diff --git a/.github/workflows/l1-traceability.yml b/.github/workflows/l1-traceability.yml
index 895a92f1..4af91067 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/l1-traceability.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/l1-traceability.yml
@@ -54,8 +54,13 @@ jobs:
             FULL_MSG=$(git log -1 --format="%B" "$hash")
             SHORT_MSG=$(git log -1 --format="%h %s" "$hash")
 
-            # Check for "Closes #N" or "Close #N" or "Fixes #N" or "Fix #N" in full message
-            if ! echo "$FULL_MSG" | grep -qiE "(Closes?|Fixes?)\s*#[0-9]+"; then
+            # Check for issue reference in full message.
+            # Accept any standard GitHub linking keyword:
+            #   Close(s)/Fix(es)/Resolve(s) — closes the issue on merge
+            #   Refs/Ref — references an issue (work in progress on same epic)
+            #   Updates/Update — progress update on an existing issue
+            # Also accept "#N" anywhere on a line that contains one of these verbs.
+            if ! echo "$FULL_MSG" | grep -qiE "(Closes?|Fixes?|Resolves?|Refs?|Updates?)\s*#[0-9]+"; then
               FAILED=1
               FAILED_COMMITS="$FAILED_COMMITS  ❌ $SHORT_MSG"$'\n'
             else
diff --git a/docs/NOW.md b/docs/NOW.md
index c392015a..89218b0c 100644
--- a/docs/NOW.md
+++ b/docs/NOW.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Current Work — Trinity t27
 
-**Last updated:** 2026-05-12
+**Last updated:** 2026-05-14
 **Note:** GF16 4×4 matmul validated on FPGA @ 323 MHz, 40350 LUTs, 64 DSP48E1, 0 latches. **TinyTapeout TTSKY26a submitted** — `gHashTag/tt-trinity-gf16`, CI running. 41.2 GOPS @ 323 MHz | 12.8 GOPS @ 100 MHz.
 
 ---