Sports

NFL refs approve deal, scramble for Sunday return
NFL referees voted and approved a new eight-year deal with the league on Saturday. Now they all can get back to the business of calling games.
Twins release infielder Nishioka
The Minnesota Twins released Tsuyoshi Nishioka on Friday, ending their experiment with the Japanese middle infielder after two rough seasons.
First look
Here are the renderings just released by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, in connection with the selection of HKS as the architectural firm that will design the new downtown Minneapolis stadium.   University of Minnesota College of Design dean Tom Fisher called the “ribbon” roof  “really out of the box.”  
The Minnesota Stadium Facilities Authority and the Minnesota Vikings have selected Dallas-based HKS to design its new $1 billion stadium. The authority voted this morning to award a $34 million design contract to the firm.
NFL referee strike ends
So long, replacement refs. The NFL's regular crews will be back on the field starting Thursday night.
NFL reaches tentative agreement with referees
So long, replacement refs. The NFL's regular crews will be back on the field starting Thursday night.
NFL ref talks heat up
With Commissioner Roger Goodell at the table, the NFL and referees' union pressed toward a settlement Wednesday to end a three-month lockout that triggered a wave of frustration and anger over replacement officials and threatened to disrupt the rest of the season.
All’s fair (in football stadiums)
If the Vikings had any hard feelings toward Republicans in the Minnesota House, they don’t seem to be lingering. At least not if a gathering being promoted by House Speaker Kurt Zellers is any indication. The Maple Grove Republican joined most of the rest of his caucus in voting against the Vikings stadium proposal —…
Design pick scheduled for Friday
The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority just set a date for one of their most critical decisions. They’re going to pick a designer of their new stadium on Friday. “This is probably going to be one of the most significant decisions we make,” said authority chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen. The MSFA published the agenda for their special…