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.
FOI #26-296 (04-24-26, 4:21 pm) - Subject - Sideline Access at Football Games
Name - David Covucci
Affiliation - FOIAball
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting the following documents from your school’s athletic department.
A copy of any list or spreadsheet maintained by the school that documents all non-university employees who were given/granted sideline passes or listed as receiving sideline access for your school’s most recent home football game.
I am requesting data for people granted both pre-game and pre-game/full-game passes.
Just to be safe and clarify, by non-university personnel, I mean anyone who isn’t an employee of the university. So I don’t need trainers and videographers with the school.
I’m requesting just your school’s last game here because I hope it keeps the data set small and this request light. However, if this list is maintained in an easily accessible place where you can release this data for all home football games for the 2025 season without a heavy review/workload, I will happily accept that.
But that is up to you and totally not necessary.
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.
FOI #26-295 - Subject - University Compliance report
Name - Lindsay Jenkelunas
Affiliation -
UCPEA's request is for a University Compliance report. This report is based on an investigation that took place during the Fall 2025 semester about allegations within UConn Recreation. We are requesting the full and final report along with any addendums and/or attachments.
Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., I am requesting to obtain information regarding University of Connecticut's current or most recent custodial contracts and the associated RFP from the last bid cycle.
I am requesting copies of the following information from the record detailed above:
1. Most recent RFP for custodial services
2. Winning proposal from the last RFP
3. Award criteria/scoring
4. Bid tabulations
5. Copy of the custodial contract, including any amendments
FOI #26-293 (04-23-26, 3:05 pm) - Subject - Coaching Contracts
Name - Student Student
Affiliation - Student
Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of the most recent employment contracts for each of the following coaches:
Mike Cavanaugh – Men's Ice Hockey
Chris MacKenzie – Women's Ice Hockey
Jim Penders - Baseball
Laura Valentino – Softball
Dave Pezzino - Golf
If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than four days, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. I am also open to receiving records as they become available.
Please provide these documents via email. If some documents cannot be shared over email, please share those that can and inform me of the cost of any potential copies before making them.
If any portion of this request is denied, please let me know the reasons in writing.
FOI #26-289 - Subject - Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Name - Taylor Pinon
Affiliation - University of Missouri-Kansas City
Your organization's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Grant Expense Form (IRS Form 13424) for calendar years 2024 and 2025. Specifically, I request the final forms for 2024 and, if available, the interim and final forms for 2025.
Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records related to the following case: