Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter Five years ago today, the way this country looked at roads and bridges changed forever. On Aug. 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring another 145. In the immediate aftermath, federal and state authorities revamped the way bridges are inspected and ultimately graded for safety. Today, Richfield is home to two bridges the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and federal authorities deem problematic, but safe: the …

One year ago today, the Richfield City Council passed the Domestic Partnership Registry Ordinance. Since then, nine couples have put their names on the registry. The ordinance allowed long-term heterosexual and same-sex couples to register their relationships, giving those couples recognition in the city and supplying them with various benefits families often have. When the ordinance was up for review, Council Members Fred Wroge and Tom Fitzhenry would've prefered to see a resolution at the state level, but others believed a city ordinance would provide Richfield's legislative representatives…

On Dec. 30, 2010, the canopy covering the gas pumps at Richfield's Super America on Lake Shore Drive and 66th Street collapsed under the weight of snow and ice. After debris was cleared, the damaged canopy sat untouched for months, until crews began work on its repairs in June 2011. The entire canopy structure, as well as all the gas pumps, were replaced—updating the look of the site. Above is a gallery of photos from the day of the collapse through the finishing of the project in July 2011.