possible to fetch total_results in a plugin that asks for the channel short_name as a parameter?

Looking to create a plugin and I need capture the total_results of a channel.

This would be how the plugin would be used in a template:

{exp:plugin_name channel_short_name="news"} 
  //stuff that goes in here
{/exp:plugin_name}

I want to know if there is any functions in the API that allow me to fetch the total_results of a channel, I probably would need to pass the status to it as well.

If there is a page that has a list of data I can fetch that includes that, it would be helpful.

Thanks.