Myself and Dawilby have modified Kuht.it's excellent Spotlight module for xoops 2.0.x. This module creates a block where a given news article is put in the spotlight: with an optional extra image the intro text is shown. Demo and download on the xoops module development team website: www.modules.xoops2.com.

This module has the following features:
- Create a block displaying the intro text of a given news article
- Add a custom image to the spotlighted article block
- Control look and feel through block template
- Display other recent news below spotlighted item
- Admin lenth ot titles through block admin
- Admin order and number of other recent news items displayed.