Idaho
Mom whose daughter lived with Idaho murder victims interviewed by ‘Dateline’
Angela Navejas’ daughter, Ashlin Couch, was planning to hang out with friends and former roomates at the University of Idaho on the night of Nov. 12, 2022.
But then her mom asked her to stay home to watch the family dogs — a request that most likely saved Couch’s life.
Couch formerly lived at the large, off-campus house where four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered at 1122 King Road in the small community of Moscow, Idaho.
Four students were stabbed to death in the early hours of Nov. 13: Madison “Maddie” Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20.
“They were so fun, and just beautiful and kind,” Navejas said in the May 9 episode of “Dateline,” in an episode entitled, “The Terrible Night on King Road.”
Najevas said her daughter and one of the victims, Mogen, had been best friends. They grew up together in Coeur D’Alene, a town north of Moscow.
“They had coffee together, they did yoga together. They walked to class together,” Navejas said. “When the girls would get bored in Moscow, they would come and stay with us, and my husband, he’s like, ‘Oh no, those sorority girls are coming this weekend, better watch out.’”
Couch had recently graduated and moved back home to her parents’ house to save money, her mom said.
She had planned to head to Moscow to hang out with her former roommates on Nov. 12, but when her parents were delayed returning home from a trip, they asked Couch to stay in Coeur D’Alene one extra day to watch their dogs.
“She was bummed because it was a big game day,” Navejas recalled.
Not long after, Couch and her mom heard the unthinkable news: Mogen and three others had been killed in a quadruple homicide.
“It was a pain inside … you can’t really explain how your body’s feeling,” Najevas said. “It was just like my house stopped, just stopped for months.”
Najevas said she didn’t process “right away” that her daughter could have been in the King Road house that night.
“All I could think about was the kids,” she said.
She added that her daughter “just cried in her bed” when she heard the news.
“She didn’t want to talk about it,” Navejas said. “We just cried together for a long time.”
Couch was so rattled by the incident that she moved away from the area, her mom said.
“She just needed to get away and regroup. She wanted to go somewhere where nobody knew who she was, didn’t ask questions, she could make new friends, start a new life,” Navejas said.
Couch was not interviewed for the “Dateline” episode.
Navejas added that her daughter is “not the same” since the murders, and she is “not sure” when she will feel comfortable enough to come back home.
“Once the trial is over, I think that that’s really when you’re going to be able to start grieving the right way,” she said.
Bryan Kohberger, a former doctoral student in criminal justice at Washington State University, has been charged in the killings and faces four counts of first-degree murder. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty.
His trial is set to begin in August in Boise, Idaho. If Kohberger is convicted, prosecutors can pursue the death penalty, a judge ruled last month.
Navejas says “there’s nothing that will ever take” the pain away from the murders, but hopes that her daughter and other grieving students will find a way to move forward in time.
“Maybe after the trial they’ll have more better days than bad days,” she said.
In 2024, Navejas and Couch launched The Made With Kindness Foundation, a non-profit organization created in the memory of Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle.
The foundation’s mission is to create college scholarship opportunities and to offer workshops and training related to on-campus safety and security.
“We just decided that we wanted to start something to be able to remember and honor the girls and how they were — their optimism, empowerment, confidence,” Navejas said during a visit to TODAY in December.
Karen Laramie, the mother of slain student Maddie Mogen, appeared alongside Navejas on TODAY and spoke of her late daughter’s kind spirit.
She also showed a sentimental piece of jewelry her daughter once gave her.
“So it’s a two-piece ring, and my half, I think, says, ‘You are my sunshine,’ and hers said, ‘My only sunshine,’” Laramie said.
The parents of Ethan Chapin also created a foundation, Ethan’s Smile, in their son’s honor, which provides scholarships.
The new “Dateline” episode exploring the Idaho student murders will air at 9 p.m. ET/ 8p.m. CT on NBC.
Idaho
Part of I84 Will Close This Week in Southern Idaho For Bridge and Ramp Work
The Idaho Transportation Department has quite a few large projects happening around the state. One of those is the replacement of the I84 interchange to Burley and Heyburn. The work began in 2024, and a new step in the progress begins this week.
There will be a number of bridge and ramp closures that will affect traffic on Interstate 84 this week while crews work. The closures will also impact access and traffic on State Highway 24, Centennial Drive, Highway 30, and State Highway 25 in the area.
Part of I84 Will Close This Week in Southern Idaho For Bridge and Ramp Work
The Idaho Transportation Department shared an update and the details of the closures today on social media. Drivers should be cautious and pay attention to signs regarding traffic changes during the closures, which are expected to last through Friday, May 15th.
Beginning on Monday evening, at 6 PM, crews closed Interstate 84 at exit 211 to work on the new bridge. Traffic in the area should use exit 211 to bypass the closure. Work should be finished by 7 AM on Tuesday, but it could still affect the morning drive for some travelers.
READ ALSO: 5 Injured in Southern Idaho Head-on Collision
On Tuesday, the Exit 211 on and off ramps will close intermittently while crews repave SH24. Centennial Drive will also close at some point during this work. The ramps will alternate closures for 6 to 8 hours, and work is expected to continue through Friday. The social media post shares suggestions on alternate routes for drivers during the closures.
Lane reductions are expected to last through June on State Highway 24. Details on the project can be found on the ITD website.
36 of the Worst Idaho License Plate Rejections From 2025
We have to admit that we don’t understand all of these, but the ones that we do really make us question why someone would want these on their car. This isn’t even all of them – we were sent 28 pages with 25 to 30 submissions on each page of rejected personalized plates from 2025.
Gallery Credit: Credit N8 Bird
Idaho
Delicious New Menu Item Expected To Hit Idaho Costcos Soon
There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
Idaho
This is How to Identify an Idaho Christian Nationalist
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
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