diff --git a/NEWS.txt b/NEWS.txt
index fd54af1c1..86da2c0c5 100644
--- a/NEWS.txt
+++ b/NEWS.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
            libSBML NEWS -- History of user-visible changes
 
+====================================================================
+5.20.4
+====================================================================
+
+This is mostly a bug fix release enhancing stability and improving 
+performance when validating models. Main points: 
+
+* support compilation when using libxml 2.12.0 and later
+* improved performance when testing for assignment cycles 
+* cmake build system honors the BUILD_SHARED_LIB flag if defined
+
+
 ====================================================================
 5.20.2
 ====================================================================