2016 America ’ s first offshore wind farm is built off the coast of Block Island .

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 .

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

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 as his lieutenant governor . Matos is the first Afro-Latina woman to hold the position in Rhode Island ’ s history .

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

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 .

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

Rags To Dishes RHODY CONNECTION : Both hosts live in Rhode Island , and the podcast focuses on the state ' s dining industry .

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

Help ! We Suck at Being Newlyweds 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 .