Illinois Public Media News

German police said at least 12 people were killed and at least 48 people were injured after a truck barreled into a packed Christmas market in Berlin. The truck was driven into the crowd on a sidewalk, bringing down Christmas lights and smashing stalls at the festive market near the Gedaechtniskirche, or Memorial Church, in western Berlin. The black truck had Polish license plates. Dozens of ambulances and hundreds of rescue workers were on the scene, NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reported.

On this encore edition of The 21st: We spoke with three Illinois religious leaders who are part of an interfaith effort to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Plus, we met the artist behind the LEGO exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and learned about the effect toys can have on children's perceptions of their own abilities.

A recent survey from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shows that colleges and universities are handling the state budget impasse in a confusing variety of ways. The commission is the state agency that administers the Monetary Award Program, known as the MAP grant, designed to help pay tuition for low-income students.

In part one of this five-part in-depth series, Susan Stephens and Jenna Dooley introduce us to the Great Lakes Basin Railroad project, the players, and the 260-mile route.

Here's a list of school and other closings, cancellations and decalys, due to cold temperatures & slippery conditions on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016: