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Mom whose daughter lived with Idaho murder victims interviewed by ‘Dateline’

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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. 

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“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.”

Angela Navejas.Dateline

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. 

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“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. 

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.



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Idaho

3 Californians Among 7 Dead In Fiery Idaho Crash

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3 Californians Among 7 Dead In Fiery Idaho Crash


IDAHO — Idaho State Police have identified seven people who died earlier this month in a fiery crash near Yellowstone National Park, including a tour van driver from Riverside County.

Just before 7:15 p.m. on May 1, Yu Zhang, 30, of Eastvale was behind the wheel of a Mercedes tour van heading east on U.S. Highway 20, near Henry’s Lake in Idaho, toward nearby Yellowstone.

The van driver was carrying nine passengers when a Dodge Ram pickup truck crossed the center line and smashed into the tour vehicle, according to Idaho State Police.

On May 16, Idaho State Police identified seven killed in the crash, including Yu Zhang, and the pickup driver identified as 25-year-old Isaih Moreno of Humble, Texas.

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The deceased tour van passengers were named as:

  • Ivana Wen, age 28, of Milan, Italy
  • Jianping Li, age 71, of Guangxi, China
  • Li Nie, age 64, of Arcadia, California
  • Aifeng Wan, age 53, of Arcadia, California
  • Xiaoming Jiang, age 66, of Guilin, Guangxi Province, China

DNA experts at Idaho State Police Forensic Services and forensic pathologists and investigators at the Ada County Coroner’s Office “allowed for a timely, thorough, coordinated, and comprehensive identification of the decedents,” according to Captain Chris Weadick, Idaho State Police District 6.

At the time of the two-vehicle crash, a passerby and Fremont County law enforcement were the first to arrive at the scene, police said. The officers saved multiple people trapped in the burning wreckage.

“Emergency medical personnel responded and treated at least sixteen patients,” Idaho State Police reported shortly after the crash.

The reason for the pickup’s movement remains under investigation; crash reconstruction and additional testing are still underway, Idaho State Police said Friday.

“Given the dynamic nature of the crash, the number of casualties, and the involvement of foreign nationals, this has been a highly complex investigation,” Weadick said. “We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we’ve worked to confirm facts and provide verified information.”

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Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on May 18, 2025

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Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4.

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Sunday, May 18, 2025 results for each game:

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 18 drawing

Day: 9-0-7

Night: 2-3-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 18 drawing

Day: 1-7-0-7

Night: 7-5-4-7

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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 18 drawing

01-03-04-18-30, Lucky Ball: 08

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from May 18 drawing

04-11-12-14-41

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Idaho submits waiver request to exclude soft drinks, candy from SNAP purchases – East Idaho News

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Idaho submits waiver request to exclude soft drinks, candy from SNAP purchases – East Idaho News


The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Following direction from Idaho Gov. Brad Little, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Friday seeking approval to implement House Bill 109, signed by Gov. Brad Little in April.

Idaho is among just a few states to move quickly on submitting the waiver, a step that is required to implement the new law. House Bill 109 aims to promote healthier food choices by removing soft drinks and candy from the list of items eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps.

“My administration is committed to securing the necessary waiver as quickly as possible so we can improve lives and Idahoans’ overall health,” Little said. “I appreciate the support of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Idaho Legislature as we promote the MAHA movement in Idaho.”

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Health and Welfare’s Division of Self-Reliance submitted the formal request.

“Idaho supports the health and well-being of families who rely on SNAP,” said Self-Reliance Division Administrator John Bernasconi. “By aligning SNAP benefits with basic nutrition standards, we hope to reduce preventable chronic health conditions and encourage healthier habits across the state.”

Once finalized, Idaho’s waiver request will ask the USDA to approve specific modifications to SNAP’s allowable food categories. If approved, SNAP benefits would no longer cover the purchase of soda, energy drinks, or candy. These changes reflect growing public health concerns over the role of added sugars and processed foods in contributing to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

House Bill 109 received strong support in the 2025 legislative session and builds on a national conversation about the role of nutrition in federal food assistance programs. According to USDA data, a significant portion of SNAP purchases—approximately 20% nationally—are spent on sugary beverages and snacks.

“This effort is not about limiting choice—it’s about encouraging better options for families and making sure public resources are supporting long-term health,” Bernasconi said.

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