Problem #2:
Apache error log:
File does not exist: /mysitepath/<{$xoops_imageurl}>poweredby.gif, referer:http://www.retroroms.foreverchat.net/modules/news/
Fixed the above - Earlier versions of XOOPS supported a footer that contained code like:
<img src="<{$xoops_imageurl}>poweredby.gif"
This does not work in the current version. I changed the footer, and have fixed one of the main problems.