Dave Mattingly

I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly.

President Trump says the U.S.

is pledging $10 billion to help rebuild Gaza.

In addition, he says other countries are promising to contribute almost $7 billion

The money will be managed by the president's Board of Peace.

Trump hosted the board's first meeting yesterday in Washington, across from the State Department, where the commitments were announced.

This comes amid efforts to implement the next phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

That deal was brokered by the U.S.

After the Board of Peace meeting, President Trump traveled to Georgia yesterday where a special election is underway to replace former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Raul Bali with member station WABE has more.

President Trump is nominating his former personal lawyer for a seat on the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

As NPR's Nina Totenberg reports, Justin Smith has played a key role in a variety of Trump's legal disputes.

Long-term mortgage rates in the U.S.

have dropped to their lowest level in more than three years.

Freddie Mac says the interest rate on the average 30-year fixed-rate loan declined this week to slightly more than 6 percent.

September of 2022 was the last time that rate was below 6 percent.

This is NPR News from Washington.

A court in Virginia is blocking a proposal by the state's Democratic lawmakers to hold an April referendum on redrawing the state's congressional map.