diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index bfd47b00..349ccf1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -18,18 +18,22 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   towncrier_check:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Install uv
+        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v2
+      - run: uv python install
+      - run: uv venv
       - name: install towncrier
-        run: pip install towncrier==23.11.0
+        run: uv pip install towncrier==23.11.0
       - name: verify newsfragment exist
-        run: towncrier check
+        run: uv run towncrier check
 
   lint:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ jobs:
     # We want this to run even if some of the required jobs got skipped
     if: always()
     needs: [towncrier_check, e2e, lint]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - name: CI succeeded
         # We have to do it in the shell since if it's in the if condition
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index bfcb2084..2613ec77 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   release:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
 
   release_gh:
     needs: [release]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
     permissions:
       packages: write
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ jobs:
           files: /tmp/release/**
 
   update_latest:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     needs: release_gh
     if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable_e2e.yaml b/.github/workflows/reusable_e2e.yaml
index ad8ca747..2c5711cb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable_e2e.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable_e2e.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   vscode-e2e:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     env:
       CI_BUILD_PLUGIN: "true"
     steps:
@@ -97,9 +97,6 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
           python-version: "3.10"
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: |
-          pip install flask
       # we can't run chrome like apps in the CI, we use a virtual frame buffer:
       # refer: http://elementalselenium.com/tips/38-headless
       - name: Run vscode e2e in headless state
diff --git a/changelog.d/+fixed-ci.internal.md b/changelog.d/+fixed-ci.internal.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e42d7a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/+fixed-ci.internal.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Pinned worker to `ubuntu-24.04`, changed towncrier check to run inside `uv`, fixed E2E test suite.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/tests/e2e.ts b/src/tests/e2e.ts
index 103ec6d0..4a4a13d7 100644
--- a/src/tests/e2e.ts
+++ b/src/tests/e2e.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, assert } from "chai";
 import { join } from "path";
-import { VSBrowser, StatusBar, ActivityBar, DebugView, InputBox, DebugToolbar, BottomBarPanel, EditorView } from "vscode-extension-tester";
+import { VSBrowser, StatusBar, ActivityBar, DebugView, InputBox, DebugToolbar, BottomBarPanel, EditorView, SideBarView, DefaultTreeSection, TitleBar, Workbench, until } from "vscode-extension-tester";
 import get from "axios";
 
 const kubeService = process.env.KUBE_SERVICE;
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@ describe("mirrord sample flow test", function() {
   let browser: VSBrowser;
 
   const testWorkspace = join(__dirname, '../../test-workspace');
-  const fileName = "app_flask.py";
   const defaultTimeout = 40000; // = 40 seconds
 
-  before(async function() {
+  before("open local app in the editor", async function() {
     console.log("podToSelect: " + podToSelect);
     console.log("kubeService: " + kubeService);
 
@@ -34,18 +33,32 @@ describe("mirrord sample flow test", function() {
     expect(kubeService).to.not.be.undefined;
 
     browser = VSBrowser.instance;
-
-    await browser.openResources(testWorkspace, join(testWorkspace, fileName));
     await browser.waitForWorkbench();
 
-    const ew = new EditorView();
-    try {
-      await ew.closeEditor('Welcome');
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.log("Welcome page is not displayed" + error);
-      // continue - Welcome page is not displayed
+    const workbench = new Workbench();
+
+    const titleBar = new TitleBar();
+    const item = await titleBar.getItem('File');
+    const fileMenu = await item!.select();
+    const items = await fileMenu.getItems();
+    let openItem = null;
+    for (const item of items) {
+      const label = await item.getLabel();
+      if (label.startsWith("Open Folder...")) {
+        openItem = item;
+      }
     }
-    await ew.openEditor('app_flask.py');
+    await openItem!.select();
+    const input = await InputBox.create();
+    await input.setText(testWorkspace);
+    await input.confirm();
+
+    await browser.driver.wait(until.stalenessOf(workbench));
+    await browser.waitForWorkbench();
+
+    const view = new SideBarView();
+		const tree = await view.getContent().getSection('test-workspace');
+    await tree.openItem('http_server.py');
   });
 
   it("enable mirrord button", async function() {
@@ -119,7 +132,7 @@ describe("mirrord sample flow test", function() {
 
     await browser.driver.wait(async () => {
       const text = await terminal.getText();
-      return await terminal.isDisplayed() && text.includes("Press CTRL+C to quit");
+      return await terminal.isDisplayed() && text.includes("Local app started");
     }, 4 * defaultTimeout, "terminal text not found -- timed out");
 
     await sendTrafficToPod();
diff --git a/test-workspace/app_flask.py b/test-workspace/app_flask.py
deleted file mode 100644
index a380b4b9..00000000
--- a/test-workspace/app_flask.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-from flask import Flask
-
-app = Flask(__name__)
-
-
-@app.route("/", methods=["GET"])
-def get():
-    print("GET: Request completed")
-    return "GET"
-
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=80)
diff --git a/test-workspace/http_server.py b/test-workspace/http_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3216a616
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-workspace/http_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
+
+class HTTPRequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+    def do_GET(self):
+        print("GET: Request completed")
+        self.send_response(200)
+        self.send_header("Content-type", "application/json")
+        self.send_header("Content-Length", len("GET"))
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write("GET".encode('utf8'))
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    server_address = ('0.0.0.0', 80)
+    httpd = HTTPServer(server_address, HTTPRequestHandler)
+    print("Local app started")
+    httpd.serve_forever()