1. On January 24, 1764, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed a law banning the importation of slaves into the state. This made Rhode Island the first state to take such action, although it did not abolish slavery altogether until 1842.

2. In 1911, Rhode Island became the first state to enact a law mandating a minimum wage for workers. The law required employers to pay workers at least 15 cents per hour, which was considered a living wage at the time.

3. On January 24, 1942, the U.S. Army activated the 243rd Coast Artillery Regiment in Rhode Island in response to the growing threat of World War II. The regiment was charged with defending the state's coastline and ports from potential attack.

4. In 2003, Rhode Island native Peter Farrelly won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Green Book," which he co-wrote with Brian Hayes Currie and Nick Vallelonga. The film was based on the true story of an African-American pianist and his white driver who traveled through the segregated South in the 1960s.

5. On January 24, 2019, Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo delivered her fourth State of the State address, in which she highlighted the state's progress in areas such as job creation, education, and infrastructure investment. She also announced new initiatives aimed at addressing climate change and expanding access to early childhood education.