Sports

Zimmer, Vikings aim to get over hump with changes inevitable
The Minnesota Vikings are still trying to figure out how to get over the hump in the NFL playoffs after a third appearance in six years under coach Mike Zimmer. His first offseason priority will be to fill out his staff.
Iran's only female Olympic medalist says she has defected
Kimia Alizadeh, who won a bronze medal in taekwondo at the 2016 Summer Olympics, described her decision to leave Iran as difficult, but necessary.
Blind sled dog completes 100-mile race in northern Minnesota
Indy, a 7-year-old Alaskan husky, is officially back in action after losing his sight more than three years ago. He’ll join a team of sled dogs to take on the 300-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon later this month.
Source: Browns hiring Vikings OC Stefanski as next coach
The Cleveland Browns are hiring Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as their new coach, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.
Vikings' season ends with playoff loss to 49ers
With Dalvin Cook unable to get anything going on the ground against San Francisco, the Vikings had no chance against a healthy 49ers defense and lost the divisional round playoff game 27-10 on Saturday.
College football: North Dakota State wins 8th FCS title
The Bison stretched their FCS-record winning streak to 37 in a row and completed the first 16-win undefeated season in any division since Yale in 1894.
Vikings fans flock to watch party to catch playoff game against 49ers
Nearly two thousand miles from the on-field action, die-hard Minnesota Vikings fans swarmed an official watch party Saturday to be around others drenched in purple-and-gold passion.
Shanahan, Cousins on opposite sides for playoff meeting
Coach Kyle Shanahan once thought he'd have Kirk Cousins as his quarterback when he led the San Francisco 49ers back to the playoffs. Cousins will be on the opposite sideline instead when the Minnesota Vikings visit the 49ers in the divisional round.
AP-NORC poll: 66 percent favor endorsement money for NCAA athletes
As the NCAA grapples with how to provide athletes opportunities to be compensated for their fame, about two-thirds of Americans support college players being permitted to earn money for endorsements.
Organizers stockpiling snow, preparing to greet elite skiers for World Cup race in Minneapolis
In just over two months, the world's top cross-country skiers will flock to Minneapolis for a World Cup event. And to make sure the trails are in top shape, organizers are working now to stockpile snow. Lots and lots of snow.