Free Republic

Chicago's Cook County Jail once had a population of roughly 10,000 detainees and was often cited for overcrowding. Now that number is down to around 4,200, an all-time low, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. One significant reason is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Years of reform, including changes in bail requirements, cut the jail's initial population swell almost entirely in half. Then, in the past month alone, another 1,300 inmates have been released as the offices of the Cook County Sheriff, Public Defender and State's Attorney focused on releasing those awaiting trial and low-level nonviolent offenders.

CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his camera crew have been arrested live on air while reporting on the ongoing protests in Minneapolis. Footage quickly emerged online, and many of Jimenez’s colleagues took to twitter in outcry over the incident (see below). CNN has confirmed the incident, adding that a producer and camera operator were also arrested.