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:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
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.
My name is David Covucci and I’m the editor-in-chief of FOIAball, a new publication covering college football through the lens of public records reporting.
Please note, I’m always happy to chat regarding these requests. So don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! I can be reached at david@foiaball.com.
I am working on an odd story about recent growth in popularity of Zyn and the corresponding surge in used pouches discarded in men’s bathrooms.
(I apologize, this request is a tad gross, but it has been returning records from schools, so I’m intrigued and sending more, including this one, to you. Sorry!).
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting communications (email or on internal work channels such as Slack and Teams) sent or received by the following athletics department employees:
Kevin Zuchorski
Jamie Moran
Tyler Kasuba
John Kneessy
Which reference the following terms:
Zyn
Nicotine pouches
If your system is able to conduct multiple keyword searches using and/or boolean type search, I would request you search those terms with the modifiers” urinal, urinals, toilet, toilets, bathroom,
I am requesting you search from 9/1/2024-12/31/2024.
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.
FOI #25-331 (08-7-25, 10:04 am) - Subject - Public Records Request - Employees' Records
Name - Frank Patterson
Affiliation -
Hello,
I am contacting you in regard to a public records/information request.
I am looking for an up-to-date list of your current employees, full names, hire date, phone numbers, e-mail address, and salary, if possible, in digital format (excel preferred). I prefer to receive these documents via e-mail at requests@academyresearchgroup.com
I am ONLY seeking public information that is clearly disclosable to me and not confidential by law, or otherwise protected, and exempted from disclosure under state law.
I understand there may be a cost associated with retrieving and copying these documents. Please provide me with an estimated list of fees if so and contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this request. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
FOI #25-330 (08-7-25, 8:43 am) - Subject - Public Records Request - Employees' Records
Name - Frank Patterson
Affiliation -
Hello,
I am contacting you in regard to a public records/information request.
I am looking for an up-to-date list of your current employees, full names, hire date, phone numbers, e-mail address, and salary, if possible, in digital format (excel preferred). I prefer to receive these documents via e-mail at requests@academyresearchgroup.com
I am ONLY seeking public information that is clearly disclosable to me and not confidential by law, or otherwise protected, and exempted from disclosure under state law.
I understand there may be a cost associated with retrieving and copying these documents. Please provide me with an estimated list of fees if so and contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this request. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
I am requesting the following records under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., preferably in electronic format:
A complete list of course syllabi for all undergraduate and graduate courses offered during the most recent academic semester, which I understand to be Spring 2025. This request includes syllabi for all courses across all departments, schools, and colleges, whether offered in-person, online, or in hybrid formats.
Please include any relevant metadata, such as:
• Course title and number
• Instructor name
• Department or academic unit
• Course delivery format (online/in-person/hybrid)
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq.), I am requesting access to and copies of the following public records related to my involvement with the UConn Police Department:
1. Audio recordings, transcripts, or written logs of all phone calls between student and Officer Medina on March 8, 2025, and March 16, 2025. These calls involved discussions about anonymous harassment and a request to file a police report.
2. Any documentation, notes, or reports made by Officer Medina or any other officer regarding the above calls.
3. Records, logs, or bodycam footage (if available) from the March 2025 wellness check requested concerning student.
4. Full transcript or notes of the interview of student conducted by Officer Porter, including any advisement of rights or records of what was said.
5. Any emails or internal communications related to student, or harassment reports between January 2025 and May 2025.
If any of this cannot be honored, please let me know.
FOI #25-325 (08-4-25, 4:17 pm) - Subject - ITB #LM012921 Trash and Recycling Services For The University of Connecticut
Name - David Casarano
Affiliation - USA Waste & Recycling Inc
Hello,
I am looking for the copies of the proposals from each bidder as well as a copy of who won the award. Also a copy of the current contract in place with all of the current pricing. Thank you
FOI #25-324 (08-4-25, 2:44 pm) - Subject - Football game contracts
Name - Kevin Kelley
Affiliation - BRI Solutions, LLC
All University of Connecticut football game contracts, amendments, and/or cancellations for non-conference opponents for the 2026 season through the 2040 season.