Theming of custom block is not working - php

Question

I've been following this post
http://legomenon.io/article/drupal-7-creating-theming-custom-block-content
so i made them accordingly,
i have these, btw name my my custom module is efq_story_list
HOOK_THEME
function efq_story_list_theme() {
return array(
'efq_story_list_function_items' => array(
'variables' => array('items' => NULL),
'template' => 'templates/efq_story_list--block'
),
);
}
FUNCTION GENERATING THE LIST
function __efq_story_list_block_content() {
#SOME CODE HERE and variable $items has the list
return theme("efq_story_list_function_items", array("items" => $items));
}
HOOK_BLOCK_VIEW
The name of the block is opinion
function efq_story_list_block_view($delta = ''){
switch ($delta) {
case 'opinion':
$block['content'] = __efq_story_list_block_content();
break;
}
return $block;
}
Then on my templates/efq_story_list--block i have the file efq_story_list--block.tpl.php.. then i flush all the cache,
but now I get WSOD. I tried this in local machine and its working, so I am wondering what else can I miss in my production site.. Thank you very much.. I am quite new to drupal so I dont know where to look anymore...
EDIT # 1
the content of the template file is
<?php $items = $variables['items']; ?>
<div class="row">
<?php foreach($items as $item): ?>
<div class="col-md-3 news_list panel">
<div class='thumbnail_wrapper'>
<img src="print render($item['image_url']);" />
</div>
<div class="meta small_sprite">
<span class="generic icon source_<?php print render($item['source_class']); ?>"></span>
<span><?php print render($item['source']); ?></span>
</div>
<div class="caption">
<?php print render($item['title']); ?>
</div>
</div>
<?php endforeach;
</div>