diff --git a/ANNOUNCE.rst b/ANNOUNCE.rst
index f7b0bae..bbb5842 100644
--- a/ANNOUNCE.rst
+++ b/ANNOUNCE.rst
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 ========================
-Announcing NumExpr 2.8.5
+Announcing NumExpr 2.8.6
 ========================
 
 Hi everyone, 
 
-In 2.8.5 we have added a new function, `validate` which checks an expression `ex`
-for validity, for usage where the program is parsing a user input. There are also 
-consequences for this sort of usage, since `eval(ex)` is called, and as such we 
-do some string sanitization as described below.
+NumExpr 2.8.6 is a release to deal with issues related to downstream `pandas`
+where the sanitization blacklist was hitting private variables used in their
+evaluate. In addition the sanitization was hitting on scientific notation.
+
+For those who do not wish to have sanitization on by default, it can be changed 
+by setting an environment variable, `NUMEXPR_SANITIZE=0`.
+
+If you use `pandas` in your packages it is advisable you pin 
+
+`numexpr >= 2.8.6` 
+
+in your requirements.
 
 Project documentation is available at:
 
@@ -16,8 +24,13 @@ http://numexpr.readthedocs.io/
 Changes from 2.8.5 to 2.8.6
 ---------------------------
 
-** Under Construction **
+* The sanitization can be turned off by default by setting an environment variable,
+
+    `set NUMEXPR_SANITIZE=0`
 
+* Improved behavior of the blacklist to avoid triggering on private variables 
+  and scientific notation numbers.
+ 
 
 What's Numexpr?
 ---------------
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.rst b/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
index c2c16a7..21de32e 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@ Release notes for NumExpr 2.8 series
 Changes from 2.8.5 to 2.8.6
 ---------------------------
 
-** Under Construction **
+* The sanitization can be turned off by default by setting an environment variable,
 
+    `set NUMEXPR_SANITIZE=0`
+
+* Improved behavior of the blacklist to avoid triggering on private variables 
+  and scientific notation numbers.
 
 Changes from 2.8.4 to 2.8.5
 ---------------------------
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index b3d1dcd..fc0ac29 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = numexpr
-version = 2.8.6.dev1
+version = 2.8.6
 description = Fast numerical expression evaluator for NumPy
 author = David M. Cooke, Francesc Alted, and others
 maintainer = Robert A. McLeod