diff --git a/.github/jobs/setup_and_run_diff.py b/.github/jobs/setup_and_run_diff.py
index 59c5be37e..995a3357d 100755
--- a/.github/jobs/setup_and_run_diff.py
+++ b/.github/jobs/setup_and_run_diff.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 
 RUNNER_WORKSPACE = os.environ.get('RUNNER_WORKSPACE')
 GITHUB_WORKSPACE = os.environ.get('GITHUB_WORKSPACE')
-REPO_NAME = os.path.basename(RUNNER_WORKSPACE)
-WS_PATH = os.path.join(RUNNER_WORKSPACE, REPO_NAME)
-print(f"WS_PATH is {WS_PATH}")
+REPO_NAME = os.path.basename(GITHUB_WORKSPACE)
+METPLUS_DEVELOP_PATH = os.path.join(GITHUB_WORKSPACE, f"{REPO_NAME}.develop")
+print(f"METPLUS_DEVELOP_PATH is {METPLUS_DEVELOP_PATH}")
 print(f"GITHUB_WORKSPACE is {GITHUB_WORKSPACE}")
 
 INPUT_CATEGORIES = sys.argv[1]
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 print(f"Output Volumes: {VOLUMES_FROM}")
 
 VOLUME_MOUNTS = [
-    f'-v {WS_PATH}:{GITHUB_WORKSPACE}',
+    f'-v {METPLUS_DEVELOP_PATH}:{GITHUB_WORKSPACE}',
     f'-v {RUNNER_WORKSPACE}/output:/data/output',
     f'-v {RUNNER_WORKSPACE}/diff:/data/diff',
 ]
diff --git a/.github/workflows/testing.yml b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
index b7c6f9bd3..e5dcea8f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/testing.yml
@@ -213,6 +213,19 @@ jobs:
         if: ${{ always() && steps.run_tests.conclusion == 'failure' }}
         run: .github/jobs/save_error_logs.sh
 
+      # checkout METplus diff_util.py from develop branch if running diff tests
+      - name: Checkout METplus diff util from develop branch
+        if: ${{ needs.job_control.outputs.run_diff == 'true' && steps.run_tests.conclusion == 'success' }}
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: 'dtcenter/metplus'
+          ref: 'develop'
+          path: METplus.develop
+          sparse-checkout: |
+            metplus/util/diff_util.py
+            .github/jobs/run_diff_docker.py
+          sparse-checkout-cone-mode: false
+
       # run difference testing
       - name: Run difference tests
         id: run-diff
diff --git a/docs/Users_Guide/existing_builds.rst b/docs/Users_Guide/existing_builds.rst
index cd1c8c747..82996444b 100644
--- a/docs/Users_Guide/existing_builds.rst
+++ b/docs/Users_Guide/existing_builds.rst
@@ -585,29 +585,29 @@ in the
 .. dropdown:: DockerHub
 
    | **MET**
-   | *Last Updated: July 30, 2025*
+   | *Last Updated: February 27, 2026*
 
       .. code-block:: ini
 
-          docker pull dtcenter/met:12.1.0
+          docker pull dtcenter/met:12.1.2
 
      `dtcenter/met DockerHub <https://hub.docker.com/r/dtcenter/met>`_
 
    | **METplus**
-   | *Last Updated: July 30, 2025*
+   | *Last Updated: March 2, 2026*
 
       .. code-block:: ini
 
-          docker pull dtcenter/metplus:6.1.0
+          docker pull dtcenter/metplus:6.1.1
 
      `dtcenter/metplus DockerHub <https://hub.docker.com/r/dtcenter/metplus>`_
 
    | **METplus Analysis**
-   | *Last Updated: July 30, 2025*
+   | *Last Updated: March 2, 2026*
 
       .. code-block:: ini
 
-          docker pull dtcenter/metplus-analysis:6.1.0
+          docker pull dtcenter/metplus-analysis:6.1.1
 
      `dtcenter/metplus-analysis DockerHub <https://hub.docker.com/r/dtcenter/metplus-analysis>`_
 
diff --git a/docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst b/docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst
index 6ba4185a7..67da9f9de 100644
--- a/docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst
+++ b/docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst
@@ -43,6 +43,16 @@ When applicable, release notes are followed by the
 describes the bugfix, enhancement, or new feature.
 Important issues are listed **in bold** for emphasis.
 
+
+METplus Version 6.1.1 Release Notes (2026-03-02)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+  .. dropdown:: Bugfix
+
+     * Update dateutil comparisons and s2s use case to support Python 3.14
+       (`#3228 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/3228>`_)
+
+
 METplus Version 6.1.0 Release Notes (2025-07-30)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/metplus/RELEASE_DATE b/metplus/RELEASE_DATE
index e0c955b41..cfddcf5f3 100644
--- a/metplus/RELEASE_DATE
+++ b/metplus/RELEASE_DATE
@@ -1 +1 @@
-20250730
\ No newline at end of file
+20260302
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/metplus/VERSION b/metplus/VERSION
index 358e78e60..132c6def5 100644
--- a/metplus/VERSION
+++ b/metplus/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-6.1.0
\ No newline at end of file
+6.1.1
\ No newline at end of file