School board approves GPS lease/purchase

PORTAGE | The Portage Township School Board this week approved a five-year lease/purchase agreement to equip all district buses with GPS equipment.

Holiday gifts for pets following high-tech trend

A holiday present for Fido or Fluffy used to be an extra table scrap or a new squeeze toy. But as with gifts for their human counterparts, pet presents are becoming increasingly high-tech.

How to talk to your kids about Conn. mass shooting

The killings at a Connecticut elementary school left parents struggling to figure out what to tell their children.

Clues, hints, begs: twisted tales of elusive gifts

People aren't so sure why their numerous gift hints year after year yield a big fat nothing, even when their sought-after treasures aren't out-of-this-world expensive.

PHIL WIELAND: Porter hospital has wi-fi, coffee, but no doughnuts

After a tour of the spiffy new Porter hospital, a visitor can't help but react with jaw-dropping amazement and say, "What do you mean no doughnuts in the coffee shop!"

GPS units, stereo systems taken during Hobart vehicle break-ins

HOBART | Items were removed during three vehicle break-ins between Sunday night and Monday morning at Hampshire Park apartments, 400 N. Lake Park Ave., police said.

PHIL WIELAND: The long, winding road to Long Beach

Memo to the Sierra Club:

Officials hope to bring jail bracelets back into fashion

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials will make another attempt to free the county's get-out-of-jail bracelet system from judicial disfavor.

No more wondering where the Dash buses are

VALPARAISO | The ChicaGo Dash buses could be adding another service by the end of summer: a GPS tracking system to help anyone waiting for a bus know where it is.

Valpo launches new, friendlier city website

VALPARAISO | The city's website is getting a whole new look when it launches late today, and it will be easier to use and prettier to look at, according to Valparaiso Information Technology Director Ron Ziolkowski.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Mobile devices will dominate our lifestyles this year

The Great Recession might have delayed the onslaught of mobile devices as a driver of our digital culture, but 2011 will be the year when many aspects of our lifestyles are influenced by mobile communications: