diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 916c550..648dd7b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,13 +5,6 @@ All notable changes to WuttJamaican will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
-## v0.25.0 (2025-12-15)
-
-### Feat
-
-- drop timezone, assume UTC for all datetime values in DB
-- add `make_utc()` function, app method
-
 ## v0.24.1 (2025-10-29)
 
 ### Fix
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fec7d85..7f9906b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "WuttJamaican"
-version = "0.25.0"
+version = "0.24.1"
 description = "Base package for Wutta Framework"
 readme = "README.md"
 authors = [{name = "Lance Edgar", email = "lance@wuttaproject.org"}]
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
index 0056cb8..c10e6bc 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ from wuttjamaican.util import (
     load_object,
     make_title,
     make_full_name,
-    make_utc,
     make_uuid,
     make_true_uuid,
     progress_loop,
@@ -527,14 +526,6 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         """
         return make_full_name(*parts)
 
-    def make_utc(self, dt=None, tzinfo=False):
-        """
-        This returns a datetime local to the UTC timezone.  It is a
-        convenience wrapper around
-        :func:`~wuttjamaican.util.make_utc()`.
-        """
-        return make_utc(dt=dt, tzinfo=tzinfo)
-
     def make_true_uuid(self):
         """
         Generate a new UUID value.
@@ -862,8 +853,7 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         :returns: Text to display.
         """
-        # TODO: this now assumes naive UTC value incoming...
-        return humanize.naturaltime(value, when=self.make_utc(tzinfo=False))
+        return humanize.naturaltime(value)
 
     ##############################
     # getters for other handlers
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py b/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
index 733c48b..54c9ad7 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 Batch Handlers
 """
 
+import datetime
 import os
 import shutil
 
@@ -480,7 +481,7 @@ class BatchHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         result = self.execute(  # pylint: disable=assignment-from-none
             batch, user=user, progress=progress, **kwargs
         )
-        batch.executed = self.app.make_utc()
+        batch.executed = datetime.datetime.now()
         batch.executed_by = user
         return result
 
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py
deleted file mode 100644
index c78e547..0000000
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,186 +0,0 @@
-"""drop time zones
-
-Revision ID: b59a34266288
-Revises: efdcb2c75034
-Create Date: 2025-12-14 19:10:11.627188
-
-"""
-
-from typing import Sequence, Union
-
-from alembic import op
-import sqlalchemy as sa
-import wuttjamaican.db.util
-from sqlalchemy.dialects import postgresql
-from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
-
-# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
-revision: str = "b59a34266288"
-down_revision: Union[str, None] = "efdcb2c75034"
-branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
-depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
-
-
-def upgrade() -> None:
-
-    # upgrade.created
-    op.add_column("upgrade", sa.Column("created_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True))
-    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
-        "upgrade",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("created"),
-        sa.sql.column("created_new"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        op.get_bind().execute(
-            upgrade.update()
-            .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-            .values({"created_new": make_utc(row.created)})
-        )
-    op.drop_column("upgrade", "created")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "upgrade",
-        "created_new",
-        new_column_name="created",
-        nullable=False,
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
-
-    # upgrade.executed
-    op.add_column("upgrade", sa.Column("executed_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True))
-    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
-        "upgrade",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("executed"),
-        sa.sql.column("executed_new"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        if row.executed:
-            op.get_bind().execute(
-                upgrade.update()
-                .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-                .values({"executed_new": make_utc(row.executed)})
-            )
-    op.drop_column("upgrade", "executed")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "upgrade",
-        "executed_new",
-        new_column_name="executed",
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
-
-    # user_api_token.created
-    op.add_column(
-        "user_api_token", sa.Column("created_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True)
-    )
-    user_api_token = sa.sql.table(
-        "user_api_token",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("created"),
-        sa.sql.column("created_new"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(user_api_token.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        op.get_bind().execute(
-            user_api_token.update()
-            .where(user_api_token.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-            .values({"created_new": make_utc(row.created)})
-        )
-    op.drop_column("user_api_token", "created")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "user_api_token",
-        "created_new",
-        new_column_name="created",
-        nullable=False,
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
-
-
-def downgrade() -> None:
-
-    # user_api_token.created
-    op.add_column(
-        "user_api_token",
-        sa.Column("created_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True),
-    )
-    user_api_token = sa.sql.table(
-        "user_api_token",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("created"),
-        sa.sql.column("created_old"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(user_api_token.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        op.get_bind().execute(
-            user_api_token.update()
-            .where(user_api_token.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-            .values({"created_old": row.created})
-        )
-    op.drop_column("user_api_token", "created")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "user_api_token",
-        "created_old",
-        new_column_name="created",
-        nullable=False,
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
-
-    # upgrade.executed
-    op.add_column(
-        "upgrade", sa.Column("executed_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
-    )
-    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
-        "upgrade",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("executed"),
-        sa.sql.column("executed_old"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        if row.executed:
-            op.get_bind().execute(
-                upgrade.update()
-                .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-                .values({"executed_old": row.executed})
-            )
-    op.drop_column("upgrade", "executed")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "upgrade",
-        "executed_old",
-        new_column_name="executed",
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
-
-    # upgrade.created
-    op.add_column(
-        "upgrade", sa.Column("created_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
-    )
-    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
-        "upgrade",
-        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
-        sa.sql.column("created"),
-        sa.sql.column("created_old"),
-    )
-    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
-    for row in cursor.fetchall():
-        op.get_bind().execute(
-            upgrade.update()
-            .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
-            .values({"created_old": row.created})
-        )
-    op.drop_column("upgrade", "created")
-    op.alter_column(
-        "upgrade",
-        "created_old",
-        new_column_name="created",
-        nullable=False,
-        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        existing_nullable=True,
-    )
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
index 2a48369..5bb4c45 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
@@ -39,13 +39,14 @@ So a user's permissions are "inherited" from the role(s) to which they
 belong.
 """
 
+import datetime
+
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 from sqlalchemy.ext.associationproxy import association_proxy
 
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import Base
-from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class Role(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
@@ -342,9 +343,9 @@ class UserAPIToken(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     )
 
     created = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(),
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
         nullable=False,
-        default=make_utc,
+        default=datetime.datetime.now,
         doc="""
         Date/time when the token was created.
         """,
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
index c9ab097..ad2ef3c 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ from sqlalchemy.ext.orderinglist import ordering_list
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import uuid_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.auth import User
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import UUID
-from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class BatchMixin:
@@ -224,7 +223,9 @@ class BatchMixin:
     status_code = sa.Column(sa.Integer(), nullable=True)
     status_text = sa.Column(sa.String(length=255), nullable=True)
 
-    created = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(), nullable=False, default=make_utc)
+    created = sa.Column(
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False, default=datetime.datetime.now
+    )
     created_by_uuid = sa.Column(UUID(), nullable=False)
 
     @declared_attr
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ class BatchMixin:
             cascade_backrefs=False,
         )
 
-    executed = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(), nullable=True)
+    executed = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
     executed_by_uuid = sa.Column(UUID(), nullable=True)
 
     @declared_attr
@@ -427,5 +428,8 @@ class BatchRowMixin:  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     status_text = sa.Column(sa.String(length=255), nullable=True)
 
     modified = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(), nullable=True, default=make_utc, onupdate=make_utc
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        nullable=True,
+        default=datetime.datetime.now,
+        onupdate=datetime.datetime.now,
     )
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
index ae035bb..7c94d3f 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
@@ -24,13 +24,14 @@
 Upgrade Model
 """
 
+import datetime
+
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 
 from wuttjamaican.enum import UpgradeStatus
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import Base
-from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
@@ -43,9 +44,9 @@ class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     uuid = uuid_column()
 
     created = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(),
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
         nullable=False,
-        default=make_utc,
+        default=datetime.datetime.now,
         doc="""
     When the upgrade record was created.
     """,
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     )
 
     executed = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(),
+        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
         nullable=True,
         doc="""
     When the upgrade was executed.
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
index fd63ff2..6c03e2b 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 WuttJamaican - utilities
 """
 
-import datetime
 import importlib
 import logging
 import os
@@ -190,50 +189,6 @@ def make_full_name(*parts):
     return " ".join(parts)
 
 
-def make_utc(dt=None, tzinfo=False):
-    """
-    This returns a datetime local to the UTC timezone.  By default it
-    will be a *naive* datetime; the common use case is to convert as
-    needed for sake of writing to the database.
-
-    See also the shortcut
-    :meth:`~wuttjamaican.app.AppHandler.make_utc()` method on the app
-    handler.
-
-    :param dt: Optional :class:`python:datetime.datetime` instance.
-       If not specified, the current time will be used.
-
-    :param tzinfo: Boolean indicating whether the return value should
-       have its :attr:`~python:datetime.datetime.tzinfo` attribute
-       set.  This is false by default in which case the return value
-       will be naive.
-
-    :returns: :class:`python:datetime.datetime` instance local to UTC.
-    """
-    # use current time if none provided
-    if dt is None:
-        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
-        if tzinfo:
-            return now
-        return now.replace(tzinfo=None)
-
-    # otherwise may need to convert timezone
-    if dt.tzinfo:
-        if dt.tzinfo is not datetime.timezone.utc:
-            dt = dt.astimezone(datetime.timezone.utc)
-        if tzinfo:
-            return dt
-        return dt.replace(tzinfo=None)
-
-    # naive value returned as-is..
-    if not tzinfo:
-        return dt
-
-    # ..unless tzinfo is wanted, in which case this assumes naive
-    # value is in the UTC timezone
-    return dt.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-
-
 def make_true_uuid():
     """
     Generate a new v7 UUID value.
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 936d79d..2a0c89e 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -426,11 +426,6 @@ app_title = WuttaTest
         name = self.app.make_full_name("Fred", "", "Flintstone", "")
         self.assertEqual(name, "Fred Flintstone")
 
-    def test_make_utc(self):
-        dt = self.app.make_utc()
-        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
-        self.assertIsNone(dt.tzinfo)
-
     def test_make_uuid(self):
         uuid = self.app.make_uuid()
         self.assertEqual(len(uuid), 32)
@@ -571,7 +566,7 @@ app_title = WuttaTest
             now = datetime.datetime.now()
             result = self.app.render_time_ago(now)
             self.assertEqual(result, "now")
-            humanize.naturaltime.assert_called_once()
+            humanize.naturaltime.assert_called_once_with(now)
 
     def test_get_person(self):
         people = self.app.get_people_handler()
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index e2b9095..a078100 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
 
-import datetime
 import sys
 from unittest import TestCase
 from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
@@ -165,53 +164,6 @@ class TestLoadObject(TestCase):
         self.assertIs(result, TestCase)
 
 
-class TestMakeUTC(TestCase):
-
-    def test_current_time(self):
-
-        # no tzinfo by default
-        dt = mod.make_utc()
-        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
-        self.assertIsNone(dt.tzinfo)
-        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).replace(tzinfo=None)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(int(dt.timestamp()), int(now.timestamp()))
-
-        # with tzinfo
-        dt = mod.make_utc(tzinfo=True)
-        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
-        self.assertIs(dt.tzinfo, datetime.timezone.utc)
-        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(int(dt.timestamp()), int(now.timestamp()))
-
-    def test_convert_with_tzinfo(self):
-        sample = datetime.datetime(
-            2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone(-datetime.timedelta(hours=5))
-        )
-
-        # no tzinfo by default
-        dt = mod.make_utc(sample)
-        self.assertEqual(dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 13, 30, tzinfo=None))
-
-        # with tzinfo
-        dt = mod.make_utc(sample, tzinfo=True)
-        self.assertEqual(
-            dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 13, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-        )
-
-    def test_convert_without_tzinfo(self):
-        sample = datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30)
-
-        # no tzinfo by default
-        dt = mod.make_utc(sample)
-        self.assertEqual(dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=None))
-
-        # with tzinfo
-        dt = mod.make_utc(sample, tzinfo=True)
-        self.assertEqual(
-            dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-        )
-
-
 class TestMakeUUID(TestCase):
 
     def test_basic(self):