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It’s time again for My Farm Roots, a series from Harvest Public Media in which we hear Americans’ stories and memories of rural life. Because when you hail from farm country, roots run deep.About 20 years ago, Becky Doyle had a big surprise come her way. The governor of Illinois tapped her to run the state’s Department of Agriculture. Up until then, she and her husband had been running a hog and grain farm. But at age 37, she took over the ag department, though she never really left the farm.Pictured at Top: Doyle sits on the patio outside the hog and grain farm she and her husband run in central Illinois. (Bill Wheelhouse/Harvest Public Media)As secretary of agriculture, Becky Doyle and Gov. Jim Edgar, center, ride through the 1991 Illinois State Fair. (Courtesy State Journal-Register)Harvest Public Media is a collaboration of public media stations across the Midwest. To hear more My Farm Roots stories – or to share your own – visit HarvestPublicMedia.org.

These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!

An accidental explosion in southwest Kansas kills a mom, dad and toddler... a high-tech pet food plant opens in Tonganoxie... school meal debt piles up across the state... Kansas courts remain offline due to a security incident... and child advocates question why the state didn't do more to protect a 5-year-old Topeka girl who was raped and murdered. Those headlines and more, here.

Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have made music as Sparks for more than five decades, mostly under the radar despite superstar fans. Now, a new documentary and a buzzy musical put them in the spotlight.

Economic growth in Kansas appeared to be slipping slightly in August. Here's a look at state-by-state business conditions in the Midwest, as compiled by Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss.

Fort Scott, which lost its hospital five years ago, is now losing its emergency department... a creek in Washington County befouled by a massive oil spill appears to be flowing normally again... doctors advise pregnant women to get the RSV shot... the Cold Weather Rule takes effect... and the Chiefs prepare to play the Dolphins in Germany. More inside.

In some Latin American countries, Three Kings Day — Jan. 6 — is a bigger deal than Christmas. As the U.S. Latino population grows, so does interest in the holiday's signature cake, rosca de reyes.

Kansas gets a grant to plan and develop an extension of Amtrak's Heartland Flyer rail service... the Kansas Geological Survey says a reduction of groundwater pumping could stabilize the High Plains Aquifer for at least a decade... and the Washburn women's soccer team will play for the NCAA Division II Soccer Championship Saturday. This ad-free summary of area headlines is compiled by KPR news staffers. These headlines are made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today! KPR membership is highly affordable because you decide the price. It's also delicious, low-calorie and paraben-free.

Liz Cheney's sustained criticism of former President Trump made her one of his top political targets. She's now laying out her plans to make sure he never wins back the White House.

This week's albums and singles charts are both dominated by the same record: Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, which debuts at No. 1 and lands all 12 of its songs in the Hot 100's top 40.