuesday's severe weather outlook in Des Moines?

The National Weather Service upgraded the risk of severe weather for most of Iowa. A majority of the state it rated "moderate" risk, a level 4 on a scale of 1-5.

More: How much rain did Des Moines get so far? Here are the rainfall totals for Iowa through Monday morning

Multiple rounds of storms are expected to continue through the morning. But, the strongest storms are expected to arrive in central Iowa between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are the primary threats, according to the NWS. Tornadoes — some strong — are also possible.

More: How do tornadoes form? Explaining the severe weather after dozens of recent Iowa tornadoes

Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for Iowa until 1 p.m.

A large portion of central Iowa extending from the southern border to U.S. Highway 20 is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The main threats are ping-pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts that could reach 75 mph. Tornadoes are also possible.

What should you do during a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning?

During a severe weather warning, it's time to take action and follow your plan.

NWS has tips for what to do at different locations:

• Stay Weather Ready:  Continue to follow local news or listen to a  NOAA Weather Radio  to stay updated about watches and warnings.
• At Your House:  Go to your secure location, like the basement or lowest floor level, if you hear a warning. Take your pets with you if time allows.
• At Your Workplace or School:  Stay away from windows. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
• Outside:  Go inside a sturdy building immediately. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly.
• In a Vehicle:  Being in a vehicle during severe weather is safer than being outside, but, drive to the closest secure shelter if there is sufficient time. Do not stop and park under a bridge or underpass.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at  [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter  @VictoriaReynaR .

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Playing pickleball as a safe alternative to more dangerous sports bernhard langer has some bad news, share this article.

Bernhard Langer, known for his commitment to fitness, tore his left Achilles tendon while playing pickleball back in February in an incident that surprised the all-time leading winner in PGA Tour Champions history .

In fact, Langer said he assumed the game was a safe alternative to other sports, and even though he defied the odds by returning to action just three months later at the Insperity Invitational, he’s still advising others to tread lightly when it comes to playing the popular game.

“It shocked me because I thought pickleball was not a dangerous sport,” Langher said this week in advance of the KitchenAide Senior PGA. “I go snow skiing and do a lot of other things that seem a lot more dangerous than pickleball.

“When you talk to orthopedic surgeons they will prove me or anybody wrong. Fifty percent of their clientele is pickleball players, believe it or not. Has nothing to do with fitness. Nothing whatsoever.”

When a reporter suggested avoiding the sport, Langer responded, “Good move.”

Bernhard Langer lines up his putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Network)

The two-time Masters champ will be among the field of 156 golfers at Harbor Shores Resort, Benton Harbor, Michigan, which is hosting for the sixth time since 2012.

As for his injury, Langer said he heard anecdotally that many friends needed nearly a year to recover, but he was thrilled to pop back up quickly with the help of a physical therapist.

In terms of how the injury occurs, it’s more about the motion than it is the fitness of the athlete.

“Yeah, whether you’re fit or not you can tear your Achilles any time. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles, and baseball and football players and bobsledders, anybody, and they’re very, very fit, believe me,” he said. “The bobsled on ice when they push the bobsled, two men, four men, and then they jump in and they’re as fit as any athlete in the world, and they tear the Achilles more than anyone in the world. It’s that motion, just putting that pressure on it.”

During his recovery, Langer shared a nervous moment when his therapist instructed him to get directly up from a seated position.

“I was scared. You know, I was non-weight bearing for a while, and then my PT, one day we were doing the hour session and sits me in the chair and says, get up. What am I holding on to? No, get up. I said, not sure I can do that,” Langer recounted. “And it’s not me. I’m not a fearful person. I just knew how weak my leg was and didn’t think I could do it. He said, okay, here is a pole. Hold on to the pole, now get up. That was no problem. I did that three or four times and less and less pressure on the pole and more and more on my legs.

“I was like, I can do that. Take the pole. I got up and it was up here. But yeah, it’s fascinating what’s going on in our bodies.”

Langer tees it up alongside Retief Goosen and Y.E. Yang on Thursday at 7:59 a.m. ET in the first round.

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‘Legitimately dangerous’: Google’s erroneous AI Overviews spark mockery, concern

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Join us in returning to NYC on June 5th to collaborate with executive leaders in exploring comprehensive methods for auditing AI models regarding bias, performance, and ethical compliance across diverse organizations. Find out how you can attend here .

Should you add glue to your pizza , stare directly at the sun for 30 minutes per day, eat rocks or a poisonous mushroom or treat a snake bite with ice ?

According to information served up through Google Search’s new “AI Overview” feature, these obviously stupid and harmful suggestions are not only good ideas, but the top of all possible results a user should see when searching with its signature product.

Cool pic.twitter.com/DsQQ1bC6A9 — Michael Ballaban (@Ballaban) May 24, 2024

Good ol’ Google AI: telling you to do the exact things you *are not supposed to do* when bitten by a rattlesnake. From mushrooms to snakebites, AI content is genuinely dangerous. pic.twitter.com/UZXgBjsre9 — ern. (@ErinEARoss) May 19, 2024

How’s Google’s transition to AI search going? Yummy mushrooms! Oh wait pic.twitter.com/eRxDy5zC0h — Julian Harris (@julianharris) May 23, 2024

What is going on, where did all this bad information come from, and why is Google putting at the top of its search results pages right now? Let’s dive in.

What is Google AI Overview?

In its bid to catch-up to rival OpenAI and its hit chatbot ChatGPT in the large language model (LLM) chatbot and search game, Google introduced a new feature called “ Search Generative Experience” nearly a year ago in May 2023.

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It was described then as: “an AI-powered snapshot of key information to consider, with links to dig deeper,” and appeared basically as a new paragraph of text right below the Google Search input bar, above the traditional list of blue links the user typically got when searching Google.

The feature was said to be powered by Search-specific AI models. At the time, it was an “opt-in” service and users had to go through a number of hoops to turn it on.

But 10 days ago at Google’s I/O conference , amid a fleet of AI-related announcements, the company announced the Search Generative Experience had been renamed AI Overviews and was coming as the default experience on Google Search to all users, beginning with those in the U.S.

There are ways to turn it off or perform Google Searches without AI Overviews (namely the “Web” tab on Google Search), but now, in this case, users have to take a few extra steps to do so.

Why is Google AI Overview controversial?

Ever since Google turned AI Overviews on as the default for users in the U.S., some have been taking to X and other social sites to post the horrible, awful, no-good results that come up in the feature when searching different queries.

In some cases, the AI-powered feature chooses to display wildly incorrect, inflammatory and downright dangerous information.

Shoving a confidently wrong chatbot trained on Reddit into a service marketed for decades as a portal to the world’s knowledge is reckless and legitimately dangerous. https://t.co/82VN9Y4WuU — Meredith Whittaker (@mer__edith) May 24, 2024

Even celebrities including musician Lil Nas X joined in the pile-on.

Other results are more harmless but still incorrect and make Google look stupid and unreliable:

https://t.co/bPwK8Stt8d pic.twitter.com/CnizQP3vIq — Scott Nover (@ScottNover) May 22, 2024

we're fuckin cooked man pic.twitter.com/sRBTwnjCc0 — Z. Emerson ? (@World0fEcho) May 24, 2024

The poor quality AI generated results have taken on a life of their own and even become a meme with some users photoshopping answers into screenshots to make Google look even worse that it already does in the real results:

? https://t.co/561QFdbtdn pic.twitter.com/uJGwVy6M8u — ozlako #FRAPPATTACKFRIDAY (@ozlako) May 23, 2024

Thank you Google AI pic.twitter.com/YAJvUuGyun — ?️‍⚧️Graph Crimes?️‍? (@GraphCrimes) May 24, 2024

Google has qualified the AI Overview feature as being “experimental,” putting the following text at the bottom of each result: “Generative AI is experimental,” and linking to a page that describes the new feature in more detail.

On that page, Google writes: “AI Overviews can take the work out of searching by providing an AI-generated snapshot with key information and links to dig deeper…With user feedback and human reviews, we evaluate and improve the quality of our results and products responsibly.”

Will Google pull AI/Overview?

But some users took to X (formerly Twitter) to call upon Google or predict that the search giant would end up removing the AI Overview feature, at least temporarily, similar to the tack taken by Google after its Gemini AI image generation feature was shown to create racially and historically inaccurate images earlier this year, inflaming prominent Silicon Valley libertarians and politically conservative figures such as Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk.

odds Google pauses AI Overviews within a week? https://t.co/DH5bEp20LI — Alex Heath (@alexeheath) May 24, 2024

Here's what's going to happen with Google AI summary search. https://t.co/nGe5kC87VS pic.twitter.com/n8C8lLGS5w — Ryan Broderick (@broderick) May 24, 2024

In a statement to The Verge , a Google spokesperson said of the AI Overview feature that users were showing examples “generally very uncommon queries, and aren’t representative of most people’s experiences.”

In addition, The Verge reported that: “The company has taken action against violations of its policies…and are using these ‘isolated examples’ to continue to refine the product.”

Yet as some have observed on X, this sounds an awful lot like victim blaming.

it's completely damning of google's principles that its defense for the failure of AI search is that the queries being asked are "uncommon." like a library telling you the more infrequently a book is taken out, the less you should trust it https://t.co/VzyAlxM4Sm pic.twitter.com/hD2VBIqNhy — James Vincent (@jjvincent) May 24, 2024

A Google spokesperson reached out to me after this story was published to provide the following statement:

 “The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web. Many of the examples we’ve seen have been uncommon queries, and we’ve also seen examples that were doctored or that we couldn’t reproduce. We conducted extensive testing before launching this new experience, and as with other features we’ve launched in Search, we appreciate the feedback. We’re taking swift action where appropriate under our content policies, and using these examples to develop broader improvements to our systems, some of which have already started to roll out.”

Others have posited that AI developers could be held legally liable for dangerous results such as the kind shown in AI Overview:

we're probably a couple wrongful death lawsuits away from the end of the hype cycle https://t.co/LpeOOYMIyd — Michael Becker (@michae1becker) May 23, 2024

time to resurrect this correct tweet now that Google is apparently rollin' the old dice to decide whether it's going to tell you that you can mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or not. https://t.co/XGFUZXU7rq — Dan Davies (@dsquareddigest) May 24, 2024

Importantly, tech journalists and other digitally literate users have noted that Google appears to be using its AI models to create summaries of content it has indexed in its Search index previously, content it did not originate but is nonetheless relying upon to provide its users with “key information.”

I know everyone is laughing at Google for its AI search results suggesting we should eat rocks. The funniest part is that the rocks thing also appeared on regular featured snippets, so it’s not just AI results. Perhaps Google is more broken than we think pic.twitter.com/2GWHJ4HKvu — Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 24, 2024

Google you're telling me that almost 6% of people have borderline personality disorder at some point in their lives?? nope, the AI just pulled that number from an awkwardly worded blog post from a nonprofit pic.twitter.com/6TdYRcnmS2 — Louise Matsakis (@lmatsakis) May 23, 2024

Google AI overview suggests adding glue to get cheese to stick to pizza, and it turns out the source is an 11 year old Reddit comment from user F*cksmith ? pic.twitter.com/uDPAbsAKeO — Peter Yang (@petergyang) May 23, 2024

god I love the "Beatles song about leaving a dog in a hot car" meme glad to see it's still got wheels https://t.co/xy1cZqkx9l — fakenews vinnie-chan (@hadjiDP) May 23, 2024

Ultimately, it’s hard to say what percentage of searches display this erroneous information.

But one thing is clear: AI Overview seems to be more prone than Google Search was previously to disinformation from untrustworthy sources, or information posted as a joke which the underlying AI models responsible for summarization cannot understand as such, and instead treat as serious.

Now, whether users actually act upon the information provided in these results remains to be seen — but if they do, it is clearly unwise and could pose risks to their health and safety.

Let’s hope users are smart enough to check alternate sources. Say, rival AI search startup Perplexity , which seems to have less problems surfacing correct information than Google’s AI Overviews at the moment (an unfortunate irony for the search giant and its users, given Google’s role in first conceiving of and articulating the machine learning transformer architecture at the heart of the modern generative AI/LLM boom).

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Playing pickleball as a safe alternative to more dangerous sports? Bernhard Langer has some bad news

B ernhard Langer, known for his commitment to fitness, tore his left Achilles tendon while playing pickleball back in February in an incident that surprised the all-time leading winner in PGA Tour Champions history .

In fact, Langer said he assumed the game was a safe alternative to other sports, and even though he defied the odds by returning to action just three months later at the Insperity Invitational, he's still advising others to tread lightly when it comes to playing the popular game.

"It shocked me because I thought pickleball was not a dangerous sport," Langher said this week in advance of the KitchenAide Senior PGA. "I go snow skiing and do a lot of other things that seem a lot more dangerous than pickleball.

"When you talk to orthopedic surgeons they will prove me or anybody wrong. Fifty percent of their clientele is pickleball players, believe it or not. Has nothing to do with fitness. Nothing whatsoever."

When a reporter suggested avoiding the sport, Langer responded, "Good move."

Bernhard Langer lines up his putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Network)

The two-time Masters champ will be among the field of 156 golfers at Harbor Shores Resort, Benton Harbor, Michigan, which is hosting for the sixth time since 2012.

As for his injury, Langer said he heard anecdotally that many friends needed nearly a year to recover, but he was thrilled to pop back up quickly with the help of a physical therapist.

In terms of how the injury occurs, it's more about the motion than it is the fitness of the athlete.

"Yeah, whether you're fit or not you can tear your Achilles any time. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles, and baseball and football players and bobsledders, anybody, and they're very, very fit, believe me," he said. "The bobsled on ice when they push the bobsled, two men, four men, and then they jump in and they're as fit as any athlete in the world, and they tear the Achilles more than anyone in the world. It's that motion, just putting that pressure on it."

During his recovery, Langer shared a nervous moment when his therapist instructed him to get directly up from a seated position.

"I was scared. You know, I was non-weight bearing for a while, and then my PT, one day we were doing the hour session and sits me in the chair and says, get up. What am I holding on to? No, get up. I said, not sure I can do that," Langer recounted. "And it's not me. I'm not a fearful person. I just knew how weak my leg was and didn't think I could do it. He said, okay, here is a pole. Hold on to the pole, now get up. That was no problem. I did that three or four times and less and less pressure on the pole and more and more on my legs.

"I was like, I can do that. Take the pole. I got up and it was up here. But yeah, it's fascinating what's going on in our bodies."

Langer tees it up alongside Retief Goosen and Y.E. Yang on Thursday at 7:59 a.m. ET in the first round.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Playing pickleball as a safe alternative to more dangerous sports? Bernhard Langer has some bad news

Money blog: Manchester United staff 'given week to resign' in WFH crackdown

Manchester United staff have reportedly been given a week to decide whether to resign under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans to end working from home. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog below, and leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Wednesday 29 May 2024 21:15, UK

• Get your holiday money now! Pound hits nearly two-year high against euro
• Popular broadband provider hiking monthly payments from July 
• Manchester United staff reportedly given week to resign in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's WFH crackdown
• Spotify launches cheaper deals - but there's a catch
• UK has highest diesel prices in Europe

Essential reads

• Head chef at UK's number one gastropub shares favourite cheap pasta recipe
• Women in Business : 'A truck unloaded a £600 car that her son bought on eBay thinking it was a toy' - the schoolgate stories that led to GoHenry
• Money Problem : 'My mortgage lender is ending my two-year fix and I haven't been in the house for two years - can they do this?'
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

If you've missed any of the features we've been running in Money this year, or want to check back on something you've previously seen in the blog, this archive of our most popular articles may help...

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

Pets At Home has reported a dip in profits – which it has partly blamed on owners spending less on toys and accessories for their animals.

The chain, which also provides vet services, said pre-tax profit for the year to March was £105.7m, down 13.7% on the same period the year before.

The retailer said on Wednesday that profitability had been "impacted by short-term availability issues as we transitioned to our new DC [distribution centre] and weaker performance of discretionary accessories".

However, the company also said it was confident in its growth strategy and insisted it was "not threatened" by a new watchdog investigation into the vet industry.

The Competition and Markets Authority recently launched the probe following concerns that pet owners could be paying too much for healthcare.

Pets At Home also reported that revenues for its vet business jumped 16.8% as it continued to expand into the sector.

It said total revenue grew by 5.2% to £1.5bn for the year.

Whoever wins the general election, one potential headache for the new administration will be Thames Water.

The current government has already drawn up contingency plans, known as Project Timber, for the possible collapse of a company currently saddled with debt of £15.4bn.

The scenario also features strongly on a dossier of potential crises compiled by Sue Gray, Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, that an incoming Labour government would face.

Talk of a potential collapse has moved up the agenda because Thames Water's owners, which include the Canadian pensions giant Omers, the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a unit of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the China Investment Corporation, have declined to inject more equity into the business. They had previously offered to inject a further £3.25bn, on top of £500m last year, were Ofwat, the regulator, to support the company's plans.

But Ofwat is refusing to allow Thames to raise its levels of investment and customer bills to the extent that the company is proposing . 

Thames had asked Ofwat to approve an £18.7bn investment which would have entailed a 44% average increase in customer bills over the next regulatory period due to run from 2025-30. It tweaked this submission in April to raise investment to £19.8bn during the period with no extra increase in bills.

Ofwat was due to publish its "final deliberation" on investment plans and customer bills for the entire water industry, including Thames, on 12 June but has moved it back to 11 July due to the general election.

The Guardian reported earlier this week that Ofwat is set to refuse the requests of most water companies, including Thames, with some operators being allowed to raise bills by as little as half of what they had asked for.

Such an approach is consistent with Ofwat's historic approach of keeping water bills low as its main priority rather than, for example, permitting higher investment to tackle sewage spills.

However, there are signs that Ofwat may be prepared to compromise, at least to an extent.

The Financial Times reports today that the regulator is drawing up plans for a special "recovery regime" for Thames and other financially stressed UK water companies in a bid to avoid nationalisation.

It suggests that companies with "recovery regime" status could receive fewer or no regulatory penalties to encourage them to invest in infrastructure improvements instead, as well as being given more "realistic" targets for reducing sewage and water leaks and outages.

The regulator finds itself with a dilemma. Ofwat does not want Thames to collapse, not least because such an event would intensify criticism that the regulator allowed Thames's previous owners – most notably the Australian investment bank Macquarie – to load the company with debt while extracting enormous dividends (the current investors have received no dividends since 2017).

Ofwat's ministerial overlords – of both parties – will also be aware that an administration of Thames would deter the very international investors the UK desperately needs to attract to pay for infrastructure improvements.

On the other hand, though, Ofwat does not want to face accusations that it is being unduly lenient on a company that has been badly behaved in the past.

Now, it is fair to say that Ofwat is offering an olive branch here. Only two weeks ago, it said it was "minded" to punish Thames for breaching licence conditions over a £37.5m dividend paid to shareholders in October last year (Thames points out the payment was made to Kemble Water, its parent holding company, and was necessary to maintain the latter's solvency). That could result in another fine worth tens of millions of pounds.

The big question is whether this compromise will be enough to shore up Thames's financial situation. Ofwat has fined Thames £175m during the last three years which, while being a large sum, is a relatively trifling amount set against Thames's debts.

So it probably would not be enough, of itself, to persuade Thames's owner to pump more equity into the business. Omers, the biggest single shareholder in Thames, has already written down the entire value of its 31.7% stake in the company to nothing. USS, which has more than half a million scheme members in British universities and which owns nearly 20% of Thames, has written down the value of its shareholding from £956m at the end of 2022 to just £364.4m as at the end of last year.

What today's news reveals is that there is a compromise to be reached here. The extra month before Ofwat is due to publish its draft deliberation has bought both sides a little more time.

But it feels as if, with Ofwat in no mood to back down with Thames over its proposed increase in investment and customer bills, the latter's shareholders have run out of patience.

A "special administration" of Thames – something neither Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer would want to see – still feels like the way to be betting.

NOW Broadband is raising prices by an average of £3 a month from 5 July.

The company, owned by Sky, didn't raise prices in line with inflation in April - making it somewhat of an outlier.

But the summer raise will add an average of £36 a year to customer bills.

However, the company offers a no-penalty exit option.

Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said: "Another mid-contract price increase unfortunately means bigger bills for already cash-strapped consumers. 

"However, it is encouraging that NOW Broadband customers have the option to leave penalty free if they don't want to accept this change."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

The pound reached a 19-month high against the euro this morning as £1 equalled €1.1784. 

Not since late August 2022 was sterling so strong against the currency of Eurozone states. 

So if you're going on holidays to somewhere using the euro, now would be a good time to exchange pounds as you'll be getting more for your money than you would have.

Rates have come down slightly this afternoon - though are still high at €1.1746.

The pound buying more euro will mean it's cheaper for UK importers to buy goods - so some prices could come down. 

It's happening because the interest rate-setters at the European Central Bank (ECB) look set to bring rates down at their meeting next week.

Manchester United staff have reportedly been given a week to decide whether to resign under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans to end working from home.

The club's non-football staff were invited to take redundancy by next Wednesday in an email sent on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reports .

Sir Jim has taken over the day-to-day running of the club and is making it compulsory for staff to work from their offices in Manchester or London from 1 June, the paper says.

Staff who do not wish to do so can quit and are being offered early payment of an annual bonus, it added.

A United spokesman told The Daily Telegraph the move "isn't a voluntary redundancy programme". 

They added: "The club recognises that not everyone wants to work from the office full-time so has provided options for staff who don't wish to return to the office to step away now."

Sky News has contacted Manchester United for comment.

Junior doctors in England are set to strike for five days starting next month - part of a long-running dispute over pay.

The strike is set to run from 7am on 27 June to 2 July.

It means the dispute clash with the  general election campaign, with polling day on 4 July.

Read the full story here ...

Parents see personal finance as a more important life skill than maths for schoolchildren, according to new research.

A poll by Nationwide suggests the majority (89%) of parents of children aged eight to 13 think finance education would help their kids understand the value of money.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that personal finance even ranked above maths, digital skills and cooking as vital skills for children - coming second only to literacy.

More than eight in 10 parents (84%) said their child hadn't had any finance education at school, despite the vast majority saying it was important for children to understand money.

The top subjects parents value at school are:

• Literacy (66%)
• Personal finance (59%)
• Maths (51%)
• Cooking (41%)
• Digital skills (26%)

Personal finance was deemed the most important subject for children and young people among parents polled in Brighton, Belfast and Newcastle. 

Amanda Beech, director of retail services at Nationwide, said financial education can "help young people get to grips with the world of money". 

One of the big gainers on the stock market this morning is International Distributions Services, the owner of Royal Mail.

Shares in the company are up more than 3% on the FTSE 250 index after the company's board announced it had agreed to a takeover by "Czech Sphinx" Daniel Kretinsky.

Read more on that here...

While the deal is yet to be approved by shareholders and regulators, investors are clearly excited at the prospect of the £3.6bn agreement.

At the other end of the scale, online delivery firm Ocado has plunged more than 6% in early trading.

It comes after reports that it is a leading candidate to be relegated from the FTSE 100 - along with asset manager St James's Place, which is down 1.6%.

The FTSE 100 overall is down 0.2% this morning amid ongoing uncertainty over interest rate cuts in the US.

Gainers include mining firm Fresnillo and water firm United Utilities, which are both up more than 2.4%.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.27 US or €1.17 - similar to yesterday.

A barrel of benchmark Brent crude has climbed to almost $85 (£66.60) this morning, a rise of nearly 1%.

Spotify subscribers have the chance to nab a slightly cheaper deal after it quietly launched new plans - but you'll have to be willing to give up one thing.

If you pay for an individual, duo or family subscription, you can save up to £24 a year by switching to one of the music platform's new "basic" plans, according to Money Saving Expert .

The catch, though, is that you'll lose audiobooks. All the other benefits such as no ads, song downloads and higher-quality audio will remain for existing subscribers.

The "basic" plans are the same price as Spotify's premium options used to be before it hiked prices last month. Most of the premium plans include 15 hours a month of audiobook listening time.

Only existing Spotify subscribers can get the new basic option for now - there's no date set for when they'll become available to everyone, Money Saving Expert said.

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Whales Have an Alphabet

Until the 1960s, it was uncertain whether whales made any sounds at all..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

Today, ever since the discovery that whales produce songs, scientists have been trying to find a way to decipher their lyrics. After 60 years, they may have finally done it. My colleague, Carl Zimmer, explains.

It’s Friday, May 24.

I have to say, after many years of working with you on everything from the pandemic to —

— CRISPR DNA technology, that it turns out your interests are even more varied than I had thought, and they include whales.

They do indeed.

And why? What is it about the whale that captures your imagination?

I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who is not fascinated by whales. I mean, these are mammals like us, and they’re swimming around in the water. They have brains that are much bigger than ours. They can live maybe 200 years. These are incredible animals, and animals that we still don’t really understand.

Right. Well, it is this majestic creature that brings us together today, Carl, because you have been reporting on a big breakthrough in our understanding of how it is that whales communicate. But I think in order for that breakthrough to make sense, I think we’re going to have to start with what we have known up until now about how whales interact. So tell us about that.

Well, people knew that whales and dolphins traveled together in groups, but up until the 1960s, we didn’t really know that whales actually made any sounds at all. It was actually sort of an accident that we came across it. The American military was developing sophisticated microphones to put underwater. They wanted to listen for Russian submarines.

As one does. But there was an engineer in Bermuda, and he started hearing some weird stuff.

[WHALE SOUNDS]

And he wondered maybe if he was actually listening to whales.

What made him wonder if it was whales, of all things?

Well, this sound did not sound like something geological.

It didn’t sound like some underwater landslide or something like that. This sounded like a living animal making some kind of call. It has these incredible deep tones that rise up into these strange, almost falsetto type notes.

It was incredibly loud. And so it would have to be some really big animal. And so with humpback whales swimming around Bermuda, this engineer thought, well, maybe these are humpback whales.

And so he gets in touch with a husband and wife team of whale biologists, Roger and Katy Payne, and plays these recordings to them. And they’re pretty convinced that they’re hearing whales, too. And then they go on to go out and confirm that by putting microphones in the water, chasing after groups of whales and confirming, yes, indeed, that these sounds are coming from these humpback whales.

So once these scientists confirm in their minds that these are the sounds of a whale, what happens with this discovery?

Well, Roger and Katy Payne and their colleagues are astonished that this species of whale is swimming around singing all the time for hours on end. And it’s so inspirational to them that they actually help to produce a record that they release “The Song of the Humpback Whale” in 1970.

And so this is being sold in record stores, you know, along with Jimi Hendrix and Rolling Stones. And it is a huge hit.

Yeah, it sells like two million copies.

Well, at the time, it was a huge cultural event. This record, this became almost like an anthem of the environmental movement. And it led, for whales in particular, to a lot of protections for them because now people could appreciate that whales were a lot more marvelous and mysterious than they maybe had appreciated before.

And so you have legislation, like the Marine Mammal Act. The United States just agrees just to stop killing whales. It stops its whaling industry. And so you could argue that the discovery of these whale songs in Bermuda led to at least some species of whales escaping extinction.

Well, beyond the cultural impact of this discovery, which is quite meaningful, I wonder whether scientists and marine biologists are figuring out what these whale songs are actually communicating.

So the Paynes create a whole branch of science, the study of whale songs. It turns out that pretty much every species of whale that we know of sings in some way or another. And it turns out that within a species, different groups of whales in different parts of the world may sing with a different dialect. But the big question of what these whales are singing, what do these songs mean, that remains elusive into the 21st century. And things don’t really change until scientists decide to take a new look at the problem in a new way.

And what is that new way?

So in 2020, a group of whale biologists, including Roger Payne, come together with computer scientists from MIT. Instead of humpback whales, which were the whales where whale songs are first discovered, these scientists decide to study sperm whales in the Caribbean. And humpback whales and sperm whales have very, very different songs. So if you’re used to humpback whales with their crazy high and low singing voices —

Right, those best-selling sounds.

— those are rockin’ tunes of the humpback whales, that’s not what sperm whales do. Sperm whales have a totally different way of communicating with each other. And I actually have some recordings that were provided by the scientists who have been doing this research. And so we can take a listen to some of them.

Wow, It’s like a rhythmic clicking.

These are a group of sperm whales swimming together, communicating.

So whale biologists knew already that there was some structure to this sound. Those clicks that you hear, they come in little pulses. And each of those pulses is known as a coda. And whale biologists had given names to these different codas. So, for example, they call one coda, one plus one plus three —

— which is basically click, click, click, click, click, or four plus three, where you have four clicks in a row and a pause and then three clicks in a row.

Right. And the question would seem to be, is this decipherable communication, or is this just whale gibberish?

Well, this is where the computer scientists were able to come in and to help out. The whale biologists who were listening to the codas from the sperm whales in the Caribbean, they had identified about 21 types. And then that would seem to be about it.

But then, an MIT computer science graduate student named Prajusha Sharma was given the job of listening to them again.

And what does she hear?

In a way, it’s not so much what she heard, but what she saw.

Because when scientists record whale songs, you can look at it kind of like if you’re looking at an audio of a recording of your podcast, you will see the little squiggles of your voice.

And so whale biologists would just look at that ticker of whale songs going across the screen and try to compare them. And Sharma said, I don’t like this. I just — this is not how I look at data. And so what she decided to do is she decided to kind of just visualize the data differently. And essentially, she just kind of flipped these images on their side and saw something totally new.

And what she saw was that sperm whales were singing a whole bunch of things that nobody had actually been hearing.

One thing that she discovered was that you could have a whale that was producing a coda over and over and over again, but it was actually playing with it. It was actually stretching out the coda,

[CLICKING] So to get a little bit longer and a little bit longer, a little bit longer.

And then get shorter and shorter and shorter again. They could play with their codas in a way that nobody knew before. And she also started to see that a whale might throw in an extra click at the end of a coda. So it would be repeating a coda over and over again and then boom, add an extra one right at the end. What they would call an ornamentation. So now, you have yet another signal that these whales are using.

And if we just look at what the sperm whales are capable of producing in terms of different codas, we go from just 21 types that they had found in the Caribbean before to 156. So what the scientists are saying is that what we might be looking at is what they call a sperm whale phonetic alphabet.

Yeah, that’s a pretty big deal because the only species that we know of for sure that has a phonetic alphabet —

— is us, exactly. So the reason that we can use language is because we can make a huge range of sounds by just doing little things with our mouths. A little change in our lips can change a bah to a dah. And so we are able to produce a set of phonetic sounds. And we put those sounds together to make words.

So now, we have sperm whales, which have at least 150 of these different versions of sounds that they make just by making little adjustments to the existing way that they make sounds. And so you can make a chart of their phonetic alphabet, just like you make a chart of the human phonetic alphabet.

So then, that raises the question, do they combine their phonetic alphabet into words? Do they combine their words into sentences? In other words, do sperm whales have a language of their own?

Right. Are they talking to each other, really talking to each other?

If we could really show that whales had language on par with humans, that would be like finding intelligent life on another planet.

We’ll be right back.

So, Carl, how should we think about this phonetic alphabet and whether sperm whales are actually using it to talk to each other?

The scientists on this project are really careful to say that these results do not definitively prove what these sperm whale sounds are. There are a handful of possibilities here in terms of what this study could mean. And one of them is that the whales really are using full-blown language.

What they might be talking about, we don’t know. I mean, perhaps they like to talk about their travels over hundreds and thousands of miles. Maybe they’re talking about, you know, the giant squid that they caught last night. Maybe they’re gossiping about each other.

And you have to remember, sperm whales are incredibly social animals. They have relationships that last for decades. And they live in groups that are in clans of thousands of whales. I mean, imagine the opportunities for gossip.

These are all at least imaginable now. But it’s also possible that they are communicating with each other, but in a way that isn’t language as we know it. You know, maybe these sounds that they’re producing don’t add up to sentences. There’s no verb there. There’s no noun. There’s no structure to it in terms of how we think of language.

But maybe they’re still conveying information to each other. Maybe they’re somehow giving out who they are and what group they belong to. But it’s not in the form of language that we think of.

Right. Maybe it’s more kind of caveman like as in whale to whale, look, there, food.

It’s possible. But, you know, other species have evolved in other directions. And so you have to put yourself in the place of a sperm whale. You know, so think about this. They are communicating in the water. And actually, like sending sounds through water is a completely different experience than through the air like we do.

So a sperm whale might be communicating to the whale right next to it a few yards away, but it might be communicating with whales miles away, hundreds of miles away. They’re in the dark a lot of the time, so they don’t even see the whales right next to them. So it’s just this constant sound that they’re making because they’re in this dark water.

So we might want to imagine that such a species would talk the way we do, but there are just so many reasons to expect that whatever they’re communicating might be just profoundly different, so different that it’s actually hard for us to imagine. And so we need to really, you know, let ourselves be open to lots of possibilities.

And one possibility that some scientists have raised is that maybe language is just the wrong model to think about. Maybe we need to think about music. You know, maybe this strange typewriter, clickety clack is actually not like a Morse code message, but is actually a real song. It’s a kind of music that doesn’t necessarily convey information the way conversation does, but it brings the whales together.

In humans, like, when we humans sing together in choruses, it can be a very emotional experience. It’s a socially bonding experience, but it’s not really like the specific words that we’re singing that bring us together when we’re singing. It’s sharing the music together.

But at a certain point, we stop singing in the chorus, and we start asking each other questions like, hey, what are you doing for dinner? How are you going to get home? There’s a lot of traffic on the BQE. So we are really drawn to the possibility that whales are communicating in that same kind of a mode.

We’re exchanging information. We’re seeking out each other’s well-being and emotional state. And we’re building something together.

And I think that happens because, I mean, language is so fundamental to us as human beings. I mean, it’s like every moment of our waking life depends on language. We are talking to ourselves if we’re not talking to other people.

In our sleep, we dream, and there are words in our dreams. And we’re just stewing in language. And so it’s really, really hard for us to understand how other species might have a really complex communication system with hundreds of different little units of sound that they can use and they can deploy. And to think anything other than, well, they must be talking about traffic on the BQE. Like —

— we’re very human-centric. And we have to resist that.

So what we end up having here is a genuine breakthrough in our understanding of how whales interact. And that seems worth celebrating in and of itself. But it really kind of doubles as a lesson in humility for us humans when it comes to appreciating the idea that there are lots of non-human ways in which language can exist.

That’s right. Humility is always a good idea when we’re thinking about other animals.

So what now happens in this realm of research? And how is it that these scientists, these marine biologists and these computer scientists are going to try to figure out what exactly this alphabet amounts to and how it’s being used?

So what’s going to happen now is a real sea change in gathering data from whales.

So to speak.

So these scientists are now deploying a new generation of undersea microphones. They’re using drones to follow these whales. And what they want to do is they want to be recording sounds from the ocean where these whales live 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And so the hope is that instead of getting, say, a few 100 codas each year on recording, these scientists want to get several hundred million every year, maybe billions of codas every year.

And once you get that much data from whales, then you can start to do some really amazing stuff with artificial intelligence. So these scientists hope that they can use the same kind of artificial intelligence that is behind things like ChatGPT or these artificial intelligence systems that are able to take recordings of people talking and transcribing them into text. They want to use that on the whale communication.

They want to just grind through vast amounts of data, and maybe they will discover more phonetic letters in this alphabet. Who knows? Maybe they will actually find bigger structures, structures that could correspond to language.

If you go really far down this route of possibilities, the hope is that you would understand what sperm whales are saying to each other so well that you could actually create artificial sperm whale communication, and you could play it underwater. You could talk to the sperm whales. And they would talk back. They would react somehow in a way that you had predicted. If that happens, then maybe, indeed, sperm whales have something like language as we understand it.

And the only way we’re going to figure that out is if we figure out not just how they talk to themselves, but how we can perhaps talk to them, which, given everything we’ve been talking about here, Carl, is a little bit ironic because it’s pretty human-centric.

That’s right. This experiment could fail. It’s possible that sperm whales don’t do anything like language as we know it. Maybe they’re doing something that we can’t even imagine yet. But if sperm whales really are using codas in something like language, we are going to have to enter the conversation to really understand it.

Well, Carl, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Thank you. Sorry. Can I say that again? My voice got really high all of a sudden.

A little bit like a whale’s. Ooh.

Yeah, exactly. Woot. Woot.

Thank yoooo. No. Thank you.

Here’s what else you need to know today.

We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long. It is time to break it up.

On Thursday, the Justice Department sued the concert giant Live Nation Entertainment, which owns Ticketmaster, for violating federal antitrust laws and sought to break up the $23 billion conglomerate. During a news conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that Live Nation’s monopolistic tactics had hurt the entire industry of live events.

The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices.

In a statement, Live Nation called the lawsuit baseless and vowed to fight it in court.

A reminder — tomorrow, we’ll be sharing the latest episode of our colleagues’ new show, “The Interview.” This week on “The Interview,” Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Ted Sarandos, the CEO of Netflix, about his plans to make the world’s largest streaming service even bigger.

I don’t agree with the premise that quantity and quality are somehow in conflict with each other. I think our content and our movie programming has been great, but it’s just not all for you.

Today’s episode was produced by Alex Stern, Stella Tan, Sydney Harper, and Nina Feldman. It was edited by MJ Davis, contains original music by Pat McCusker, Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano, and Sophia Lanman, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

Special thanks to Project SETI for sharing their whale recordings.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you on Tuesday after the holiday.

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• May 24, 2024   •   25:18 Whales Have an Alphabet
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• May 17, 2024   •   51:10 The Campus Protesters Explain Themselves
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• May 15, 2024   •   27:03 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Carl Zimmer

Produced by Alex Stern ,  Stella Tan ,  Sydney Harper and Nina Feldman

Edited by MJ Davis Lin

Original music by Elisheba Ittoop ,  Dan Powell ,  Marion Lozano ,  Sophia Lanman and Pat McCusker

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Ever since the discovery of whale songs almost 60 years ago, scientists have been trying to decipher the lyrics.

But sperm whales don’t produce the eerie melodies sung by humpback whales, sounds that became a sensation in the 1960s. Instead, sperm whales rattle off clicks that sound like a cross between Morse code and a creaking door. Carl Zimmer, a science reporter, explains why it’s possible that the whales are communicating in a complex language.

On today’s episode

Carl Zimmer , a science reporter for The New York Times who also writes the Origins column .

Background reading

Scientists find an “alphabet” in whale songs.

These whales still use their vocal cords. But how?

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The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Carl Zimmer covers news about science for The Times and writes the Origins column . More about Carl Zimmer

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