[CarCdr]

Start by checking out the AdminCP interface for post icons. You should be able to create a simple graphic to mean "new worthy". How about a tiny graphic of a newspaper. You should be able to find that with google or through an online graphics/icon library.

Find or make an icon about the same size as the other post icons. A little bigger is OK too, but not so big that it messes up the postbit display.

Create a usergroup called "News Moderator" that has the privileges you need to allow them to edit threads in forums. Then install the new post icon graphic via AdminCP, giving access to use it to moderators. You will see the iconid displayed when you install the new post icon.

The query should be an easy change. Where it says "WHERE forumid IN ($vbindex[newsfid])" you will add code to select threads with the proper icon -- thread.iconid, not post icons.

If noboy else pipes up about your query, I'll post the query you will need later. Gotta go to work... sigh.