Note Python 3.9 floor bump in NEWS

thodson-usgs · claude · thodson-usgs · commit dd03edf8c36a · 2026-05-07T08:47:05.000-05:00
The previous commit (3a6cad9) raised requires-python from >=3.8 to >=3.9 to align pyproject with what CI actually tested. That is a breaking change for any downstream user still on 3.8, so call it out in the changelog. Reported by Copilot review on PR #272. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+**05/07/2026:** Bumped the declared minimum Python version from **3.8** to **3.9** (`pyproject.toml`'s `requires-python` and the ruff target). This brings the manifest in line with what was already being tested — CI's matrix has long covered only 3.9, 3.13, and 3.14, the `waterdata` test module already skipped itself on Python < 3.10, and several modules already use 3.9-only stdlib (e.g. `zoneinfo`). Users on 3.8 will no longer be able to install the package; please upgrade.
+
 **05/07/2026:** `waterdata.get_samples()` and `wqp.get_results()` now append a derived `<prefix>DateTime` UTC column for every Date/Time/TimeZone triplet in the response (e.g. `Activity_StartDate` + `Activity_StartTime` + `Activity_StartTimeZone` → `Activity_StartDateTime`). Both the WQX3 (`<X>Date`/`<X>Time`/`<X>TimeZone`) and legacy WQP (`<X>Date`/`<X>Time/Time`/`<X>Time/TimeZoneCode`) shapes are recognized; abbreviations like EST/EDT/CST/PST resolve to a UTC `Timestamp`, unknown codes resolve to `NaT`, and the original triplet columns are preserved. Mirrors R's `create_dateTime` behavior. Closes #266.
 
 **05/06/2026:** Each remaining active function in `dataretrieval.nwis` now emits a per-function `DeprecationWarning` naming the `waterdata` replacement to migrate to (visible the first time users call each getter). The `nwis` module is scheduled for removal on or after **2027-05-06**.

Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@`
	`1`	+05/07/2026: Bumped the declared minimum Python version from 3.8 to 3.9 (`pyproject.toml`'s `requires-python` and the ruff target). This brings the manifest in line with what was already being tested — CI's matrix has long covered only 3.9, 3.13, and 3.14, the `waterdata` test module already skipped itself on Python < 3.10, and several modules already use 3.9-only stdlib (e.g. `zoneinfo`). Users on 3.8 will no longer be able to install the package; please upgrade.
	`2`	`+`
`1`	`3`	05/07/2026: `waterdata.get_samples()` and `wqp.get_results()` now append a derived `<prefix>DateTime` UTC column for every Date/Time/TimeZone triplet in the response (e.g. `Activity_StartDate` + `Activity_StartTime` + `Activity_StartTimeZone` → `Activity_StartDateTime`). Both the WQX3 (`<X>Date`/`<X>Time`/`<X>TimeZone`) and legacy WQP (`<X>Date`/`<X>Time/Time`/`<X>Time/TimeZoneCode`) shapes are recognized; abbreviations like EST/EDT/CST/PST resolve to a UTC `Timestamp`, unknown codes resolve to `NaT`, and the original triplet columns are preserved. Mirrors R's `create_dateTime` behavior. Closes #266.
`2`	`4`
`3`	`5`	05/06/2026: Each remaining active function in `dataretrieval.nwis` now emits a per-function `DeprecationWarning` naming the `waterdata` replacement to migrate to (visible the first time users call each getter). The `nwis` module is scheduled for removal on or after 2027-05-06.