Simon Wheatley

Adds two template tags, <code>latest_post_date()</code> and <code>latest_post_modified_date()</code>, the first echoes the most recent post publication date, the second echoes the modification date of the most recently modified post.
Each template tag takes two params: $date_format, standard <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Formatting_Date_and_Time" rel="nofollow ugc">WP date formatting string</a> (defaults to the default date formatting for your WP blog), and $echo, display the date, if <code>TRUE</code>, or return the date to be used in PHP, if <code>FALSE</code>, (defaults to <code>TRUE</code>).
For example: <code><?php latest_post_date( 'l, F j, Y', TRUE ); ?></code> would return a date similar to Friday, September 24, 2004 for use in PHP. Another example: <code><?php latest_post_date(); ?></code> would echo a date in the default formatting for your WP blog.
Is this plugin lacking a feature you want? I’m happy to discuss ideas, or to accept offers of feature sponsorship: <a href="http://www.simonwheatley.co.uk/contact-me/" rel="nofollow ugc">contact me</a> and we can have a chat.
Any issues: <a href="http://www.simonwheatley.co.uk/contact-me/" rel="nofollow ugc">contact me</a>.

Latest Post Date

Adds two template tags latest_post_date() and latest_post_modified_date().

Aaron Brazell

Users can designate a specific keyword that will be used in providing featured content. If you have ever seen a breaking news alert on, say, CNN.com, then you can possibly see the value of keyword based “content floating”. Need everything tagged ‘Mumbai’ to show up as ‘featured’? What about ‘Red Sox’ around World Series time? This will take some of the hand-rolling currently necessary out of designating featured articles.
<h3>Self Serving Stuff</h3>
This plugin was created by Aaron Brazell of <a href="http://technosailor.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Technosailor.com</a>. I will often write about WordPress as well as other interesting things in the business, technology and entrepreneurship world. You should subscribe.

WP-SmartFeatures

Provides user-designated keyword info to determine featured articles.

Latest Post Date vs WP-SmartFeatures