Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
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Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
FOI #25-551 (12-17-25, 1:46 pm) - Subject - ISMI-catcher procurement and use records
Name -
Affiliation -
Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records regarding the use and procurement of ISMI-catchers, sometimes known as Stingrays, by UCPD. An ISMI-catcher is "a telephone eavesdropping device used for intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking location data of mobile phone users" (per Wikipedia). Relevant records may include but are not exclusive to procurement records, equipment lists, and warrants for their use.
I would like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of surveillance as it relates to their right to privacy. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Act requires a response within four business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
FOI #25-550 - Subject - One Torrington Office Plaza Renovation
Name - Hope Redding
Affiliation -
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Sec. 1-210, we are requesting certified payroll records submitted by the contractors listed below for work performed on the One
Torrington Office Plaza Renovation project referenced above.
• Apex Tile
• East Coast Wall Systems
• Eastern Mechanical & Subs
• Ferraro’s Painting
• Ford & Ulrich
• GC Signs
• GDS Contracting
• HTH Automatic Sprinkler
• Sullivan’s Glass
• Superb Steel
• Walker Electrical
FOI #25-548 (12-15-25, 1:08 pm) - Subject - Athletics/2026 basketball tournament in Dubai
Name - Jesse Dougherty
Affiliation - Washington Post
All emails sent to or from accounts for David Benedict (athleticdirector@uconn.edu), Jason Butikofer (jason.butikofer@uconn.edu), Chris Grosse (christopher.grosse@uconn.edu), Bill Guerrero (william.guerrero@uconn.edu), William Peterson (william.peterson@uconn.edu) and men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley mentioning the terms “Royal Palm Invitational”, “Royal Palm”, “Dubai”, “United Arab Emirates” and/or "UAE”. The date range for this request is Nov. 1, 2025 to Dec. 15, 2025.
Please omit all summaries or compilations of news articles. Upon being informed of the results of this search, I may be willing to narrow the scope of my request.
FOI #25-547 (12-15-25, 11:50 am) - Subject - Contract document for RFI #MF030122 On-Call Graphic Enhancement Services
Name - Arjay Cruz
Affiliation - Deltek
Deltek requests copies of records related to RFI #MF030122 – On-Call Graphic Enhancement Services, including any solicitation(s) issued as a result of the RFI (RFP, RFQ, or similar) and any resulting contract(s), award documentation, or related procurement records.
Deltek was advised that the solicitation was conducted and completed in 2022. This request is submitted to clarify the procurement process and outcome.
Please provide the records electronically, if available.
FOI #25-546 (12-15-25, 11:50 am) - Subject - Former AD email search
Name - Alex Andrejev
Affiliation - The Athletic
Dear UConn Records Officer,
Pursuant to Connecticut open records laws, I am requesting copies of the following records in electronic format on a rolling basis as they are cleared for release:
— All emails, including attachments, to and from the inboxes of athleticdirector@uconn.edu and warde.manuel@uconn.edu from February 1, 2012, to March 1, 2016, with the following non-case sensitive keywords: “coach” AND “complaint”; “coach” AND “allegation”; “coach” AND “inappropriate”; “coach” AND “investigation”; “coach” AND “reprimand.” Please exclude documents from news aggregators or other similar bulk content services.
This records request is being filed in pursuit of a time-sensitive news story. Therefore, I ask that my request be expedited. I would like these records in electronic format, sent via email or other digital method, and released as they become available.
If you determine that any of the information qualifies for an exemption from disclosure, I ask you to note whether the exemption is discretionary, and if so, whether it is necessary in this case to exercise your discretion to withhold the information.
Also, I am a member of the news media as a journalist for The Athletic, and the requested documents are in the public interest and will not be used for commercial purposes. Therefore, I ask that all fees be waived in the processing of my request. If fees associated with this request will exceed $25, kindly notify me in advance of fulfilling this request.
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-210 et seq., I am requesting copies of all public records regarding the homicide of Megan McShane, which occurred on October 20, 2025, at a residence in Stratford, Connecticut.
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting the following documents from your athletics department.
Records regarding the total spending by your school’s football team on security and escorts from 1/1/2025 to 12/12/2025.
This includes: local police and sheriff departments, county and state agencies, federal agencies, and independent security contractors.
I am happy to accept a lump sum from whatever data you maintain, if that is easy enough.
If you can not provide that data, I am requesting all invoices you received from local police and sheriff departments, county and state agencies, any federal agencies, and independent security contractors.
While I am asking for documents specifically relating to football, if it is too difficult or time-consuming to parse records and separate out football, I will accept all department spending.
Please note that Connecticut law requires public agencies to respond to requests within four days of receiving them by either processing or denying the request, or providing written notice requesting an extension.
As I am an independent journalist engaged in legitimate newsgathering, I am requesting a fee waiver of any associated costs with this request. In lieu of a fee waiver, I am requesting a detailed invoice of any potential costs, if any, associated with this request.
I’d like to request electronic copies of new head football coach Jason Candle’s contract. The contract was announced by the school on December 8, 2025. If there is not an executed contract available, a letter of intent, term sheet, or other similar document will suffice.
FOI #25-542 - Subject - SmartProcure Public Records Request to University of Connecticut Health Center For PO/Vendor Information
Name - Misty Ruhlman
Affiliation -
SmartProcure is submitting a public records request to the University of Connecticut Health Center for any and all purchasing records from 9/16/2025 to current. The request is limited to readily available records without physically copying, scanning, or printing paper documents. Any editable electronic document is acceptable.
The specific information requested from your record-keeping system is:
1. Purchase order number. If purchase orders are not used a comparable substitute is acceptable, i.e., invoice, encumbrance, or check number 2. Purchase date 3. Line item details (Detailed description of the purchase) 4. Line item quantity 5. Line item price 6. Vendor ID number, name, address, contact person and their email address