McCoy Stadium

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to consider legislation to provide public support for a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox.

The committee is scheduled to meet Thursday, Jan. 4, at the rise of the Senate (about 4: 30 p.m.) in Room 313 on the third floor of the State House. If the Senate session for Thursday is canceled due to inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed to Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the rise in Room 313.

The committee will consider a resolution (2018-S 2001), introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman William J. Conley Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) that would authorize the state to enter into lease and financing agreements in connection with a ballpark.

The committee will also consider a bill (2018-S 2002) introduced by Chairman Conley that would permit redevelopment agencies to finance the construction of projects for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, institutional, public or other purposes contemplated by a redevelopment plan.

The hearing will be broadcast live on Capitol TV (Cox HD 1013, Cox and Full Channel 15, Verizon Fios 34).

Ryan Belmore

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp.  He has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the boards of Fort Adams Trust, Lucy's Hearth, and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

In 2020, he was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.

He is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, he spent 39 years living in Rhode Island before recently moving to Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two rescue dogs. He still considers Rhode Island home, and visits at least once a month.