Bugle Newspapers 01-29-26

JANUARY 28-29, 2026 • VOL. 65 ISSUE 13

HEALTH & FITNESS

Warning signs of gastrointestinal issues See Page 7:

Women’s Basketball Falls to Bryant & Stratton College, 82–59 See: Page 3: ‘WOLVES’

Photo courtesy of www.jjcwolves.com

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JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 2

LOCAL NEWS

Mariyana Spyropoulos Completes Comprehensive Phone Number Audit to Strengthen Public Access to the Courts

The audit found outdated and incorrect phone numbers on public

materials and online resources, including listings for outside agencies and numbers no longer active within the Clerk’s Office.

Those numbers have now been corrected and, where appropriate, rerouted to the Clerk’s Call Center or the relevant departmental teams, ensuring that callers are no longer met with dead ends or misdirected.

“Access to the courts begins with

access to information,” said Clerk Spyropoulos.

“When someone reaches out to our office, they deserve a clear path to the help they need. This audit is part of our commitment to running a Clerk’s Office that is responsive, accountable, and built around the people we serve.”

Improving customer service and modernizing how residents interact

with the courts has been a central priority of Clerk Spyropoulos’s administration since taking office.

By eliminating outdated listings and strengthening call routing, the Clerk’s Office is reducing frustration for court users and reinforcing public confidence in the justice system.

Residents who encounter an incorrect phone number or listing are en-

couraged to contact the Clerk’s Call Center at 312-603-5030, where staff can open a help desk ticket to ensure the issue is promptly reviewed and corrected.

The phone and website audit is one of several initiatives underway to make the Clerk’s Office easier to navigate, more transparent, and better equipped to meet the needs of Cook County residents.

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The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, under the leadership of Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos, has completed a comprehensive audit of all public-facing phone numbers and website listings to ensure that residents seeking court services are able to reach the correct department quickly and reliably.

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JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 3

LOCAL NEWS

from the cover: ‘WOLVES’

Women’s Basketball Falls to Bryant & Stratton College, 82–59 Joliet Junior College women’s basketball fell to Bryant & Stratton College, 82–59, on Tuesday night as the Wolves were unable to overcome turnovers despite several strong stretches of play.

The Wolves (9-9) trailed by 10 points after the first quarter but responded by cutting the deficit to 7 heading into halftime. Coming out of the break, the Wolves showed some energy as Samantha Casanova and Makeena Boyle sparked an offensive push that trimmed the lead to four.

Casanova led the Wolves with 18 points and five rebounds, while Boyle added 16 points as both players provided key runs during the second half. However, unforced turnovers proved costly, allowing the Bobcats to capitalize and pull away late. Joliet finished the game with nine turnovers.

After the game, head coach Shaun

Sanderson emphasized the need for consistency.

“We’ve got to protect the basketball and recognize what the defense is giving us,” Sanderson said. “I felt like we had good spurts and made some good adjustments defensively, but we’ve got to be consistent throughout the entire game.”

Boyle reflected on her performance and continued development.

“I think doing a better job rebounding has helped me, and whenever I get the ball I know I’ve got to have a quick release when shooting. It’s starting to work in games now,” Boyle said.

The Wolves will look to bounce back when they hit the road to face South Suburban College on Thursday at 5 p.m.

PAGE 4 | JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

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JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 5

Health & Fitness

Warning signs of gastrointestinal issues Gastrointestinal issues (GI) are prevalent across the globe. A recent analysis published in the journal Gastroenterology indicated there were 2.86 billion prevalent cases of digestive diseases in 2019.

Such figures astound and underscore just how significant a problem GIs are for people from all walks of life and in all corners of the globe.

It’s easy to write off certain gastrointestinal issues as a temporary nuisance. But any discomfort or pain in the abdominal area merits consultation with a physician, as untreated GIs can result in unwanted and dangerous consequences, including death. With that in mind, individuals are urged to recognize these symptoms of GIs and to report any that appear to a physician.

Cramps Abdominal cramps is a known indicator of Crohn’s disease, which the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation notes is an inflammatory bowel disease marked by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

WebMD notes that abdominal cramps associated with Crohn’s disease flare up when the disease is active.

Abdominal swelling Abdominal distension is the term used to describe an abdomen that is abnormally swollen outward.

The Cleveland Clinic notes this distension is visible and sometimes even measurable. This condition can make a person feel bloated or as if gas or digestive contents are trapped in their stomach.

The Cleveland Clinic notes chronic abdominal distension is often a sign of an underlying digestive issue, which may include celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

Dehydration Dehydration can be symptomatic of a wide range of ailments, including small bowel obstruction.

The online medical resource Healthline reports that a small bowel obstruction can block the contents of the small intestine from passing through the digestive tract. This potentially serious condition can cause cramps and also lead to dehydration.

Bloody bowel movements WebMD notes that blood after wiping could indicate any of a number of serious issues affecting the gastrointestinal system. Blood in the toilet after a bowel movement is another sign that merits immediate discussion with a physician. The presence of either or both of these symptoms may be a sign of colon cancer, colon polyps, colitis, diverticulosis, or other issues, including rectal tears or hemorrhoids.

Individuals are urged to recognize these symptoms of GIs and to report any that appear to a physician.

Lower right abdominal pain Lower right abdominal pain is a potential warning sign of appendicitis, which is an inflammation of the small pouch known as the appendix that protrudes from the large intestine. The Cleveland Clinic notes this pain might begin around the belly button and then gradually intensify and shift to-

ward the lower right abdomen.

Gastrointestinal issues affect billions of people across the globe. Learning to recognize these symptoms can compel people to get potentially life-saving treatment.

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PAGE 6 | JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE

Considerations for your second act Many people see their careers as one of their defining characteristics. Children are often asked what they want to be when they grow up, and as adults they will likely be asked “What do you do for a living?” more times than they can remember.

Work is undoubtedly a major component of life for most people from the time they leave school to the day when they retire.

And a growing number of adults value work so much that they pivot to second careers.

A phenomenon known as “unretirement” occurs when people who have previously retired return to the workforce. A 2010 paper published in the Journal of Human Resources found nearly 50 percent of retirees followed a nontraditional retirement path that involved partial retirement or unretirement.

According to a recent Retirement Saving & Spending Study from T. Rowe Price, around 20 percent of retirees are working either full- or part-time, while 7 percent of study respondents are looking for employment. Some people return to work for financial reasons while others seek the social and emotional benefits employment can bring. But individuals mulling a return to work or those currently working but trying to determine a second act should not feel beholden to previous career paths. A second trip around the employment block can involve an entirely different line of work.

The following are some things to look for in a second act.

• Flexibility: Choose a career path that enables you to set your own schedule or possibly work part-time if that is your preference. This way you can still reap some of the benefits of retirement, in-

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cluding the flexibility to travel.

• Social interaction: Adults may lose daily opportunities to be social when they retire, which can compound feelings of isolation common among retirees. Consider a second career that lets you interact with a number of people and continue to build relationships and a good network.

• Personal passions: Reflect on what you might do for work if money were no object. This may help you narrow down new opportunities that are in line with your interests and passions. Find a job that utilizes your skills and experience and meshes with your interests. A former graphic artist, for example, may decide to teach design to young people.

• Nonprofit opportunities: Many retirees spent years in high-stress corporate environments where bottom lines may be more important than the bigger picture.

Shifting to a career in the nonprofit sector can be a personally fulfilling job that

A number of retirees ultimately explore second careers. Finding a match may be easier than one could have imagined.

utilizes skills learned in the corporate world.

• Consulting or contract work: If you’re a retiree who loved your job, you might want to have a second career as a con-

sultant or contractor in the same field.

A number of retirees ultimately explore second careers.

Finding a match may be easier than one could have imagined.

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Published January 28, 2026 & February 4, 2026

JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 7

PAGE 8 | JANUARY 28-29, 2026 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM