In the past the court has allowed localities to regulate the location of X-rated establishments in an effort to reduce crime and other adverse "secondary effects" on neighborhoods.

Because Beijing is the only place where the drug is manufactured, the vans have allowed localities to administer the death sentence where the crime took place.

The first would have allowed localities like New York City to use homeland security dollars to cover the overtime costs of police officers used on antiterrorism initiatives.

But in 2003 the government allowed localities to begin enforcing a form of Shariah in some areas, like the religiously conservative Aceh province, which has a long-running separatist insurgency.

The Administration's policy statement calls for a more flexible approach to Federal transportation aid, allowing states and localities to tailor their use of Federal money to meet the most urgent needs.

Some lawmakers have proposed allowing localities to have some say in the rate-setting process, a power they do not currently have.

The Federal Railroad Administration is proposing allowing localities to create horn-free "quiet zones" in cooperation with railroads and transportation officials.

The proposal would allow localities to place an additional levy on the real-estate conveyance tax, with the revenue set aside to acquire lands that would otherwise be in the path of development.

These bonds are allowing states and localities to access the capital market at significant savings, so they can finance important projects such as this impressive new subway station.

Since then, PACE-enabling legislation has been passed in more than 16 states, allowing localities to establish PACE financing programs.