* News-Gazette…

All employees at Rantoul Foods will begin undergoing COVID-19 testing today, according to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde.

An outbreak there grew to 52 positive cases among employees Thursday, with the addition of three more.

Pryde said the Champaign occupational health practice SafeWorks Illinois would begin doing testing at the plant today, with hundreds of employees still remaining to be tested.

“I believe only about 200 of the 700 employees have been tested,” she said in a Thursday afternoon media briefing.

* This event draws a ton of people…

Southern Illinois lawmakers in an online news conference Thursday called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to allow the Amateur Trapshooting Association to host its annual championship at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta this summer.

State Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, and State Rep. Nathan Reitz, D-Steeleville, spoke Thursday about the impact of the Grand American not just on Randolph County, but also on the region.

Schimpf reminded meeting attendees that the ATA is in a contract with the state of Illinois to host its yearly Grand American World Trapshooting Championship at the Sparta World Shooting and Recreational Complex. 2020 would be the 15th year for the competition in Sparta. It is currently scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 15.

However, with limitations on gatherings put in place by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to curb the spread of the sometimes deadly COVID-19 respiratory virus, the ATA’s ability to hold the contest this year has been put in doubt. Schimpf said the ATA has penned two letters to Pritzker’s office asking for a definitive yes or no to hold the event by June 15. Schimpf said the group has yet to hear a reply.

* Jon Seidel at the Sun-Times…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s battle against the coronavirus faces a new religious challenge in federal court, this time from churches in Chicago and Niles opposing his Restore Illinois plan and insisting on the right to worship with extensive social distancing guidelines in place.

Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in Niles asked for a temporary restraining order Friday. Just last week, a church west of Rockford launched a similar but unsuccessful challenge that has moved on to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

But the latest lawsuit points to Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan — unveiled just this week — and the two churches laid out proposed social distancing guidelines they would implement if allowed to move forward.

* WICS TV…

Governor Pritzker, D-Illinois, announced on Wednesday that the state fairs likely won’t be happening.

Besides being a week of fun for Illinois residents, the state fair drives tourism in Springfield over the summer. The hospitality industry has already been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s no substitute for consumer demand,” said Todd Maisch, the president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “If you take one of the biggest sources for consumer demand out of the Springfield economy. There’s just no replacing that.”

Local restaurants and businesses also would lose out on tourism dollars they usually see in the summer

* From the Tribune’s live blog…

Lightfoot lays out five-phase plan for reopening Chicago

Coronavirus pandemic causes Via ride-share service to temporarily shut down in Chicago

Oak Parker stages Zoom plays as COVID-19 benefits, casting them with millennial Hollywood

Local Muslim community to break fast during Ramadan with virtual iftar Saturday

CSO cancels remainder of 2020 season

‘It’s one thing to survive the infection, but what’s next?’ Some COVID-19 patients need rehab to walk, talk and problem solve

US unemployment hits 14.7%, highest rate since Great Depression

Smaller Illinois businesses are landing loans in round two of the federal PPP, but doubts remain about reopening

Two local churches challenge governor’s coronavirus rules, arguing for right to worship

Chicago’s Poetry Foundation is sitting on millions — a petition asks it to do more in response to the pandemic

Mayor’s office closes Cook County Forest Preserve golf courses within city limits for the remainder of May

Numerous Kane and Kendall nursing homes that failed to follow infection control rules now have COVID-19 cases

Reopening Illinois: Everything you need to know about getting back to normal at gyms, the office, restaurants and more

Devices for electronic monitoring run out in Cook County amid efforts to drastically reduce jail population

Mysterious illness potentially related to COVID-19 has surfaced in some Illinois children, doctors say

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says upgrades should speed things up at state agency overwhelmed by unemployment claims amid pandemic shutdown

The viral video “Plandemic” is the latest COVID-19 conspiracy theory. Here are 4 things to know about Judy Mikovits, the long-ago discredited researcher featured in the film.

* Sun-Times live blog…

Lightfoot determined to open CPS schools this fall

Mayor Lori Lightfoot details plan to reopen Chicago

Artists honor first responders with murals in Medical District

NASCAR cancels next month’s event at Chicagoland Speedway as part of revised schedule

Economy vs. epidemiology? Pritzker gears reopening to science and saving lives – but business leaders call plan ‘misguided’

Churches target Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan in new federal court challenge

Chicago-area singer has been trapped on a cruise ship for 2 months

Child stricken with mysterious illness linked to COVID-19 being treated at Chicago area hospital

Groups demand better pay, protections for front-line workers during pandemic

Essential workers include those who clean our wastewater to protect our environment during pandemic

Illinois craft brewers get creative to boost slumping sales