Features is news that focuses on people and the humanistic side of an issue, not just the facts. It involves issues that are made pertinent by a recent news occurrence.
Features is objective.
It deals with the impact of a news event on the community. If you are writing about something that took place in the past, use the past tense. But when you write about what people think about the issue, use the present tense. Don't use rhetorical questions. Usually, the introduction to a delayed lead is an interesting anecdote or description of a scene.