The ball drops here: new laws for '07

What do we get for the New Year? Well, new laws, of course, even as the constitution is being shredded.

The ball drops here: new laws for '07:

After the ball drops in Times Square, California public colleges no longer will be able to censor their student journalists, Missouri will end all limits on campaign contributions and Ohio pet owners will be able to set up trust funds for their furry and feathered friends.
On Jan. 1, a host of new state laws will take effect in at least 32 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Minimum wage laws likely will have the greatest reach. On New Year’s Day, 18 states will raise their rates, with seven raising it above the $5.15 federal minimum for the first time. That brings the total number of states with wages above the federal minimum to 29. After the ball drops in Times Square, California public colleges no longer will be able to censor their student journalists, Missouri will end all limits on campaign contributions and Ohio pet owners will be able to set up trust funds for their furry and feathered friends.

On Jan. 1, a host of new state laws will take effect in at least 32 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.