diff --git a/src/qg/checks.py b/src/qg/checks.py
index e2a6b0a..fdca16e 100644
--- a/src/qg/checks.py
+++ b/src/qg/checks.py
@@ -189,9 +189,15 @@ def check_analysis_approved(repo: str, work_item_id: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
 
 def check_reviewer_verdict(repo: str, work_item_id: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     """
-    Check reviewer agent verdict from 12-review.md.
-    Returns (True, reason) if APPROVED, (False, reason) if REQUEST_CHANGES or missing.
+    Check reviewer agent verdict from 12-review.md (S-5 fix).
+
+    Reads ONLY the machine-readable `verdict:` field from the YAML frontmatter,
+    so tables / prose that merely mention APPROVED or REQUEST_CHANGES no longer
+    cause false positives/negatives. Returns:
+      (True, ...)  -> verdict: APPROVED
+      (False, ...) -> verdict: REQUEST_CHANGES, missing verdict, or no frontmatter
     """
+    import yaml
     repo_path = os.path.join(settings.repos_dir, repo)
     review_path = os.path.join(repo_path, f"docs/work-items/{work_item_id}/12-review.md")
 
@@ -200,20 +206,63 @@ def check_reviewer_verdict(repo: str, work_item_id: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
 
     try:
         with open(review_path, "r") as f:
-            content = f.read(5000)
+            content = f.read()
 
-        content_upper = content.upper()
-        if "REQUEST_CHANGES" in content_upper:
-            return False, "Reviewer verdict: REQUEST_CHANGES"
-        if "APPROVED" in content_upper:
+        verdict = None
+        if content.startswith("---"):
+            parts = content.split("---", 2)
+            if len(parts) >= 3:
+                try:
+                    fm = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {}
+                except yaml.YAMLError as e:
+                    return False, f"Invalid YAML frontmatter in review: {e}"
+                verdict = str(fm.get("verdict", "")).upper().strip()
+
+        if verdict == "APPROVED":
             return True, "Reviewer verdict: APPROVED"
-        if "LGTM" in content_upper or "SHIP IT" in content_upper:
-            return True, "Reviewer verdict: LGTM"
-        return False, "Review exists but no clear APPROVED/REQUEST_CHANGES verdict"
+        if verdict == "REQUEST_CHANGES":
+            return False, "Reviewer verdict: REQUEST_CHANGES"
+        return False, f"No machine-readable verdict in frontmatter (got: {verdict!r})"
     except OSError as e:
         return False, f"Error reading review: {e}"
 
 
+def check_tests_local(repo: str, branch: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """
+    S-1 fix: run the project test suite locally in /repos/<repo> and judge by exit
+    code, instead of depending on Gitea CI (which is not configured -> always false).
+
+    Checks out `branch` in the shared /repos checkout and runs `make test`.
+    NOTE (known limitation): the shared /repos checkout means this is not safe for
+    concurrent active tasks. git-worktree-per-task is a separate task (S-4).
+    """
+    import subprocess
+    repo_path = os.path.join(settings.repos_dir, repo)
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["git", "-C", repo_path, "fetch", "origin"],
+            capture_output=True, timeout=30,
+        )
+        co = subprocess.run(
+            ["git", "-C", repo_path, "checkout", branch],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30,
+        )
+        if co.returncode != 0:
+            return False, f"Cannot checkout branch '{branch}': {co.stderr.strip()[-200:]}"
+        r = subprocess.run(
+            ["make", "test"], cwd=repo_path,
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=600,
+        )
+        if r.returncode == 0:
+            return True, "Local tests passed"
+        tail = (r.stdout + r.stderr)[-500:]
+        return False, f"Local tests failed: ...{tail}"
+    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+        return False, "Local tests timed out (600s)"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Local test run error: {e}"
+
+
 # Registry for dynamic lookup by name
 QG_CHECKS = {
     "check_analysis_approved": check_analysis_approved,
@@ -223,4 +272,5 @@ QG_CHECKS = {
     "check_review_approved": check_review_approved,
     "check_tests_passed": check_tests_passed,
     "check_reviewer_verdict": check_reviewer_verdict,
+    "check_tests_local": check_tests_local,
 }
diff --git a/src/stages.py b/src/stages.py
index a27cd5e..070f9f4 100644
--- a/src/stages.py
+++ b/src/stages.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ STAGE_TRANSITIONS = {
     "created": {"next": "analysis", "agent": "analyst", "qg": None},
     "analysis": {"next": "architecture", "agent": "architect", "qg": "check_analysis_approved"},
     "architecture": {"next": "development", "agent": "developer", "qg": "check_architecture_done"},
-    "development": {"next": "review", "agent": "reviewer", "qg": "check_ci_green"},
+    "development": {"next": "review", "agent": "reviewer", "qg": "check_tests_local"},
     "review": {"next": "testing", "agent": "tester", "qg": "check_reviewer_verdict"},
     "testing": {"next": "deploy", "agent": "deployer", "qg": "check_tests_passed"},
     "deploy": {"next": "done", "agent": None, "qg": None},