diff --git a/cypress/integration/e2e/2-admin-actions_spec.js b/cypress/integration/e2e/2-admin-actions_spec.js
index 19ee857..c6d9e6d 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/e2e/2-admin-actions_spec.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/e2e/2-admin-actions_spec.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe('Admin create/edit/delete flows', () => {
             // author username
             cy.root().should('contain', 'AdminUser');
             // severity
-            cy.root().should('contain', 'high');
+            cy.root().should('contain', 'High');
             // body text
             cy.root().should('contain', bodyText);
         });
@@ -56,12 +56,26 @@ describe('Admin create/edit/delete flows', () => {
         // verify issue contents
         cy.get('.IssueView-content').within(() => {
             // severity
-            cy.root().should('contain', 'low');
+            cy.root().should('contain', 'Low');
             // body text
             cy.root().should('contain', bodyText);
         });
     });
 
+    it('Close issue', () => {
+        // issue should start open
+        cy.get('.IssueView-content').contains('Open');
+
+        // click close button
+        cy.get('[data-testid="closeIssue"]').click();
+
+        // verify issue is closed
+        cy.get('.IssueView-content').contains('Closed');
+
+        // verify close button is gone
+        cy.get('[data-testid="closeIssue"]').should('not.exist');
+    });
+
     it('Delete issue', () => {
         cy.get('[data-testid="deleteIssue"]').click();
         // did we navigate? we deleted the only issue, and should be back on
diff --git a/server/src/graphql/resolvers.ts b/server/src/graphql/resolvers.ts
index e043943..6904342 100644
--- a/server/src/graphql/resolvers.ts
+++ b/server/src/graphql/resolvers.ts
@@ -354,6 +354,10 @@ export default (db: any) => {
                     throw new Error(`Insufficient Permissions. (required ${ PermissionLevel.Create }, had ${ level })`);
                 }
 
+                if (args.status) {
+                    args.status = args.status.toLowerCase();
+                }
+
                 return new db.Issue({
                     ...args,
                     creator: ctx.state.user.id,
diff --git a/src/components/Issue/Segments.tsx b/src/components/Issue/Segments.tsx
index 68168f6..df2130e 100644
--- a/src/components/Issue/Segments.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Issue/Segments.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ interface Props extends HTMLAttributes<HTMLElement> {
     children: any;
 }
 
+const capitalize = (str: string) => `${str[0].toUpperCase()}${str.slice(1)}`;
+
 export default ({ issue, children, ...props }: Props) => {
     const renderTitle = () => (
         <h1 className='u-noMargin'>{issue.title}</h1>
@@ -30,8 +32,9 @@ export default ({ issue, children, ...props }: Props) => {
             </section>
 
             <section className='u-alignRight'>
-                <h4>{issue.type} | {issue.severity}</h4>
-                <h4>{issue.status}</h4>
+                {/* capitalize first letter of each field*/}
+                <h4>{capitalize(issue.type)} | {capitalize(issue.severity)}</h4>
+                <h4>{capitalize(issue.status)}</h4>
             </section>
         </section>
     );