AM.MN: Winona’s love of history puts museum re-do in reach, man behind bars

Here’s an oddity in the current economic climate: a cultural institution that’s expanding. The Winona County Historical Society is within sight of raising $4.15 million for a new addition and renovation, with gifts from nearly 1,000 individuals. One individual not crazy about locals’ love of history is a Winona man sentenced this week to life in prison for a murder in 1985. Even nearly a quarter-century after the killing, the trial had to be moved from Winona to Fillmore County to find a jury pool not tainted by knowledge of local history.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning…

ROSEMOUNT: U of M sees gold in rock. The University of Minnesota paid one dollar for UMore Park in the 1940s but now hopes to reap millions each year from mining aggregate there. [Minnesota Daily]

BETWEEN ST. PAUL AND LILYDALE: Water barrier beneath freeway bridge damaged. Interstate 35 and the Mississippi River again: This time the trouble is under I-35E. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

ROCHESTER: Skyway plan irks official. A city council member objected to a $1.4 million skyway to reach a hotel that wouldn’t allow a direct connection to its building. [Rochester Post-Bulletin]

MINNEAPOLIS: Park board seeks voters’ OK to tax them directly. After a similar move failed that would have killed off the independent park board, petitions are in circulation to put a charter amendment on the ballot to let the park board levy taxes. [Star Tribune]

ST. CLOUD: Libraries to hack managers. The Great River Regional Library system wants to save $100,000 by canning half the staff who run its branches. [St. Cloud Times]