diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-loop-gate.yml b/.github/workflows/release-loop-gate.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7dec67e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-loop-gate.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+name: Release loop-gate
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'loop-gate-v*'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      tag:
+        description: 'Tag to publish (e.g. loop-gate-v1.0.0)'
+        required: true
+        type: string
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  id-token: write
+
+jobs:
+  test-and-publish:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && format('refs/tags/{0}', github.event.inputs.tag) || github.ref }}
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v7
+        with:
+          node-version: '22'
+          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
+          cache: 'npm'
+          cache-dependency-path: tools/loop-gate/package-lock.json
+
+      - name: Ensure npm supports trusted publishing (OIDC)
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
+
+      - name: Install, build, test
+        working-directory: tools/loop-gate
+        run: |
+          npm ci
+          npm run build
+          npm test
+
+      - name: Skip if version already published
+        id: check
+        working-directory: tools/loop-gate
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+          if npm view "@cobusgreyling/loop-gate@${VERSION}" version 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "Version ${VERSION} already on npm — skipping publish."
+            echo "skip=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "Publishing @cobusgreyling/loop-gate@${VERSION}"
+            echo "skip=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+        env:
+          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Publish to npm
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip != 'true'
+        working-directory: tools/loop-gate
+        run: npm publish --access public --provenance
+        env:
+          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/STATE.md b/STATE.md
index 6b7b6312..d6b79c90 100644
--- a/STATE.md
+++ b/STATE.md
@@ -1,22 +1,33 @@
 # Loop State — loop-engineering reference
 
-Last run: 2026-07-17T09:41:37Z (automated daily-triage workflow)
+Last run: 2026-07-19T18:55:00Z (scheduled maintenance)
 
 ## High Priority (loop is acting or waiting on human)
 
 - Maintain loop readiness score ≥ 58 (current: **100**, level **L3**).
-- Keep npm packages current after tool changes (tag `loop-audit-v*`, `loop-init-v*`, `loop-cost-v*` — see docs/RELEASE.md).
-
+- npm publish in flight after this run: `loop-gate` 1.0.0, `loop-audit` 1.6.1, `loop-mcp-server` 1.1.0 (tags after merge).
+- Configure npm trusted publisher / `NPM_TOKEN` for `@cobusgreyling/loop-gate` if first publish fails.
 
 ## Watch List
 
 - Expand contributor failure stories (dependency sweeper, multi-loop).
 - Collect a production story for Post-Merge Cleanup.
+- Remaining Cursor doc gaps: [#220](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/220), [#223](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/223), [#224](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/224).
 - Validate `loop-init` scaffolds on fresh projects across all patterns.
+- Optional: StackMap outreach [#300](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/300).
+
+## Housekeeping (2026-07-19 maintenance)
+
+- Merged [#307](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/307) (Devin appendix → closes #200), [#302](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/302) (starter loop-gate), [#303](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/303) (MCP loop-gate), [#308](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/308) (audit/MCP cost fixes).
+- Landed `release-loop-gate.yml` + RELEASE.md docs (supersedes conflicted [#305](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/305)).
+- Landed loop-worktree week-two story from [#299](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/299) (story only; matrix noise dropped).
+- Closed draft [#304](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/pull/304) as superseded.
+- Pruned automated star-history / daily-triage remote branches.
 
 ## Recent Noise (ignored this run)
 
-—
+- Star-history automation PRs (#309, #310) already merged.
+- StackMap marketing issue #300.
 
 ---
-Run log: Updated by `.github/workflows/daily-triage.yml`. See `LOOP.md` for cadence and gates.
+Run log: Updated by `.github/workflows/daily-triage.yml`. See `LOOP.md` for cadence and gates.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/RELEASE.md b/docs/RELEASE.md
index bd9c3db6..31acca7f 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASE.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Release playbook — npm packages
 
-This repo ships eight public npm packages from `tools/`:
+This repo ships nine public npm packages from `tools/`:
 
 | Package | Directory | Release tag |
 |---------|-----------|-------------|
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ This repo ships eight public npm packages from `tools/`:
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-context` | `tools/loop-context` | `loop-context-v*` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-mcp-server` | `tools/mcp-server` | `loop-mcp-server-v*` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-worktree` | `tools/loop-worktree` | `loop-worktree-v*` |
+| `@cobusgreyling/loop-gate` | `tools/loop-gate` | `loop-gate-v*` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/goal-audit` | `tools/goal-audit` | `goal-audit-v*` |
 
 ## One-time setup (trusted publishing — recommended)
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ Link npm to GitHub, then for **each package** on [npmjs.com](https://www.npmjs.c
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-context` | `cobusgreyling/loop-engineering` | `release-loop-context.yml` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-mcp-server` | `cobusgreyling/loop-engineering` | `release-loop-mcp-server.yml` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/loop-worktree` | `cobusgreyling/loop-engineering` | `release-loop-worktree.yml` |
+| `@cobusgreyling/loop-gate` | `cobusgreyling/loop-engineering` | `release-loop-gate.yml` |
 | `@cobusgreyling/goal-audit` | `cobusgreyling/loop-engineering` | `release-goal-audit.yml` |
 
 Names must match **exactly** (case-sensitive). No `NPM_TOKEN` secret is required when trusted publishing is configured.
@@ -73,12 +75,16 @@ git push origin loop-mcp-server-v1.0.0
 git tag loop-worktree-v1.0.0
 git push origin loop-worktree-v1.0.0
 
+# loop-gate (path denylist + auto-merge allowlist)
+git tag loop-gate-v1.0.0
+git push origin loop-gate-v1.0.0
+
 # goal-audit (Goal Engineering readiness scorer — companion repo)
 git tag goal-audit-v1.0.2
 git push origin goal-audit-v1.0.2
 ```
 
-Workflows: `.github/workflows/release-loop-audit.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-init.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-cost.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-sync.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-context.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-mcp-server.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-worktree.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-goal-audit.yml`.
+Workflows: `.github/workflows/release-loop-audit.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-init.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-cost.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-sync.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-context.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-mcp-server.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-worktree.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-loop-gate.yml`, `.github/workflows/release-goal-audit.yml`.
 
 ## Verify after publish
 
diff --git a/stories/README.md b/stories/README.md
index 6ae73e08..aa6b95a3 100644
--- a/stories/README.md
+++ b/stories/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Real-world loop engineering — including failures. Contribute yours via [CONTRI
 | [quant-loop-the-verifier-problem.md](./quant-loop-the-verifier-problem.md) | Quant research (domain) | Numerical checker beats LLM-as-verifier for backtests |
 | [quant-loop-out-of-time.md](./quant-loop-out-of-time.md) | Quant research (domain) | Strategy passed research, failed out-of-time data |
 | [ky-cut-surface-generation-vs-consequence.md](./ky-cut-surface-generation-vs-consequence.md) | Philosophy → loop bridge | Generation ≠ consequence; preserve the cut surface |
+| [loop-worktree-week-two.md](./loop-worktree-week-two.md) | PR Babysitter + loop-worktree | Pair worktrees with `loop-context --check`; exact `outcome: failure` enum |
 
 **Template for new stories:**
 
diff --git a/stories/loop-worktree-week-two.md b/stories/loop-worktree-week-two.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cca63817
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stories/loop-worktree-week-two.md
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# Week Two with loop-worktree: PR Babysitter, one fix at a time
+
+**Pattern:** PR Babysitter
+**Tool:** loop-worktree (paired with loop-context)
+
+## What I was doing
+
+I was running a small PR Babysitter loop: watch a PR, try a fix in isolation,
+verify it, and only escalate to a human if the fix doesn't land. The part I
+wanted to get right this week was making retries safe — if attempt #1 fails,
+attempt #2 shouldn't be fighting attempt #1 for the same branch.
+
+## The workflow
+
+For each fix attempt, I create an isolated worktree keyed to the run:
+
+```
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-worktree create --run-id pr-42-fix-1 --pattern pr-babysitter
+```
+
+That gives me a fresh checkout under `.loop-worktrees/pr-42-fix-1` on its own
+branch (`loop/pr-42-fix-1`), tracked in `.loop-worktrees/manifest.json` — so
+nothing touches the branch another attempt might still be using.
+
+Once the verifier rejects an attempt, I mark it rather than deleting it
+immediately — that keeps the audit trail intact:
+
+```
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-worktree mark --run-id pr-42-fix-1 --status rejected
+```
+
+`list` gives me a quick read on what's currently tracked:
+
+```
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-worktree list
+```
+
+And periodically I sweep anything rejected or escalated:
+
+```
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-worktree cleanup --status rejected --older-than 24h
+```
+
+## Pairing with loop-context --check
+
+Before letting the loop retry again, I run the ledger through
+`loop-context --check` so a stuck fix doesn't just keep burning attempts:
+
+```
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-context --check --ledger run.json --stagnation 3 --json
+```
+
+With three identical failures in a row it stayed green (`shouldContinue: true`),
+but on the fourth repeat of the same error it correctly flipped to
+`escalate: true` with exit code 2 — which is the signal I use to stop the loop
+and hand the PR back to a human instead of trying a fifth time.
+
+## The surprise
+
+The gotcha that cost me the most time: `--check`'s stagnation trigger only
+recognizes attempts with `"outcome": "failure"` exactly. I'd first logged
+attempts as `"outcome": "fail"` — `--summary` and `--status` happily counted
+those as failures and showed the repeated error, so everything *looked*
+right, but `--check` never escalated no matter how many times the same error
+repeated. Nothing errors out to tell you the value was wrong; the breaker
+just quietly stays at "continue." Since the whole point of pairing
+loop-worktree with loop-context is to stop a bad retry loop before it wastes
+a worktree (and tokens) on a fix that isn't working, a silently-inert circuit
+breaker is exactly the failure mode you don't want.
+
+Separately, a smaller but good surprise: `cleanup --older-than 24h` refused
+to remove a worktree I'd just marked rejected seconds earlier — it only acts
+once the attempt is actually old enough (or you pass `--force`). That's the
+right default; I just didn't expect it on first try and thought the command
+had silently no-op'd.
+
+## What I'd change
+
+I'd want `--check` to validate the `outcome` field against the documented
+enum and fail loudly (or at least warn) on an unrecognized value, instead of
+silently treating it as a no-op for the stagnation/no-progress triggers while
+`--summary` keeps counting it as a failure. Right now the two commands can
+disagree about the same ledger without telling you.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/loop-audit/package.json b/tools/loop-audit/package.json
index b1b12800..5da74d3d 100644
--- a/tools/loop-audit/package.json
+++ b/tools/loop-audit/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@cobusgreyling/loop-audit",
-  "version": "1.6.0",
+  "version": "1.6.1",
   "description": "Loop engineering readiness auditor. Compute Loop Readiness Score (L0-L3), detect activity, and get actionable suggestions. npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --suggest",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {
diff --git a/tools/mcp-server/package.json b/tools/mcp-server/package.json
index 54e1b267..f4b948b2 100644
--- a/tools/mcp-server/package.json
+++ b/tools/mcp-server/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@cobusgreyling/loop-mcp-server",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.1.0",
   "description": "MCP server for loop-engineering — exposes patterns, skills, state, and audit tools as runtime-queryable resources for AI agents",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {