AP NewsWatch

I'm Hayapunjwani with an AP News Minute.

President Trump said that Pam Bangu is out as his attorney general, that ends the

contentious tenure of a loyalist who upended the Justice Department's culture of independence

from the White House.

Trump named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch as the Acting Attorney General.

Though theory people familiar with the matter have said that he has privately discussed Lee

Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as a permanent pick.

AP's Alex Vega reports mortgage rates are rising.

Another week, another rise in mortgage rates.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Maxx says the average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose this week

to 6.46%.

That's the highest level in nearly seven months.

Mortgage rates have now risen five weeks in a row.

As mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month and costs for home shoppers

limiting what they can afford.

While still down from a year ago, the recent rise in mortgage rates threatens to dampen

the spring home buying season.

I'm Alex Vega.

I'm Hayapunjwani, AP News.