html homepage messing up links

I’ve created an HTML homepage for my site that uses some of the WordPress CSS files. I named it index.php.

I changed the original index.php to news.php. It’s the WordPress blog.

All post and page links on news.php take me to index.php.

Is there any way I can have an html homepage on the front end of my WordPress blog w/o this link conflict?

You can see the problem at https://www.angelmccoy.com/

The links on the homepage are HTML hard-coded to go to news.php and the other pages/posts on the site.

Thanks so much for your help!
Please know that I’m old-school HTML and am just now learning PHP. Please put all explanations in idiot-level speak. ??

Thanks!
Angel…