With new monument, Obama and Dems seize on Equal Pay Day

Israeli minister urges McDonald's boycott for health reasons

CHICAGO (AP) — A defendant in a Chicago Public Schools kickbacks case has changed his plea to guilty. Thomas Vranas pleaded guilty Tuesday at a hearing in federal court in Chicago to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. He faces a maximum five years in prison. He and co-defendant Solomon were accused of arranging to pay then-head of CPS Barbara Byrd-Bennett $2.3 million for her steering $23 million in no-bid contracts to their company, SUPES Academy. Vranas and Solomon pleaded not guilty in October. Solomon's lawyer has said previously he is speaking to prosecutors about a possible plea deal. Byrd-Bennett resigned as CPS head in June after word spread of an investigation. She pleaded guilty in October to fraud and is awaiting sentencing.

Businessman pleads guilty in CPS kickbacks case