diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index cdce7ab..f14fd4e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on:
     branches:
     - main
     - "1.6"
+    - "1.7"
     paths-ignore:
     - "README.md"
     - "release-notes/*"
@@ -11,15 +12,19 @@ on:
     branches:
     - main
     - "1.6"
+    - "1.7"
+
 permissions:
   contents: read
+
 jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: 'ubuntu-latest'
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        java_version: ['8', '11', '17', '21']
+        # 26-Sep-2025, tatu: some test failures on 21 cannot yet enable
+        java_version: ['8', '11', '17']
     env:
       JAVA_OPTS: "-XX:+TieredCompilation -XX:TieredStopAtLevel=1"
     steps:
diff --git a/VERSION.txt b/VERSION.txt
index ecd797b..f0e6362 100644
--- a/VERSION.txt
+++ b/VERSION.txt
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ Java ClassMate project: licensed under Apache License 2.0
 
 Release notes:
 
-1.7.1 (not yet released)
+1.7.1 (26-Sep-2025)
 
 - Branch "master" renamed as "main"
+- Update to `oss-parent` v68 to switch to Central Portal publishing
 
 1.7.0 (02-Jan-2024)
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 361206c..6f1a1d8 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>com.fasterxml</groupId>
         <artifactId>oss-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>56</version>
+        <version>68</version>
     </parent>
     <artifactId>classmate</artifactId>
     <name>ClassMate</name>
@@ -67,26 +67,11 @@ com.fasterxml.classmate.*;version=${project.version}
 
     <build>
         <plugins>
-
-          <!-- 19-Oct-2019, tatu: Copied from
-
-           https://github.com/stephenc/git-timestamp-maven-plugin/blob/master/pom.xml#L327-L337
-
-               to simplify releases. I hope.
-            -->
-          <plugin>
-            <groupId>org.sonatype.plugins</groupId>
-            <artifactId>nexus-staging-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-            <version>1.6.13</version>
-            <extensions>true</extensions>
-            <configuration>
-              <serverId>sonatype-nexus-staging</serverId>
-              <nexusUrl>https://oss.sonatype.org/</nexusUrl>
-              <!-- 19-Oct-2019, tatu: from output -->
-              <stagingProfileId>b34f19b9cc6224</stagingProfileId>
-            </configuration>
-          </plugin>
-
+            <!-- 26-Sep-2025, tatu: Ensure we use new Sonatype Central Portal: -->
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.sonatype.central</groupId>
+                <artifactId>central-publishing-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+            </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                 <configuration>