BUG: COMPAT:0.18 added scipy version check GH12887
- [x] closes #12887 
- [X] tests passed (Tests specific to this issue now pass with scipy dev and numpy dev versions that I was using when I opened the issue)
- [X] passes `git diff upstream/master | flake8 --diff`
- [X] whatsnew entry
  @jreback @TomAugspurger 
