Package Delivery Truck Stolen From Greater Grand Crossing

CHICAGO (CBS) — A package delivery truck that was stolen Wednesday morning from the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side was later found.

The truck was stolen at 11:34 a.m. from the 7400 block of South Vernon, according to Chicago Police.

Officers found the truck a short time later nearby in the 7200 block of South Evans, police said.

Police were investigating whether any packages were stolen from the truck.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Two Washington Park Robberies In Same Day Prompt Community Alert

CHICAGO (CBS) — Police have issued a community alert about two armed robberies in the Washington Park neighborhood on the South Side.

Two to six suspects armed with handguns approached victims on the sidewalk and demanded property before fleeing the area, according to the alert from Chicago Police.

The first robbery occurred at 6:40 p.m. on Nov. 27 at the 300 block of East Garfield Boulevard and the second took place 10 minutes later on the 5600 block of South King Drive.

Anyone with information should contact Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8382.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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CEO And CFO Of Schaumburg Firm Facing Federal Fraud Charges

CHICAGO (CBS) — The CEO and CFO of a consulting firm based in northwest suburban Schaumburg are facing federal fraud charges for misrepresenting the company’s financial condition and lying to regulators.

Nandu Thondavadi, 62, the CEO of Quadrant 4 System Corp., and the firm’s CFO, 55-year-old Dhru Desai, were each charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of willfully certifying false reports, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Thondavadi also faces a charge of making false statements to the SEC.

The investigation was launched earlier this year based on indications the firm’s recent annual reports to the SEC contained false information, prosecutors said. Thondavadi allegedly lied under oath when questioned in May by the SEC about some of the falsehoods.

Prosecutors allege Thondavadi intentionally misrepresented the firm’s cash flow and concealed its liabilities in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He certified filings that misrepresented and concealed from the company’s auditors and shareholders the terms of certain acquisitions and the amount of liability stemming from a lawsuit.

The misrepresentations and concealments were intended to artificially inflate the company’s share price, according to prosecutors.

Quadrant 4, a publicly traded company, has offices in seven U.S. states and India, and provides software products, platforms and consulting services to customers in the healthcare and education sectors.

Authorities executed a search warrant Wednesday morning at Quadrant 4’s corporate headquarters in the 1500 block of East Woodfield Road in Schaumburg, prosecutors said.

Thondavadi, of Barrington, and Desai, of Barrington, were arrested Wednesday morning, according to prosecutors. Both were scheduled to have their initial appearances at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Mason.

The wire fraud and willfully certifying false financial report charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said. Making false statements to the SEC is punishable by up to five years.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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59-Year-Old Man Fatally Struck By Truck In Loop

CHICAGO (CBS) — A pedestrian died after he was struck by a truck Wednesday morning in the Loop.

The driver of the tractor trailer truck was stopped at a red light and heading west in the 100 block of West Congress at 10:26 a.m. when the light turned green, he pulled forward and struck the man, according to Chicago Police.

The 59-year-old man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name was not released Wednesday afternoon.

Police initially said the crash may have been a hit-and-run, but the driver stopped. The 50-year-old man was cited for not taking due care to avoid a pedestrian in the roadway and is scheduled to appear in traffic court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 30.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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2016 Toy Guide For All Ages

With tons of toy options, finding the perfect gift for your little ones can seem overwhelming during the holidays. Many of us can recall an early childhood memory of a favorite toy or game. The best toys are the ones we play with for years or the games that bring you closer to those special people in your life. Make great memories this holiday season with the best toys of 2016. You’ll be giving Santa a run for his money this year!

Disney Baby Finding Nemo Sea Of Activities Jumper
Up to 25 lbs
Find it here

Treat the newest member of the family to an activity jumper that provides endless stimulation with over thirteen engaging toys and activities. Four height adjustment settings allow the jumper to grow with your baby and the 360 degree rotating seat ensures that your baby won’t miss out on anything. Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

Fisher-Price Bright Beats Learnin’ Lights Dance Mat
Ages 9-36 months
Find it here

Fisher Price has created an interactive dance mat that encourages your babies to sit, crawl, walk and dance in a fun and exciting way. Bright Beats leads the way with interactive motion censored lights, 4 light up buttons, music, games and more. The ABCs just became a whole lot more fun.

Big Waffle Block Set
Ages 2+
Find it here

Encourage young kids to climb and build with the Big Waffle Block Set. Let the creative juices flow as you bond with your kids and create all sorts of castles, cities and houses together. Since the set breaks down, it’s easier to store than most sets and can be used indoors or outdoors. Rainy days just became a whole lot more fun.

Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar
Ages 3+
Find it here

The new Fisher Price Code-A-Pillar is the perfect toy for your little Einstein. The eight different segments can be connected in various different patterns that make the caterpillar move. This encourages problem solving skills and critical thinking. Not to mention all the fun your little one will be having. Ready, set, code!

Magna-Tiles
Ages 3+
Find it here

Science doesn’t have to be boring. Magnets are a great way to learn, build and create. Young kids will have endless opportunities to create 3D shapes and buildings with these magnetic shapes. Even the grown ups will be asking, “Is it my turn yet?”

Frozen Kinetic Sand
Ages 4+
Find it here

Make Olaf’s dreams come true by making him a “sandman” in summer with kinetic sand. If you haven’t heard of kinetic sand, it’s the world’s first no mess sand that’s easy to clean up and never dries out. Sand is a great tool for sensory play where kids can build and squish sand without making your house look like you just got back from the beach. Fun times will surely be had even on the days when outside seems “Frozen.”

Hot Wheels Super 6 Lane Raceway Playset
Ages 5+
Find it here

If you have a car lover in your family, surprise them with the ultimate car racing experience. Now everyone in the family can race to the finish lane with this new six lane raceway. Even the neighbors will want to come over and play!

Pokemon Trading Cards
Ages 6+
Find it here

Pokemon is back! This time they’ve turned things up a notch with EX and Mega cards. These cards add additional damage and combat power to your Pokemon. Catch em’ all and trade them with friends or in the new online trading game. Let the battle begin!

Bloxels
Ages 7+
Find it here

Elon Musk, the inventor of America’s first battery powered car and Space X, made his first video game at the age of 12. Bloxels is an easy and fun way for your kids to create their own video game. The physical Bloxels are used to create your own world and store that work with the free app. The options are as endless as the fun you’ll have with your new creations. You might even say it’s out of this world!

3Doodler Start 3D Printing Pen Set
Ages 8+
Find it here

Your creative kids can finally build their own world with the new 3Doodler Printing Pen. Create 3D drawings that you can actually hold and play with. The possibilities are endless. All you have to do is turn it on, insert a color strand and start doodling. Picasso himself would envy your creations.

Singing Machine Bluetooth Karaoke System
Recommended Ages 9+
Find it here

Impress your tweens with endless fun Friday nights with this karaoke machine. Invite family and friends over to help you belt out the classics or the newest Bruno Mars song. The bluetooth feature allows you to easily find your karaoke songs on Youtube and stream them right to the machine. Next stop, Broadway!

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Film Camera
Recommended Ages 10+
Find it here

If you have older kids let them explore their creative side with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Film Camera! Just like when you were younger, this camera allows you to take a photo and instantly prints out the picture. Even if they don’t discover a passion for photography they’ll be sure to have memories that will last them all the way to next Christmas!

Merissa Principe is a teacher and a freelance travel blogger from NYC. Teaching early childhood education has provided Merissa an opportunity to travel all over the world and live in new places. Be sure to follow her at Citygirlriss.wordpress.com for all things travel, beauty, fashion and New York City.

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3 Chicago Doctors Honored For Work In War-Torn Aleppo

CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago Magazine has honored three doctors as “Chicagoans of the Year,” after they traveled to Aleppo – one of the world’s most dangerous places – to highlight the civil war in Syria.

John Kahler, Zaher Sahloul, and Samer Attar said they believe most of the world has chosen to ignore the besieged city in the midst of a civil war that has raged on for nearly six years, with more than 400,000 Syrians killed.

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo was home to 1.5 million people when the war began, but now just a couple hundred thousand remain.

“At least 40 percent of them are children. These will die,” said Kahler, a pediatrician with Access Community Health Network, who spent four days in Aleppo this summer.

Among the thousands of children killed during the war was 2-year-old Doaa, who clutched a surgeon’s finger as he succumbed to bombing-related injuries.

Seven-year-old Bana Alabed stood in front of her window weeks ago, trying to block out the sounds of dropping bombs by plugging her ears with her fingers. Now her house is no more. She took to Twitter on Wednesday to highlight what’s happening in her besieged city writing, “I saw deaths and I almost died.”

“This is humans bombing other humans into submission,” Kahler said.

He saw the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II first-hand. Kahler spent days working there earlier this summer as part of the Syrian American Medical Society, and still can’t believe the choices doctors are forced to make in Aleppo.

“Of five people, what two does it look like I could save?” Kahler said.

The underground hospital where Kahler worked in June has since been reduced to rubble, after the last hospital in the city was destroyed.

Still doctors in Aleppo are working to save lives one stich and one cut at a time.

Kahler, Sahloul, and Attar will be honored by Chicago Magazine at a luncheon next week at the Four Seasons.

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Watch: Andrew Shaw’s Temper Still Burns Hot

(CBS) The temper of Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw still runs hot, in case anyone here locally was wondering about the former Blackhawk.

We were reminded of that again Tuesday night, when Shaw was called for a hooking penalty late in Montreal’s 2-1 loss to Anaheim as the Canadiens pushed for the tying goal. Shaw didn’t agree with the call. He let the referee know about it. He busted his stick. He received a game misconduct. He also manhandled a stick rack.

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