Revert "a news item for #777, and add @JHonaker to contributor list"

This reverts commit 84e26dff38c6b85026e3bbf4678c7ab84b80bb6b.
Revert "Revert "a news item for #777, and add @JHonaker to contributor list""

This reverts commit e6309400a9c020294f3c3dae721f096c903f2c83.