--- a/Makefile.am	Thu Aug 18 08:46:31 2011 +0000
+++ b/Makefile.am	Sat Aug 20 18:43:12 2011 +0000
@@ -42,13 +42,6 @@
 # We don't want to release development versions.
 	test x`echo $(PACKAGE_VERSION) | grep dev` = x
 
-# Make sure there is a NEWS entry for this version
-	head NEWS | grep "^$(PACKAGE_VERSION) (`date +%m/%d/%Y`):$$" > /dev/null
-
-# Ensure NEWS has no spaces at the start of a line.
-# Using spaces instead of tabs there is a common mistake.
-	test x`grep "^ " NEWS` = x
-
 # When doing a new minor (or major) release (X.Y.0), there must be a section in
 # ChangeLog.API.
 	echo $(PACKAGE_VERSION) | grep -v "^[0-9]\+\.[0-9]\+\.0$$" >/dev/null || head ChangeLog.API | grep "^version $(PACKAGE_VERSION) (`date +%m/%d/%Y`):$$" >/dev/null