diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b893f6b..a7b4d76 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -72,8 +72,7 @@ documentation = [
 lint = [
   "bandit==1.8.6; python_version <= '3.11'",
   "bandit==1.9.3; python_version > '3.11'",
-  "black==25.11.0; python_version <= '3.11'",
-  "black==25.12.0; python_version > '3.11'",
+  "black==26.1.0",
   "flake8==7.3.0",
   "isort==6.1.0; python_version <= '3.11'",
   "isort==7.0.0; python_version > '3.11'",
diff --git a/sz_tools/_tool_helpers.py b/sz_tools/_tool_helpers.py
index e78a695..0386f3e 100644
--- a/sz_tools/_tool_helpers.py
+++ b/sz_tools/_tool_helpers.py
@@ -286,9 +286,7 @@ def check_environment() -> None:
         secj = os.environ.get("SENZING_ENGINE_CONFIGURATION_JSON")
         if not secj or (secj and len(secj) == 0):
             # TODO - V4 doc links
-            print(
-                textwrap.dedent(
-                    """\n\
+            print(textwrap.dedent("""\n\
             ERROR: SENZING_ROOT or SENZING_ENGINE_CONFIGURATION_JSON environment variable is not set:
 
                 - If using a Senzing project on a bare metal install, source the setupEnv file in the project root path
@@ -299,9 +297,7 @@ def check_environment() -> None:
                 - If running within a container set the SENZING_ENGINE_CONFIGURATION_JSON environment variable.
 
                         https://github.com/Senzing/knowledge-base/blob/main/lists/environment-variables.md#senzing_engine_configuration_json
-            """
-                )
-            )
+            """))
             sys.exit(1)