When Aneta Futeuova came to the United States from Bulgaria four years ago, she did not speak English, something that made her everyday living in America very difficult. Three years ago, she began working with Elburn resident Stephanie Mayo, a volunteer English tutor with Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley to learn the language.

In an era of fewer co-workers and more work responsibilities, many workers are finding taking vacation a stressful experience. Staffing firm Randstad U.S. said 43 percent of respondents to its survey said preparing a boss and co-workers for one's absence is stressful, and 30 percent worry about giving up control of their responsibilities. And 77 percent of respondents label the first day back from vacation stressful.

A roundup of Fourth of July activities this weekend in the area.
Several states, including Illinois, are facing the prospect of government shutdowns and program cuts as they enter the first weekend of the fiscal year and July Fourth holiday without a budget in place.

Gov. Pat Quinn has fired a high-ranking employee who oversaw a state board that is the gatekeeper for hospital and other health-care construction projects throughout Illinois, a board that drew fire over its handling of a proposed Plainfield hospital project.

Not all our readers freely express themselves via letters to the editor. Aaron Menzel, 26, prefers to express himself via the social networking site Twitter.

Freedom of speech essay series: Who is Linda McDaniel-Hale? The Fox Valley has left an indelible impression upon Courier-News citizen columnist and Sleepy Hollow resident Linda McDaniel-Hale. In kind, she has tried to make her impact felt throughout the community.

Freedom of speech essay series: Who is Victor Darst? Victor Darst has published more letters in the newspaper than many have written in their entire lives. Darst began writing his letters in 1999 in response to a letter he saw that attacked President Bill Clinton.

Freedom of speech essay series: Who is Julia Doyle? From the time I was growing up and my mother would have me read aloud from the newspaper while she cooked dinner, to helping my nephew, David, with his after-school paper route when I was a teenager, I can't remember a time when newspapers haven't been a part of my life.

Freedom of speech essay series: Who is Manfred W. Czymmek? After World War II ended and Europe was left in ruins, Elgin resident Manfred Czymmek's parents decided to immigrate from Germany to the South Side of Chicago in October of 1953. Czymmek was a mere 18 months old.