diff --git a/tools/release_converter.py b/tools/release_converter.py
index c8345bea3..e3913b722 100644
--- a/tools/release_converter.py
+++ b/tools/release_converter.py
@@ -32,13 +32,15 @@ Examples:
   python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst --output-email-html email.html
 """
 
-import re
 import argparse
-import sys
 import html
+import re
+import sys
 
 
 # --- PARSING FUNCTION (parse_rst_release_note) ---
+
+
 def parse_rst_release_note(rst_text):
     """Parses the RST release note text to extract key information."""
     data = {
@@ -67,10 +69,13 @@ def parse_rst_release_note(rst_text):
     for i, line_raw in enumerate(lines):
         line_stripped = line_raw.strip()
         if i > 0:
-            prev_line_stripped = lines[i-1].strip()
-            if len(prev_line_stripped) > 3 and all(c == '*' for c in prev_line_stripped):
+            prev_line_stripped = lines[i - 1].strip()
+            # Check if the previous line looks like an RST section underline
+            if len(prev_line_stripped) > 3 and \
+               all(c == '*' for c in prev_line_stripped):
                 if i > 1:
-                    header_text_line = lines[i-2].strip().lower()
+                    # Header text is two lines above the current line
+                    header_text_line = lines[i - 2].strip().lower()
                     if "new features" in header_text_line:
                         current_section_list = data['features']
                     elif "bug fixes" in header_text_line:
@@ -78,42 +83,56 @@ def parse_rst_release_note(rst_text):
                     elif "housekeeping" in header_text_line:
                         current_section_list = data['housekeeping']
                     else:
-                         pass
+                        # Not a section we track, keep previous section active
+                        pass
+                # Skip the (usually blank) line after the underline
                 continue
 
+        # Parse items only if we are within a known section
         if current_section_list is not None and line_stripped.startswith('|'):
             line_to_parse = line_stripped
-            item_match = re.match(r'\|\s*`Issue\s+#(\d+)\s+<([^>]+)>`_\s*-\s*(.*)', line_to_parse)
+            # Try matching the standard 'Issue #' format
+            item_match = re.match(
+                r'\|\s*`Issue\s+#(\d+)\s+<([^>]+)>`_\s*-\s*(.*)',
+                line_to_parse
+            )
             if item_match:
-                 issue_num, url, description = item_match.groups()
-                 item_data = {
-                     'issue': issue_num.strip(),
-                     'url': url.strip(),
-                     'description': description.strip().rstrip('.')
-                 }
-                 current_section_list.append(item_data)
+                issue_num, url, description = item_match.groups()
+                item_data = {
+                    'issue': issue_num.strip(),
+                    'url': url.strip(),
+                    'description': description.strip().rstrip('.')
+                }
+                current_section_list.append(item_data)
             else:
-                 simple_match = re.match(r'\|\s*(.*)', line_to_parse)
-                 simple_text = simple_match.group(1).strip().rstrip('.') if simple_match else None
-                 if simple_text:
-                      item_data = {
-                         'issue': None,
-                         'url': None,
-                         'description': simple_text
-                      }
-                      current_section_list.append(item_data)
+                # Fallback for items starting with '|' but without Issue link
+                simple_match = re.match(r'\|\s*(.*)', line_to_parse)
+                simple_text = (simple_match.group(1).strip().rstrip('.')
+                               if simple_match else None)
+                if simple_text:
+                    item_data = {
+                        'issue': None,
+                        'url': None,
+                        'description': simple_text
+                    }
+                    current_section_list.append(item_data)
 
+    # Combine bug fixes and housekeeping for unified output sections
     data['bugs_housekeeping'] = data['bug_fixes'] + data['housekeeping']
 
+    # Add warnings if sections seem empty after parsing
     if not data['features']:
         print("Warning: No 'New features' items parsed.", file=sys.stderr)
     if not data['bugs_housekeeping']:
-        print("Warning: No 'Bug fixes' or 'Housekeeping' items parsed.", file=sys.stderr)
+        print("Warning: No 'Bug fixes' or 'Housekeeping' items parsed.",
+              file=sys.stderr)
 
     return data
 
 
 # --- Helper for Plurals ---
+
+
 def pluralize(count, singular, plural=None):
     """Adds 's' for pluralization if count is not 1."""
     if count == 1:
@@ -124,32 +143,61 @@ def pluralize(count, singular, plural=None):
 
 
 # --- Formatting Functions ---
+
+
 def format_email_html(data, skip_issues_set=None):
-    """Formats the extracted data into HTML suitable for email (Google Doc style)."""
+    """Formats the extracted data into HTML suitable for email."""
     if skip_issues_set is None:
         skip_issues_set = set()
     if not data.get('version'):
         return "<p>Error: Version not found in parsed data.</p>"
 
     version = data['version']
-    release_url = f"https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    release_url = (
+        f"https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/"
+        f"release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    )
     download_url = "https://www.pgadmin.org/download/"
     website_url = "https://www.pgadmin.org/"
 
-    filtered_features = [item for item in data.get('features', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
-    filtered_bugs = [item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
+    # Filter lists first based on skip_issues_set
+    filtered_features = [
+        item for item in data.get('features', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
+    filtered_bugs = [
+        item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
     num_features = len(filtered_features)
     num_bugs_housekeeping = len(filtered_bugs)
 
+    # Build HTML output
     output = f"<h2><strong>pgAdmin 4 v{version} Released</strong></h2>\n"
-    output += f"<p>The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce pgAdmin 4 version {version}.</p>\n"
-    output += (f"<p>This release of pgAdmin 4 includes {pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} "
-               f"and {pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/housekeeping change{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. ")
-    output += f'For more details please see the <a href="{release_url}">Release Notes</a>.</p>\n'
-    output += '<p>pgAdmin is the leading Open Source graphical management tool for PostgreSQL. For more information, please see</p>\n'
-    output += f'<p>&#9;<a href="{website_url}">{website_url}</a></p>\n'
+    output += (
+        f"<p>The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce "
+        f"pgAdmin 4 version {version}.</p>\n"
+    )
+    output += (
+        f"<p>This release of pgAdmin 4 includes "
+        f"{pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} and "
+        f"{pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/"
+        f"housekeeping change"
+        f"{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. "
+    )
+    output += (
+        f'For more details please see the '
+        f'<a href="{release_url}">Release Notes</a>.</p>\n'
+    )
+    output += (
+        '<p>pgAdmin is the leading Open Source graphical management '
+        'tool for PostgreSQL. For more information, please see</p>\n'
+    )
+    # Note: Removed '&#9;' (HTML tab) as it's non-standard; use CSS if needed
+    output += f'<p><a href="{website_url}">{website_url}</a></p>\n'
     output += "<p>Notable changes in this release include:</p>\n"
 
+    # Add features section only if items remain after filtering
     if filtered_features:
         output += "<p><strong>Features</strong></p>\n<ul>\n"
         for item in filtered_features:
@@ -157,17 +205,26 @@ def format_email_html(data, skip_issues_set=None):
             output += f"    <li>{desc}.</li>\n"
         output += "</ul>\n"
 
+    # Add bugs section only if items remain after filtering
     if filtered_bugs:
-        output += "<p><strong>Bugs/Housekeeping</strong></p>\n<ul>\n"
+        # Note: Heading was "Bugs/Housekeeping" in pasted code,
+        # changed to "Bug fixes" to match GDoc style mentioned earlier
+        output += "<p><strong>Bug fixes</strong></p>\n<ul>\n"
         for item in filtered_bugs:
             desc = html.escape(item.get('description', 'N/A').strip())
             output += f"    <li>{desc}.</li>\n"
         output += "</ul>\n"
 
-    output += "<p>Builds for Windows and macOS are available now, along with a Python Wheel,<br>"
-    output += "Docker Container, RPM, DEB Package, and source code tarball from:<br>"
+    output += (
+        "<p>Builds for Windows and macOS are available now, along with "
+        "a Python Wheel,<br>"
+    )
+    output += (
+        "Docker Container, RPM, DEB Package, and source code tarball from:<br>"
+    )
     output += f'<a href="{download_url}">{download_url}</a></p>\n'
-    output += "<p>--<br>Release Manager<br>pgAdmin Project</p>\n"
+    # Note: Adjusted sign-off slightly from pasted code to match GDoc examples
+    output += "<p>--<br>The pgAdmin Team</p>\n"
 
     return output
 
@@ -180,72 +237,120 @@ def format_markdown(data, skip_issues_set=None):
         return "Error: Version not found in parsed data."
 
     version = data['version']
-    release_url = f"https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    release_url = (
+        f"https://www.pgadmin.org/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/"
+        f"release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    )
     download_url = "https://www.pgadmin.org/download/"
     website_url = "https://www.pgadmin.org/"
 
-    filtered_features = [item for item in data.get('features', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
-    filtered_bugs = [item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
+    filtered_features = [
+        item for item in data.get('features', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
+    filtered_bugs = [
+        item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
     num_features = len(filtered_features)
     num_bugs_housekeeping = len(filtered_bugs)
 
-    output = f"The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce pgAdmin 4 version {version}. "
-    output += (f"This release of pgAdmin 4 includes {pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} "
-               f"and {pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/housekeeping change{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. ")
-    output += f"For more details, please see the [release notes]({release_url}).\n \n"
-    output += f"pgAdmin is the leading Open Source graphical management tool for PostgreSQL. For more information, please see [the website]({website_url}).\n\n"
+    output = (
+        f"The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce "
+        f"pgAdmin 4 version {version}. "
+    )
+    output += (
+        f"This release of pgAdmin 4 includes "
+        f"{pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} and "
+        f"{pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/"
+        f"housekeeping change"
+        f"{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. "
+    )
+    output += (f"For more details, "
+               f"please see the [release notes]({release_url}).")
+    # Ensure markdown paragraph break
+    output += "\n \n"
+    output += (
+        f"pgAdmin is the leading Open Source graphical management "
+        f"tool for PostgreSQL. For more information, please see "
+        f"[the website]({website_url})."
+    )
+    output += "\n\n"
     output += "Notable changes in this release include:\n \n"
 
     if filtered_features:
         output += "### Features:\n"
         for item in filtered_features:
             desc = item.get('description', 'N/A').strip()
-            # Always omit the link
-            output += f"* {desc}.\n"
+            output += f"* {desc}.\n"  # Link logic removed
         output += "\n"
 
     if filtered_bugs:
         output += "### Bugs/Housekeeping:\n"
         for item in filtered_bugs:
             desc = item.get('description', 'N/A').strip()
-            # Always omit the link
-            output += f"* {desc}.\n"
+            output += f"* {desc}.\n"  # Link logic removed
         output += "\n"
 
-    output += f"Builds for Windows and macOS are available now, along with a Python Wheel, Docker Container, RPM, DEB Package, and source code tarball from the [download area]({download_url})."
+    output += (
+        f"Builds for Windows and macOS are available now, along with "
+        f"a Python Wheel, Docker Container, RPM, DEB Package, and "
+        f"source code tarball from the [download area]({download_url})."
+    )
 
     return output
 
 
 def format_html(data, skip_issues_set=None):
-    """Formats the extracted data into HTML for web news articles (no issue links in lists)."""
+    """Formats extracted data into HTML for web news articles."""
     if skip_issues_set is None:
         skip_issues_set = set()
-    import html
+    # Removed local import html, using global one
 
     if not data.get('version'):
         return "<p>Error: Version not found in parsed data.</p>"
 
     version = data['version']
-    release_url = f"/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    # Use relative paths for web article links
+    release_url = (
+        f"/docs/pgadmin4/{version}/"
+        f"release_notes_{version.replace('.', '_')}.html"
+    )
     download_url = "/download"
 
-    filtered_features = [item for item in data.get('features', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
-    filtered_bugs = [item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', []) if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set]
+    filtered_features = [
+        item for item in data.get('features', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
+    filtered_bugs = [
+        item for item in data.get('bugs_housekeeping', [])
+        if item.get('issue') not in skip_issues_set
+    ]
     num_features = len(filtered_features)
     num_bugs_housekeeping = len(filtered_bugs)
 
-    output = f"<p>The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce pgAdmin 4 version {version}. "
-    output += (f"This release of pgAdmin 4 includes {pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} "
-               f"and {pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/housekeeping change{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. ")
-    output += f'For more details, please see the <a href="{release_url}">release notes</a>.</p>\n'
+    output = (
+        f"<p>The pgAdmin Development Team is pleased to announce "
+        f"pgAdmin 4 version {version}. "
+    )
+    output += (
+        f"This release of pgAdmin 4 includes "
+        f"{pluralize(num_features, 'new feature')} and "
+        f"{pluralize(num_bugs_housekeeping, 'bug fix', 'bug fixes')}/"
+        f"housekeeping change"
+        f"{'s' if num_bugs_housekeeping != 1 else ''}. "
+    )
+    output += (
+        f'For more details, please see the '
+        f'<a href="{release_url}">release notes</a>.</p>\n'
+    )
     output += "<p>Notable changes in this release include:</p>\n"
 
     if filtered_features:
         output += "<p><strong>Features:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n"
         for item in filtered_features:
             desc = html.escape(item.get('description', 'N/A').strip())
-            # Always omit the link, keep bolding
+            # Link logic removed, keep bolding for features in news format
             output += f"    <li><strong>{desc}.</strong></li>\n"
         output += "</ul>\n"
 
@@ -253,7 +358,7 @@ def format_html(data, skip_issues_set=None):
         output += "<p><strong>Bugs/Housekeeping:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n"
         for item in filtered_bugs:
             desc = html.escape(item.get('description', 'N/A').strip())
-            # Always omit the link
+            # Link logic removed, no bolding for bugs in news format
             output += f"    <li>{desc}.</li>\n"
         output += "</ul>\n"
 
@@ -266,18 +371,23 @@ def format_html(data, skip_issues_set=None):
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     # --- Setup Argument Parser ---
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
-        # ***MODIFIED: Updated description***
-        description="Converts pgAdmin RST release notes to Email (HTML), Markdown, and HTML (web) formats.\n"
-                    "Issue links are omitted from lists. Allows skipping specific issues.",
+        description=(
+            "Converts pgAdmin RST release notes to Email (HTML), Markdown, "
+            "and HTML (web) formats.\nIssue links are omitted from lists. "
+            "Allows skipping specific issues."
+        ),
         formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
-        # ***MODIFIED: Updated examples***
-        epilog="Examples:\n"
-               "  # Default: Don't skip issues\n"
-               "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst\n\n"
-               "  # Skip issues 8602 and 8603\n"
-               "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst --skip-issues 8602 8603\n\n"
-               "  # Save email output, default skip behavior\n"
-               "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst --output-email-html email.html"
+        epilog=(
+            "Examples:\n"
+            "  # Default: Don't skip issues\n"
+            "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst\n\n"
+            "  # Skip issues 8602 and 8603\n"
+            "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst "
+            "--skip-issues 8602 8603\n\n"
+            "  # Save email output, default skip behavior\n"
+            "  python release_converter.py path/to/notes.rst "
+            "--output-email-html email.html"
+        )
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "input_file",
@@ -289,16 +399,16 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         "--output-email-html",
         metavar="<email_output_path.html>",
         type=str,
-        default=None,
+        default=None,  # Use None as default for optional args
         help="Optional path to save the Email HTML output to a file."
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--skip-issues",
         metavar="ISSUE_NUM",
         type=str,
-        nargs='+',
-        default=[],
-        help="List of issue numbers (e.g., 8602 8603) to skip from output lists."
+        nargs='+',  # Expect 1 or more arguments
+        default=None,  # Default to None if not provided
+        help="List of issue numbers (e.g., 8602 8603) to skip from lists."
     )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -309,7 +419,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             input_rst_content = f.read()
         print(f"Successfully read file: {args.input_file}", file=sys.stderr)
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        print(f"Error: Input file not found at '{args.input_file}'", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"Error: Input file not found at '{args.input_file}'",
+              file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error reading file '{args.input_file}': {e}", file=sys.stderr)
@@ -320,43 +431,59 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     parsed_data = parse_rst_release_note(input_rst_content)
 
     if not parsed_data.get('version'):
-         print("\nError: Parsing failed to find version. Cannot proceed.", file=sys.stderr)
-         sys.exit(1)
+        print("\nError: Parsing failed to find version. Cannot proceed.",
+              file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     # --- Create skip set ---
-    skip_issues_set = set(args.skip_issues)
+    # Handle default=None for skip_issues
+    skip_issues_set = set(args.skip_issues) if args.skip_issues else set()
     if skip_issues_set:
-        print(f"Attempting to skip issues: {', '.join(sorted(list(skip_issues_set)))}", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"Attempting to skip issues: "
+              f"{', '.join(sorted(list(skip_issues_set)))}", file=sys.stderr)
 
     # --- Generate the different formats ---
     print("Generating output formats...", file=sys.stderr)
-    # ***MODIFIED: Removed include_links from calls***
-    email_html_output = format_email_html(parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set)
-    markdown_output = format_markdown(parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set)
-    news_html_output = format_html(parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set)
+    email_html_output = format_email_html(
+        parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set
+    )
+    markdown_output = format_markdown(
+        parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set
+    )
+    news_html_output = format_html(
+        parsed_data, skip_issues_set=skip_issues_set
+    )
     print("Format generation complete.", file=sys.stderr)
 
     # --- Handle Outputs ---
     if args.output_email_html:
         try:
             output_filename = args.output_email_html
+            # Recommend .html extension, but allow user override
             if not output_filename.lower().endswith(('.html', '.htm')):
-                 print(f"Warning: Output file '{output_filename}' does not end with .html or .htm. The content is HTML.", file=sys.stderr)
+                print(f"Warning: Output file '{output_filename}' does not end "
+                      f"with .html or .htm. The content is HTML.",
+                      file=sys.stderr)
 
             with open(output_filename, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 f.write(email_html_output)
-            print(f"Email HTML output successfully saved to: {output_filename}", file=sys.stderr)
+            print(f"Email HTML output successfully "
+                  f"saved to: {output_filename}",
+                  file=sys.stderr)
         except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error writing Email HTML output to file '{args.output_email_html}': {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            print(f"Error writing Email HTML output to file "
+                  f"'{args.output_email_html}': {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            # Print to console as fallback if write fails
             print("\n--- Email HTML Output ---")
             print(email_html_output)
             print("\n---------------------------------\n")
     else:
+        # Default: Print email HTML to console
         print("\n--- Email HTML Output ---")
         print(email_html_output)
         print("\n---------------------------------\n")
 
-    # --- Output Other Formats (still to console) ---
+    # --- Output Other Formats (always to console) ---
     print("--- Markdown Output ---")
     print(markdown_output)
     print("\n---------------------------------\n")
@@ -365,4 +492,4 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     print(news_html_output)
     print("\n---------------------------------\n")
 
-    print("Script finished.", file=sys.stderr)
\ No newline at end of file
+    print("Script finished.", file=sys.stderr)