METRO 4Thk GazkttkThursday, June 5,PROJECTHONORSNew laws authorize judicial center, Western Slope education constructionTHE ASSOCIATED PRESSDenver • Gov. Bill Ritter has approved a state judicial complex to be named after former Gov. Ralph Carr and construction of a replacement for the aging ColoradoHistory Museum.? ifThe 615,000-square-footcomplex will consolidate the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Attorney General’s Office and several other judicial and legal offices.The History Museum, which is now next door to theSupreme Court building, will be relocated to a new,200,000-square-foot facility one block south to make room for the new justice center.Ritter signed bills authorizing the projects Wednesday.He said Carr is getting overdue recognition for standing up for Japanese-Americansduring World War II.Later in Grand Junction, the governor signed a bill that provides financing forconstruction projects at state colleges and universities, struct ion projects.using proceeds from oil and gas development on federallands.“The Western Slope is booming, and we must support that growth through smart investments. The bills I’m signing today invest in higher education, environmental protection and in one of the region’s fastest growing economic sectors, the winemaking industry,” he said.A companion measure Ritter signed allows the state toissue certificates of participation backed by the new revenue to accelerate funding for 12 to 17 higher education con-EXrGOVERNORSIGNED BILLSA summary of bills signed Wednesday by Gov, Bill Ritter:• Fund a new state judicial complex to be named afterwill be relocated to a new200,000-square-foot facility one block south to make room for the new justice center.former Gov Ralph Carr and • Change the formula fora replacement for the aging Colorado History Museum The 615,000-square-foot judicial complex will consoledate the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Attorney General’s Office and several other judicial and legal offices. The History Museum, which is now next door to the Supreme Court building,how federal energy revenue is distributed. Of the $2.7 billion that's expected in the next 10 years, nearly $2billion would pay for higher education construction and grants for larger scale projects in oil and gas communities,• Allow state-funded colleges and universities to usethe state’s strong credit rating to get lower interest rates when borrowing money for construction.• Allow commercial wineries to share production facilities.Require the state to regulate oil and gas explorationand waste-disposal facilities. Sites must be at least a half mile from homes, schools and parks; fabric must be used to line pits to prevent waste from gettinginto groundwater.