diff --git a/build/format_release_notes.pl b/build/format_release_notes.pl
index 939f8f8eb5..74738514fb 100755
--- a/build/format_release_notes.pl
+++ b/build/format_release_notes.pl
@@ -7,4 +7,6 @@
 local $/;
 my $html = markdown( scalar <> );
 $html =~ s!issue \#(\d+)!<a href="https://github.com/gmod/jbrowse/issues/$1">issue #$1</a>!g;
+$html =~ s!pull ( request)?\#(\d+)!<a href="https://github.com/gmod/jbrowse/pull/$2">issue #$2</a>!g;
+$html =~ s!(\W)\@(\w+)!$1<a href="https://github.com/$2">\@$2</a>!g;
 print $html;
diff --git a/release-notes.txt b/release-notes.txt
index 263993728a..f25f1a4247 100644
--- a/release-notes.txt
+++ b/release-notes.txt
@@ -113,10 +113,6 @@
 
   * Improved documentation of the `CategoryURL` plugin. (pull #985, @enuggetry)
 
-  * Re-enabled and improved documentation and configurability of the gradient colors in the
-    `NeatCanvasFeatures` plugin. (issue #982, pull #985, @enuggetry)
-
-
 # Release 1.12.3     2017-05-02 19:20:01 America/Los_Angeles
 
 ## Minor improvements