Privacy Policy

01Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information you voluntarily provide when you interact with the Site, including when you submit a tip or story idea, subscribe to a newsletter, contact us, or register for an account. This may include:

• Name and email address
• ZIP code or city when you use the location switcher
• Any message content or files you submit to us

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically by our servers and third-party analytics tools, including:

• IP address and approximate geographic location derived from it
• Browser type, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs
• Clickstream data and interaction events
• Cookie identifiers and similar tracking technologies

Location Information

To deliver hyperlocal news and community content, we collect location data including ZIP codes, city names, latitude, and longitude coordinates. See Section 3 for full details on how location data is handled.

02How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To deliver locally relevant news, events, and community content based on your location
• To operate, maintain, and improve the Site and its features
• To respond to your inquiries, tips, or support requests
• To send newsletters or content updates you have opted into
• To analyze usage patterns and improve site performance
• To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or abusive behavior
• To serve relevant advertising (see Section 6)
• To comply with applicable legal obligations

03Location Data

Delivering hyperlocal content is the core purpose of HyperLocal Loop. To do this, we determine your approximate location using several methods:

ZIP Code Entry

When you enter a ZIP code using our location switcher, we store that ZIP code in your browser's local storage and set location cookies (city, state, county, latitude, and longitude) to personalize your content feed. This information stays on your device and is used solely to filter the news and events shown to you.

GeoIP Detection

On your first visit, if no location has been set, we may use your IP address to estimate your general geographic region through a third-party GeoIP service (ipapi.co). This gives us a city- or state-level estimate — we do not receive your precise GPS location through this method.

Browser Geolocation

We do not request access to your device's GPS or precise location through browser geolocation APIs without your explicit consent.

Location Cookies

We store location-related data in browser cookies (adrevv_city, adrevv_state, adrevv_region, adrevv_county, adrevv_lat, adrevv_lon) that expire after seven days. You may clear these cookies at any time through your browser settings. Clearing them will reset your location to the default national feed.

04Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, local storage, and session storage to operate the Site and personalize your experience. The types of cookies we use include:

Essential Cookies

These are required for the Site to function. They store your location preferences and session state. You cannot opt out of essential cookies without disabling site functionality.

Analytics Cookies

We use analytics tools (which may include Google Analytics or similar services) to understand how visitors use the Site. These tools collect anonymized usage data such as page views, session duration, and navigation paths. Analytics data helps us improve the Site for all users.

Advertising Cookies

Third-party advertising networks we work with may place cookies on your device to deliver relevant ads and measure ad performance. See Section 6 for details.

Managing Cookies

Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies through their settings. Doing so may affect your ability to use certain features of the Site, including location-based content personalization. For more information on managing cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org.

05Third-Party Services

The Site integrates with several third-party services to deliver its features. Each of these services has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data:

Weather Data

We use the Open-Meteo API (open-meteo.com) to display local weather. To retrieve weather, your city name or coordinates are sent to Open-Meteo. No personal identifying information is transmitted.

Events Data

Local events are sourced through the Ticketmaster Discovery API. Event searches are performed using your city and state; no personally identifying information is shared with Ticketmaster through our integration.

Map & Geocoding Services

We use the Open-Meteo Geocoding API to resolve city names to geographic coordinates for weather and location matching purposes.

Video & Streaming

Our TV guide and streaming features are provided by OBBM Network (obbmnetwork.tv). Your ZIP code may be passed to this service to display locally relevant programming. OBBM Network's privacy practices govern any data collected through that service.

Scorestream

Local sports scoreboards are powered by ScoreStream. ScoreStream may set its own cookies or collect usage data when you interact with scoreboard widgets on the Site.

External Links

The Site may contain links to external websites, including local news sources, event listings, and community resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies before providing any personal information.

06Advertising

HyperLocal Loop is supported in part by advertising. We may work with third-party advertising networks to display ads on the Site. These networks may use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your browsing behavior, approximate location, and interests.

We do not share your name, email address, or other directly identifying information with advertisers. Advertisers may, however, collect anonymized or aggregated data about your interactions with ads served on our Site.

To opt out of interest-based advertising, you may visit the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page.

07Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating the Site, including hosting providers, analytics platforms, and email delivery services. These providers are contractually bound to use your data only as directed by us and to maintain appropriate security standards.

Partner Organizations

HyperLocal Loop is a joint venture between OBBM Network and Spreely Media. These organizations may have access to aggregated, non-personally-identifying analytics data about Site usage to support the operation and growth of the platform.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required to do so by law, or in good-faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect our rights or property, prevent fraud, or protect the safety of our users or the public.

Business Transfers

If HyperLocal Loop or its parent organizations are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via a prominent notice on the Site before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

08Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit and access controls on our systems.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

The majority of location data used by HyperLocal Loop is stored in your own browser — in cookies and local/session storage — rather than on our servers. This means your location preferences remain on your device and are not stored in a central database.

09Your Rights & Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights with respect to your personal information:

Access & Correction

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct any inaccuracies. To make such a request, contact us at the address in Section 12.

Deletion

You may request that we delete personal information we hold about you, subject to certain legal exceptions. Note that most location data on HyperLocal Loop is stored only in your browser and can be deleted at any time by clearing your cookies and local storage.

Opt-Out of Communications

If you have subscribed to our newsletter or other email communications, you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly.

California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, disclose, or sell; the right to request deletion of your personal information; and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights. We do not sell personal information as defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act. To exercise your rights, contact us as described in Section 12.

Nevada Residents

Nevada residents may request that we not sell their covered information. We do not sell personal information. To submit a request, contact us as described in Section 12.

10Children's Privacy

HyperLocal Loop is a general-audience news and community information site. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete it.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at the address listed in Section 12.

11Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice such as a banner on the Site.

Your continued use of the Site after any changes to this Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out to us. We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and transparently.