Latest news with #KLAS
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Joe Rogan's record-breaking podcast fueled infamous Area 51 'storming craze'
The most popular episode of Joe Rogan 's podcast has been credited with inspiring the viral movement to storm the gates of Area 51 in the summer of 2019. Netflix released a new episode of its 'Trainwreck' documentary that featured Matty Roberts, who organized the Facebook campaign 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All Of Us,' which saw two million people commit to rushing the Nevada base. Roberts said the idea came after he watched Area 51 whistleblower Bob Lazar, who claimed to have worked on projects involving the reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial spacecraft while staffed at the base in 1989. Lazar's viral sit-down with Rogan further detailed what he did at the facility, including his work on an extraterrestrial 'anti-matter reactor,' working on advanced flying saucers built by the military, and climbing inside a real UFO. The June 2019 has been viewed over 64 million times, the most of any of Rogan's episodes. 'I thought, 'Oh, my God, this finally explains the flying saucers stories,' Roberts said. Excited by what he heard during that two-hour interview, he sent out a rallying cry on social media on July 27, 2019, hoping he would find others eager to force the government to admit that aliens and UFOs were real. 'It just seemed like a hilarious idea to me,' Roberts said in the docuseries Trainwreck. After just three days on Facebook, Roberts' call to charge the gates of the US Air Force facility turned into an internet sensation. Area 51 has been tied to extraterrestrial lore for decades, with UFO researchers and conspiracy theorists claiming that secret government projects have been conducted there since the 1950s. However, it wasn't until Lazar's 1989 interview with investigative reporter George Knapp on Las Vegas TV station KLAS that the classified base became nationally famous. Lazar has maintained for 35 years that he was a government physicist who worked at S-4, roughly 15 miles from the main Area 51 complex, reverse-engineering alien spacecraft and extraterrestrial technology. 'When did things get weird? At what point in time did you say hey this is not normal work like this doesn't even seem like it's from this planet?' Rogan asked Lazar during their 2019 conversation. 'There's this facility that is at S4. It's in the side of a mountain,' Lazar described. 'I went into the hangar door and in the hangar door was the disc, the flying saucer that I worked on. I saw it sitting there and we walked by, it had a little American flag stuck on the side,' he continued. 'I thought oh my God this finally explains all the flying saucer stories this is just an advanced fighter,' the engineer told Rogan. Even after that interview, the Air Force kept a tight lid on what was happening in the desert until 2013, when the CIA finally admitted Area 51 really existed. Daily Mail has reached to Joe Rogan for comment regarding Roberts' comments about the Lazar interview. Roberts revealed that his entire campaign just started out as a gag for the few followers he had on social media. 'Jokes are funnier when they're edgy. So, I'm going to make it sound like a real call to arms,' he said in the Netflix special. 'I just thought it would be a funny post for my page of 40 followers,' he added. 'I didn't think it would go anywhere.' However, the viral invitation quickly drew the attention of the US government, who took the possibility of two million people rushing the gates of Area 51 very seriously. The federal government reportedly spent $11 million reinforcing the security around Area 51 before the September 20 event. Roberts revealed that the FBI questioned him after he posted the event on Facebook. The military even warned anyone attending the gathering that deadly force would be used to keep the base secure. 'I had no idea what I'd started,' Roberts added. The small crowd began forming at 3am outside Area 51, and only 2 people were detained by police While the federal government and US military was ready for a showdown at the top secret base, it turned out that the public wasn't. Of the two million people who RVSP'd for Roberts' attempt to storm Area 51, only 150 people showed up. 'We're about to storm one of the most heavily guarded military bases in the world. Why? Because the internet told us to,' another attendee commented in the docuseries. Only a few thousand people traveled to the towns closest to Area 51, like Rachel, Hiko and Alamo, but they never met at the base. According to the new documentary, this came as a great relief to the roughly 50 residents of Rachel, who feared they were about to be overrun by more than a million visitors. Only half of the 150 people who showed up at the 2019 event actually ran towards the gates of Area 51 According to Forbes, only two individuals were detained by local sheriff's deputies, but a reason was not given at the time. While Roberts and the 150 attendees never got past the main gate of Area 51 in 2019, the site has continued to draw unstop speculation that the US government working with extraterrestrial technology there. Several of Rogan's podcast guests since the Lazar interview have stated that they believe UFOs are studied at that facility and others throughout the US.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Newsweek
Husband Denied Entry Into US to Get Body of His Dead Wife
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A man in Mexico who reportedly had his visa denied is unable to travel to the United States to retrieve his wife's body after she died in a car crash in Nevada. Gloria Vega Nava, 41, died from injuries sustained in a car crash over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office. Her husband, Evaristo Vega, who lives in Tijuana, Mexico, told Las Vegas news station KLAS that his application for an emergency visa through the U.S. embassy in Tijuana was denied. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. The Context The crash occurred on Saturday, July 5, near Moapa, Nevada. Vega said he was informed that his wife and another occupant of the vehicle were seriously injured. He said she had been working at a warehouse in Las Vegas. Immigration policies under the Trump administration have become significantly stricter, with a notable increase in visa denials and travel restrictions. Many applicants, particularly those with prior immigration violations or bans, faced heightened scrutiny and fewer exceptions for humanitarian or emergency cases. What To Know "She was in a bad condition. She suffered a very bad accident and very bad injury on the brain," Vega told KLAS. Nava died at a local hospital three days after the crash, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office. Officials said the cause and manner of death remain under investigation. Vega is unable to cross the U.S. border as he said that he self-deported to Mexico in 2017 and has been waiting for a 10-year reentry ban to expire before beginning the process of applying to reenter the country. He was two years away from eligibility. It is unclear why Vega self-deported. "I was trying to do anything. Anything to go see her, to be with my kids, you know? I wasn't trying to do anything illegal," Vega told KLAS. What People Are Saying Evaristo Vega told Las Vegas news station KLAS of his wife: "She was everything to us. She was everything to us. She basically became the head of the family, you know?" File photo of the seal of the State Department at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, D.C. File photo of the seal of the State Department at the Washington Passport Agency in Washington, D.C. Alex Brandon/AP What Happens Next Vega's next step is to arrange for his wife's body to be released from the Clark County Coroner's Office for burial. He may appeal the visa denial with additional legal support. Advocacy groups or elected officials could intervene on Vega's behalf, potentially expediting a temporary entry. If no exception is granted, arrangements for his wife's burial may need to proceed without his presence in the U.S.
The Hill
17-07-2025
- The Hill
Man says US denied entry visa to get his wife's body after Nevada crash
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A husband is both grieving and frustrated after he says the United States denied him entry to the country to settle his wife's affairs following her death in Nevada. Gloria Vega Nava, 41, died of injuries she suffered in a car crash over the Fourth of July holiday, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office. Her husband, Evaristo Vega, lives in Tijuana, Mexico. 'She was everything to us. She was everything to us. She basically became the head of the family, you know?' Vega said. The crash happened on Saturday, July 5, near Moapa. Vega learned that his wife and another person in the vehicle were seriously hurt. He said she worked at a warehouse in Las Vegas. 'She was in a bad condition. She suffered a very bad accident and very bad injury on the brain,' he said. The Clark County Coroner's Office confirmed to Nexstar's KLAS that Vega Nava died three days after the crash at a local hospital. Details on the manner and cause of death were pending. Evaristo Vega's next step is to get his wife's body out of the Clark County Coroner's Office for a burial. The problem is he can't cross the border. Vega self-deported from the United States in 2017 to Mexico and was waiting for a 10-year ban to be over before he could start the process of applying to enter. He was only two years away. 'I was trying to do anything. Anything to go see her, to be with my kids, you know? I wasn't trying to do anything illegal,' he said. Vega said his application for an emergency visa through the U.S. Embassy in Tijuana was denied. For now, he says all he can do is pray the embassy changes its mind as he plans to reapply.
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
No, you can't gamble on UNO in Las Vegas, but here is how it could happen
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Social media recently went wild over the notion that UNO, the family card game, could be coming to Las Vegas as a new table game. But unfortunately, that was never in the cards. In mid-May, Mattel and Palms Casino Resort announced that Las Vegas would be the first home of an UNO Social Club, with multiple other venues planned for other cities. 'We created UNO Social Clubs to reimagine what game night can be — bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition,' Ray Adler, the vice president and global head of games at Mattel, said. 'The UNO Social Club in Las Vegas is just the beginning, and we're excited to see how these new experiences inspire players to show up, play hard, and make unforgettable memories.' Lake Mead level steady, but 2-year outlook shows trouble in 2027 The Social Club opened this weekend, giving way to a wild draw of buzz that reached new heights amid apparent confusion. 'IT'S OFFICIAL. UNO IS OFFICIALLY BEING ADDED AS A TABLE GAME IN LAS VEGAS CASINOS,' DraftKings Casino, a branch of the sports betting company, posted Sunday on X. Over 3 million people saw the post and comments began to question just how much players would bet on a UNO table game, skipping the truth. One day later, DraftKings Casino reversed its position and posted an update on X. 'UPDATE: UNO is NOT being added as a table game to Las Vegas casinos,' DraftKings Casino posted on X. Mattel confirmed the news on UNO's social media Monday, saying, 'We hate to be the bearers of bad news but the casino floor isn't ready for us yet.' 'We've been told that while they do have tight security, it's not robust enough for UNO at this time,' the post continued. 'This isn't a Reverse card.' The company went on to confirm that the UNO Social Club is coming to bars in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas, in August. Mattel did not immediately respond to Nexstar's request for additional information. Vegas gaming venue: UNO can be 'very emotional' Down the street from the Palms Casino Resort, there is an alternative to the UNO-themed suite where the social club plays. Meepleville, a card and tabletop community gaming venue, has been at the corner of Sahara and Decatur for a decade, and the owners understand the UNO buzz up the street. '[UNO] is very emotional,' Wayne Schulatz, co-owner of Meepleville, told Nexstar's KLAS. 'One time, my grandmother did take a swing at me once when I was nine. But that's it. Other than that, pretty smooth sailing.' Schulatz said the draw of UNO stems from a place of nostalgia, familiarity, and everyone's playing confidence — real or otherwise. He noted the emotional connection some have to the game, especially when reflecting on playing it as a child. 'And now that they're all grown up and hanging out in Vegas, they're happy to go put some money on the line playing this game that they know they are good at, right?' The proof of the rising popularity of card and tabletop games is displayed on Meepleville's calendar. Staff told KLAS it sometimes gets too popular to reserve a table, but never too full to meet the community. 'The original owner opened it for that exact reason, trying to build community and have a place for people to come and participate in tabletop gaming,' Schulatz said. 'He recently retired, and myself and two other folks came in and have just continued on the tradition. The vibe is very, very important.' Could UNO come to a Vegas casino floor? There's a way for UNO to be available next to blackjack and poker tables in Las Vegas, but in order to avoid being discarded, it needs to file with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The 'New Game Evaluation Procedure' requires several initial documents: a letter requesting game approval, rules of play, dealing procedures, and $3,000. Mattel, the maker of UNO, would also need to detail the table layout, dealer procedures, and a proposed schedule, among several other points. Then, UNO would have to undergo a game field trial at a select casino for a period lasting between 45 to 180 days. So far, there has been no indication that UNO will become a game you can gamble on, at least at a Las Vegas casino. The Gaming Control Board did, however, recently give the nod for 5-card Pai Gow to move forward in Las Vegas, marking one of the most recent casino floor entries.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I'm running,' Cannizzaro announces she will run for Nevada Attorney General's seat
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro announced on Tuesday that she is starting her campaign for the attorney general's office in 2026. She is the second major candidate to do so. 'Our leaders should be focused on making Nevada safer and stronger, but the Trump administration and Congress have continued their assault on ordinary Nevadans, cutting Medicaid and funding for our schools, attacking Planned Parenthood and reproductive rights, and raising the cost of energy, housing and groceries,' she said in a news release. Cannizzaro is a lifelong Nevadan, a former prosecutor, and the first woman to serve as Majority Leader of the Nevada State Senate. Her announcement also included a YouTube video. Cannizzaro will go up against state Treasurer Zach Conine in the democratic primary. The former attorney and consultant was the first major candidate when he announced in May that he would seek the attorney general's office. According to his campaign website, he is 'running to be Nevada's next Attorney General because Nevadans deserve someone who isn't afraid of rolling up their sleeves to take on big fights.' It also states, 'Whether it's protecting Nevadans from overreach by the federal government, leveling the playing field for workers, families, and small businesses, or delivering results for Nevadans who are struggling.' Current Attorney General Aaron Ford announced his plans to challenge Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
