2020 Rhode Islanders vote to remove“ and Providence Plantations” from the official state name.

Hocus Pocus 2 A sequel to the 1993 film featuring the Sanderson sisters a decade later in modern-day Salem. STARRING: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. FILMING LOCATIONS: Chase Farm in Lincoln, East Side of Providence and Washington Square in Newport.

Good Burger 2 A sequel to the 1997 film Good Burger( based on a skit from the 1994 Nickelodeon show“ All That”), Dexter and Ed work to reclaim Good Burger from the hands of robot-driven MegaCorp. STARRING: Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. FILMING LOCATIONS: Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, United Skates of America in Rumford and Wayland Square in Providence.

2021 Former Governor Gina Raimondo is sworn in as President Joe Biden’ s commerce secretary.

2021 – 2022 Daniel McKee takes over as governor and selects Sabina Matos, the first Afro-Latina woman to hold the position in Rhode Island’ s history, as his lieutenant governor.

2023 U. S. Representative David Cicilline resigns to become CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Below are a few movies( plus two television shows) filmed in or about Rhode Island.

Amistad In 1839, the Amistad sails from Cuba to America carrying African slaves as its cargo, but the captives successfully mutiny, forcing the courts to decide if they are legally free citizens of another country or runaway slaves. STARRING: Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey. FILMING LOCATIONS: Washington Square and the Colony House in Newport.

“ The Gilded Age” A period drama set in 1880s New York high society that focuses on the conflict between new and old systems. STARRING: Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector. FILMING LOCATIONS: Chateau-sur-Mer, the Elms and the Breakers mansions in Newport.

“ Family Guy” This offbeat cartoon’ s hometown setting of Quahog, RI, isn’ t a real place, but it’ s still fun to look out for the Rhody-related quirks and exaggerated accents. STARRING: Voices of Seth MacFarlane, Mila Kunis, James Woods, Seth Green and Alex Borstein.

2023 Actress and Central Falls native Viola Davis achieves EGOT status after winning her first Grammy for best audiobook, storytelling and narration in her memoir, Finding Me, making her the third Black woman to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

2024 American professional soccer club Rhode Island FC begins its inaugural season and makes its USL Championship debut.

2025 McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket gets demolished to make way for a new high school. About a mile away, Centreville Bank Stadium opens along the Seekonk River.

Curl up with one of these good books( or podcasts) with local connections.

Fly Girl: A Memoir by Ann Hood Providence by Caroline Kepnes The Other Mother by Rachel M. Harper Black Aliveness, or A Poetics of Being by Kevin Quashie 100 Things to Do in the Caribbean

Before You Die and

Secret Rhode Island: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Curley

Bartholomewtown RHODY CONNECTION: Bartholomew is based in Providence. btown. buzzsprout. com

Woke Up in a Bar RHODY CONNECTION: The podcast is recorded inside Lucky Enough in Providence by bartenders Vito Lantz and Priscilla Benkhart.

Around the Buoy RHODY CONNECTION: The podcast is recorded in Newport. aroundthebuoy. com

Clever RHODY CONNECTION: Host Amy Devers is a RISD alum-turned-faculty member and currently resides in Providence. cleverpodcast. com

SUCKERS RHODY CONNECTION: Married couple Jared Haibon and Ashley Iaconetti, of“ Bachelor” fame, own and operate Audrey’ s Coffee House and Lounge in South Kingstown.

GRAPHICS: GETTY IMAGES.