# 
# change the "use lib" directive in apache_rw.pl accordingly!
# 
RewriteEngine on
# 
RewriteMap news_map prg:/path/to/the/prog/apache_rw.pl
# log to test behaviour
# RewriteLog "/path/to/logs/website-rewrite.log"
# RewriteLogLevel 2

# If a QUERY_STRING is required, change the * to +
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^(.*)$
# filter the query_string too
RewriteRule ^(/news.*)$     ${news_map:$1?%1} [L,R] [NE]