SALISBURY - From the Department of Veterans Affairs: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced  the award of approximately $1.2 million in grant money to Community Link Programs of Traveler Aid Society of Central Carolinas, Inc. one of 38 projects around the country that will provide temporary housing to formerly homeless Veterans with the goal they will retain the residence as their own.

“As we drive toward our goal to end homelessness among Veterans in 2015, VA continues to find innovative ways to permanently house Veterans who were formerly homeless,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

The grant to Community Link Programs of Traveler Aid Society of Central Carolinas, Inc. will be used to provide a daily average of 25 beds for homeless Veterans to promote increased housing stabilization.  Housing will be provided at scattered site apartments in the Charlotte, N.C., Metropolitan Area. 

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Charlotte City Council members voted 7-4 Monday night to approve a $1.1 billion operating budget, but killed a $926 million capital improvement plan.

It comes after weeks of tension between council members over which projects to keep in the capital improvement plan. Had it passed, your property taxes would have increased. The money would have paid for road and revitalization projects. It would have also funded $119 million for a streetcar transit system.

"I'm very unhappy. There was no reason for that," said Councilwoman Claire Fallon.

Council members met for a special session early Monday afternoon, and talked about the budget for almost 6 hours.

"That's just not a way to build a budget, so perhaps with a little more focus and now that everyone is awake we can spend sometime working through the issues," said Mayor Anthony Foxx.

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – President Barack Obama is just months away from coming to Charlotte to accept a bid for a second run at President of the United States.

But on Tuesday, the president sat down with WBTV anchor Paul Cameron in an exclusive interview from the White House.

President Obama talked about the economy, foreclosures, unemployment, the Democratic National Convention and big banks.

"Well, you know, I think that the first thing to understand is that the financial system in the United States is critical for our overall economic health," President Barack Obama told WBTV's Paul Cameron.