[youtux]

🔍 Problem statement

The changelog category template renders as an empty release section, and contributors do not have a pull request template prompting them to provide useful context and complete routine checks.

🛠️ What's changed

Move the changelog category template into an RST comment and remove empty category headings from previous release notes. Add a pull request template with sections for the problem statement and changes, plus a contribution checklist.

✅ Checklist

• I have added an entry to CHANGES.rst.
  • Waived: does not apply because this is a repository template-only change.
• The changes are covered by tests.
  • Waived: does not apply because this is a repository template-only change.
• I have updated the documentation where necessary.

[Copilot]

🟢 Approval recommended

No active review issues are recorded for the changelog cleanup and pull request template updates.

No open issues 🎉

What changed in this PR

Improves changelog presentation and standardizes the context contributors provide when opening pull requests.

Changes:

• Places a reusable changelog category template inside an RST comment so it does not render.
• Removes empty category headings from previous release notes.
• Adds a pull request template with problem and change summaries, plus a contribution checklist with waiver guidance.

File	Description
CHANGES.rst	Adds a commented release template and removes empty historical categories.
.github/​PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md	Prompts contributors for context and changelog, testing, and documentation checks.

_{Review effort: Balanced}

[codecov]

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 97.84%. Comparing base (c56b063) to head (9b54d70).
⚠️ Report is 2 commits behind head on master.

Additional details and impacted files

@@           Coverage Diff           @@
##           master     #300   +/-   ##
=======================================
  Coverage   97.84%   97.84%           
=======================================
  Files          17       17           
  Lines         927      927           
  Branches       55       55           
=======================================
  Hits          907      907           
  Misses          9        9           
  Partials       11       11           

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