controllers/News.php

You deleted the vurly brace at the end of the index method, before line 18.
You need to proof-read your code before jumping to the conclusion that CI is broken.

<<?php
defined('BASEPATH') OR exit('No direct script access allowed');

class News_model extends CI_Model {

public function __construct()
{
$this->load->database();

}
}

public function get_news($slug = FALSE)
{
if ($slug === FALSE)
{
$query = $this->db->get('news');
return $query->result_array();

}

$query = $this->db->get_where('news', array('slug' => $slug));
return $query->row_array();

}

Do you mean the line which I high lighten in bold.

Remember I am new to code igniter.