Elvia Malagón

Reporter

Elvia Malagón reports on social justice, immigration and income inequality. She previously worked for the Chicago Tribune, The Times of Northwest Indiana and The Ledger in Lakeland, Fla. A native of East Chicago, Indiana, she is a graduate of Indiana University’s journalism school.

Immigration

Arab American community in Chicago says data from new racial category could help address disparities

The federal change to how Arab Americans will be identified in future census surveys comes after Illinois passed a law that added Middle Eastern or North African as a distinct racial category.

By Elvia Malagón

Crime

Man killed in West Lawn hit-and-run remembered as beloved CPS employee

Charles Mills worked as a special education classroom assistant for 23 years at Jones College Prep in the South Loop. Sunday night he was struck and killed while crossing Pulaski Road.

By Mohammad Samra and Elvia Malagón

Housing & development

Affordable housing developments in Edgewater, West Pullman among those awarded low-income housing tax credits

The Interfaith Housing Development Corp. and the Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp. have apartment buildings that will focus on providing affordable housing to families in Chicago.

By Elvia Malagón

Religion

Black Catholics at Joliet's Sacred Heart Church worry what its closing will mean

“When you shut down Sacred Heart, the fear is: Are they shutting down Black Catholics?” one member says. For decades, the church preserved an identity as a home for Black Catholics that some fear will be lost under the Diocese of Joliet’s church consolidation plans.

By Elvia Malagón

Tonnette Johnson sits in her bedroom which she describes as her “pink room” of her Roseland home that she shares with her daughter and some of her grandchildren, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Johnson who’ll be celebrating her first year living at this home, spent years trying to come up with the downpayment.

Housing & development

How long do you need to save to buy a home in Chicago? 4 years, experts say

Residents who recently bought their first home postponed buying to work on credit scores and dipped into retirement and other savings to come up with a down payment.

By Elvia Malagón

The former one-story house of Diamond Jones in Richton Park is white with yellow shutters, pictured during the day with leafless trees in the background.

Suburban Chicago

Proposal in Springfield seeks to stop evictions spurred by police calls

The measure follows a lawsuit by a mom who was forced from her Richton Park home through use of a controversial “crime-free ordinance.”

By Elvia Malagón

Chicago

River North bar at center of past sexual assault allegations suspends operations

El Hefe announced Monday it was suspending operations in Chicago because of a rise in crime.

By Elvia Malagón

Mary Brooks, with the aid of a walker, waters a large number of plants set on tables, shelves and the windowsill in her apartment.

Housing & development

Since video went viral of Harvey apartments boarded up — with people inside — tenants struggle to move

A handful of residents remain at a apartment complex that was at the center of a recent controversy when the city and owners attempted to shut down the buildings while people remained in the units.

By Elvia Malagón

William Bernstein walks around Lake View, where he lives. He was charged an unexpected $77.50 late fee after a mixup over how to submit his rent payment.

The Watchdogs

For Chicago renters, added fees mean people pay more for apartments

Application fees. Credit check fees. Move-in fees. Move-out fees. Such fees are pushing the true cost of renting an apartment in Chicago far above the listed price for rent.

By Elvia Malagón and Stephanie Zimmermann