diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0ee3b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+venv/
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7f40b5d..3a60c7f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,23 +2,47 @@
 
 A collection of Python and Bash scripts to automate interactions with Gitea instances.
 
-## Setup
+## Supported Instances
 
-A Python virtual environment is included. Activate it using:
-```bash
-source venv/bin/activate
-```
+| Remote         | Host                       | Org / Repo                          |
+|----------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
+| `dadeschools`  | `gitea.dadeschools.net`    | `Contractor / Timesheet`            |
+| `prgs`         | `gitea.prgs.cc`            | `Scaled-Tech-Consulting / Timesheet`|
 
 ## Authentication
 
 These scripts securely extract tokens from the macOS keychain to avoid hardcoding secrets.
 
-- **Dade Schools (gitea.dadeschools.net)**: Retrieved via `git credential fill`. Ensure you have logged in via Git over HTTPS at least once so the keychain caches your credentials.
-- **NetBridge / Personal (gitea.prgs.cc)**: Retrieved using `security find-generic-password` for the service `netbridge-gitea-token`.
+Credentials are retrieved via `git credential fill` for the target host. Ensure you have
+logged in via Git over HTTPS at least once so the keychain caches your credentials.
 
 ## Available Scripts
 
-- `./create_issue.py` - Create an issue in the Gitea tracker
-- `./create_pr.py` - Open a Pull Request from a branch via the API
-- `./create_pr.sh` - Bash equivalent for creating a PR via the API
-- `./close_issue.sh` - Close a specific issue via the API
+| Script              | Description                                         |
+|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
+| `create_issue.py`   | Create an issue (`--remote`, `--title`, `--body`)   |
+| `create_pr.py`      | Open a Pull Request (`--remote`, `--title`, `--head`, `--base`) |
+| `close_issue.sh`    | Close a specific issue (dadeschools only)            |
+| `mark_issue.sh`     | Claim/release an issue via `status:in-progress` label |
+| `manage_labels.py`  | Create label set and apply label mappings (`--dry` to preview) |
+
+### Quick Examples
+
+```bash
+# Create an issue
+./create_issue.py --title "Fix PDF output" --body "Blank on Safari"
+
+# Create a PR
+./create_pr.py --title "feat: add validation" --head feat/validation --body "Closes #12"
+
+# Close issue #5
+./close_issue.sh 5
+
+# Claim an issue before working on it
+./mark_issue.sh 10 start
+
+# Release when done
+./mark_issue.sh 10 done
+```
+
+Use `--help` on any Python script for full usage details.
diff --git a/close_issue.sh b/close_issue.sh
index 2a01463..a590814 100755
--- a/close_issue.sh
+++ b/close_issue.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Close a Gitea issue by setting its state to "closed".
+#
+# Usage:  ./close_issue.sh <issue_number>
+#
+# Auth: macOS keychain via `git credential fill` (same as the other scripts).
+set -euo pipefail
+
 HOST="gitea.dadeschools.net"
 API="https://$HOST/api/v1"
 ORG="Contractor"
 REPO="Timesheet"
-ISSUE_NUM=$1
+
+ISSUE_NUM="${1:?usage: close_issue.sh <issue_number>}"
 
 CREDS=$(printf "host=%s\nprotocol=https\n\n" "$HOST" | git credential fill)
 USER=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^username=//p')
 PASS=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^password=//p')
 
-AUTH=(-u "$USER:$PASS")
-PAYLOAD='{"state": "closed"}'
+curl -sSL -X PATCH \
+  -u "$USER:$PASS" \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"state": "closed"}' \
+  "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/issues/$ISSUE_NUM"
 
-curl -sSL -X PATCH "${AUTH[@]}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "$PAYLOAD" "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/issues/$ISSUE_NUM"
+echo ""
+echo "#$ISSUE_NUM closed"
diff --git a/create_pr.sh b/create_pr.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index b90ea36..0000000
--- a/create_pr.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-HOST="gitea.dadeschools.net"
-API="https://$HOST/api/v1"
-ORG="Contractor"
-REPO="Timesheet"
-
-CREDS=$(printf "host=%s\nprotocol=https\n\n" "$HOST" | git credential fill)
-USER=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^username=//p')
-PASS=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^password=//p')
-
-AUTH=(-u "$USER:$PASS")
-PAYLOAD='{"title": "feat: Support PTO, Sick, Holiday, and Unpaid days", "body": "Closes #6", "head": "feat/6-absence-categories", "base": "main"}'
-
-curl -sSL -X POST "${AUTH[@]}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "$PAYLOAD" "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/pulls"
diff --git a/mark_issue.sh b/mark_issue.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..364e4d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mark_issue.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Claim or release a Gitea issue by toggling the `status:in-progress` label, so
+# parallel agents/LLMs don't pick up the same issue.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./mark_issue.sh <issue_number>          # claim   (adds status:in-progress)
+#   ./mark_issue.sh <issue_number> start    # claim
+#   ./mark_issue.sh <issue_number> done     # release (removes the label)
+#
+# Auth: macOS keychain via `git credential fill` (same as the other scripts).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HOST="gitea.dadeschools.net"
+API="https://$HOST/api/v1"
+ORG="Contractor"
+REPO="Timesheet"
+LABEL="status:in-progress"
+
+NUM="${1:?usage: mark_issue.sh <issue_number> [start|done]}"
+ACTION="${2:-start}"
+
+CREDS=$(printf "host=%s\nprotocol=https\n\n" "$HOST" | git credential fill)
+USER=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^username=//p')
+PASS=$(printf '%s\n' "$CREDS" | sed -n 's/^password=//p')
+AUTH=(-u "$USER:$PASS")
+
+# Resolve the label name -> id (Gitea's issue label endpoints take ids).
+LID=$(curl -sSL "${AUTH[@]}" "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/labels?limit=100" \
+  | python3 -c "import sys,json;print(next((l['id'] for l in json.load(sys.stdin) if l['name']=='$LABEL'),''))")
+if [ -z "$LID" ]; then
+    echo "Label '$LABEL' not found in $ORG/$REPO -- run manage_labels.py first." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+case "$ACTION" in
+    start)
+        curl -sSL -X POST "${AUTH[@]}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d "{\"labels\":[$LID]}" "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/issues/$NUM/labels" >/dev/null
+        echo "#$NUM claimed -> $LABEL"
+        ;;
+    done)
+        curl -sSL -X DELETE "${AUTH[@]}" \
+            "$API/repos/$ORG/$REPO/issues/$NUM/labels/$LID" >/dev/null
+        echo "#$NUM released -> $LABEL removed"
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown action '$ACTION' (expected: start | done)" >&2
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac