Minneapolis awarded 2018 Super Bowl

By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
ATLANTA (AP) -- Minneapolis will host the 2018 Super Bowl after a vote by owners on Tuesday rewarded the city for getting a new stadium deal.
The owners chose Minneapolis and the new $1 billion stadium planned for the site of the old Metrodome to host the championship over New Orleans and Indianapolis.
"The new stadium was absolutely the deciding factor," Jay Cicero of the New Orleans bid committee said. "Any time that there is so much public support for a $1 billion stadium, the NFL owners are impressed.
"We did everything we were supposed to do, had a fantastic presentation. In the end we think the stadium did it."
The big game will be staged in the Twin Cities for the second time. It was there in 1992, when Washington beat Buffalo.
New Orleans has staged the Super Bowl 10 times, tied with South Florida for the most, but its bid might have been damaged by the blackout that interrupted the 2013 title game. Indianapolis had it in 2012.
Next year's game is in Glendale, Arizona, followed by Santa Clara, California, for the 50th Super Bowl, then Houston.
Earlier at their spring meetings, NFL owners tabled any vote expanding the playoffs to 14 teams.
There is strong sentiment among the owners to add a wild-card team in each conference to the postseason, most likely beginning in 2015. Such a setup would eliminate one of the first-round byes, with only the team with the best record in each conference getting a week off at the beginning of the playoffs.
New York Giants owner John Mara, who is against adding more playoff teams, said the topic probably will come up for more discussion in October.
"I don't think it's a sure thing at all," Mara said of going to 14 playoff teams. "It's probably more likely than not, but nothing is set in stone. There was no straw poll taken. ... I think it's good the way we have it."
The players' union says it needs to be consulted on an expanded postseason, and Mara said that would happen at some point if the owners decide to expand the playoff field.
A committee examining the time, length and site of the draft reported to the owners. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league is considering several options:
-keeping the draft in May; it drew record TV ratings this year after it was moved back two weeks from its usual late April slot.
-adding a fourth day.
-moving it from its traditional spot in New York to a variety of NFL cities, with a dozen already having expressed interest.
"If I was king of the world, I'd put it right back where it was," Mara said, referring to the April dates.
In other matters, new director of football operations Troy Vincent hired three advisers, including Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary. Vincent, a former All-Pro defensive back, also hired former NFL player and coach Jimmy Raye and former player and general manager Mike Reinfeldt.
Among other chores, the three new hires will serve as liaisons to league coaches and front-office personnel.
"These men bring sound wisdom, football experience and insight that helps us support our clubs and coaches, as well as grow and develop our players and game," Vincent said.

Lack of oxygen caused California fish die-off

Scientists suspect the large school of northern anchovies may have sought cover from a predator along the coastal waters of Marina del Rey on Saturday, said Janice Mackey of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"Once in the harbor, the fish school became trapped, and subsequently depleted all of the available oxygen in the water," she said in a statement.
Workers have removed 300 bags of fish weighing a total of more than six tons, according to Mackey.
The dead anchovies and other fish including stingrays created a silvery blanket on the water's surface and a pungent smell that set off a feeding frenzy among harbor seals, pelicans and seagulls. An octopus was also found among the dead sea life.
Officials collected fish samples for further analysis at a lab.
Mackey said the agency had received various reports of fish die-offs in harbors throughout the state in recent years due to similar conditions.
"While the sight of so many dead fish may be startling to some, this is not considered to be too unusual," Mackey said.
Similar fish die-offs occurred in Ventura Harbor and at Redondo Beach in 2011.

Famous San Francisco street to see summer closing

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco transit leaders will temporarily close a stretch of Lombard Street, a popular tourist spot that's known as the "Crookedest Street in The World."
On Tuesday, the city's Municipal Transportation Agency unanimously approved a pilot closure to vehicles on the oft-photographed, well-traveled curvy and winding thoroughfare for four consecutive weekends starting in late June and including the Fourth of July weekend during the busy summer tourist season. The vehicle closure does not apply to residents who live in the area.
About an average of 2,000 vehicles travel on the street each weekend day during that period, the city said.
WHAT IS LOMBARD STREET?
The world famous scenic, hilly street in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood been featured on TV, in movies- and even video games - is known for its one-block stretch of winding brick road that consists of eight sharp, hairpin turns. Attracting hundreds of thousands annually, tourists prefer to take snapshot panoramic views of the city at the top and then drive down the crooked street with flower gardens at every corner like it's an amusement park ride. It is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in San Francisco besides the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the Cable Cars and Fisherman's Wharf.
WHY WOULD THEY CLOSE IT?
The temporary closing idea came at the request of Supervisor Mark Farrell and a steady stream of complaints by some residents wanting to curb the street's chronic gridlock mostly due to curious tourists, especially during the summer.
"This will be a test to improve the safety for residents, pedestrians and motorists in the area," MTA spokesman Paul Rose said. "There are often a lot of people who come to either take pictures or drive down the street and it can cause lengthy delays."
WHAT DO TOURISTS THINK?
Tourist Dylan Giordano, 21, of Los Angeles, agreed, as he took in the scenery Tuesday with his family visiting from Florida. "It's an insane amount of traffic and it must be difficult and obnoxious for the wealthy residents who live here and can't even get into their own driveway," said Giordano, who just graduated from the University of Southern California with his degree in Environmental and Urban Planning.
WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT?
The city will evaluate what impact the temporary closure will have and may seek to shut down Lombard Street more often, Rose said. No permanent shutdown is being considered - yet.

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Actor charged with murder of wife

3:51 AM PT --

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Jace's 2 kids witnessed him allegedly shooting and killing their mom.  The kids -- both under 10 -- were extremely upset and taken to the police station.  We're told cops are angry it took Children's Services 4 hours to get to the station and take the kids to the home of a family member where they could be comforted.

Jace is being booked for murder.

Actor Michael Jace called police himself to report his wife had been shot, and he had pulled the trigger Monday night in Los Angeles ... TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement sources Jace called 911 around 8:30 PM PT and told police ... "I shot my wife."

We're told Jace's neighbors in the Hyde Park area of L.A. had reported shots fired in the home ... and shortly thereafter Jace made his call to 911.

Sources tell us the actor stayed on the phone, as instructed, until LAPD arrived and found his 40-year-old wife, April Jace dead.

We're told Jace was home alone when his wife arrived with their kids ... a short time later he allegedly shot her.

Jace -- best know as Detective Lowe from "The Shield" -- was taken into custody, and as of 1:00 AM PT Tuesday ... was being questioned, but had not been booked for his wife's death.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/20/michael-jace-arrested-wife-shot-april/#ixzz32GUbEV4M