WP-query a simple query example.

$args = array(
     'post_type'       => 'post',
     'post_status'     => 'published',
     'category_name'   => 'announcements',
     'posts_per_page'  => 1,
     'order_by'	       => 'date',
     'order'           => 'DESC',
);

$the_query = new WP_Query( $args );

ob_start();

// The Loop
if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
     echo '<ul>';
     while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
          $the_query->the_post();
          echo '<li>' . get_the_title() . '</li>';
     }
     echo '</ul>';
     /* Restore original Post Data */
     wp_reset_postdata();
} else {
     // no posts found
}
$output = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();
return $output;