Animal Shelter Waives Fees for Small Critters — “The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is currently caring for a higher-than-usual number of small animals. To encourage adoptions and find loving homes for these pets, the shelter is hosting an ‘It’s a Small World’ fee-waived adoption event for all small pets from Thursday through Sunday, June 27 through 30.” [FCAS]

Some Parents Object to FCPS Early Release Days — “During a community meeting Tuesday, about a dozen Fairfax County parents and community members told the leader of Virginia’s largest school district that the decision to add extra elementary school early release days next year is disruptive and will impact their students’ learning.” [WTOP]

Compass Coffee Faces Unionization Battle — “Unionizing Compass workers allege the recent influx of new hires — 124 across five stores in total — is an attempt from Compass Coffee CEO Michael Haft to stymie the unionization push, as workers across the chain’s DC and Virginia locations seek higher wages and more workplace protections.” [Washingtonian]

Pickleball Lines Officially Gone From Annandale Courts — “Contractors hired by Fairfax County removed the pickleball markings from the courts in Kendale Woods Park June 25, as a security guard stood watch and a reporter from WUSA9 interviewed pickleball players…Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole said pickleball was removed from the courts because the residents of one nearby home complained about the noise.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons and Route 1 Boosters Share Vision — The Tysons Community Alliance and Southeast Fairfax Development Corp. “serve different constituencies, but are using similar techniques to foster ‘placemaking’ and business growth.” They shared their strategies, which utilize public art, parks and gathering spaces, and events to promote their areas, with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at an economic initiatives committee meeting. [Gazette Leader]

Board Chair Voices Support for Extending I-495 Express Lanes — While Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson expressed concern that express lanes “would make future rail plans unfeasible,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a recent Northern Virginia Transportation Authority meeting that “toll lanes were a stepping stone toward rail rather than an obstacle.” [ALXnow]

Uyghur Restaurant to Expand to Falls Church — “Dolan Uyghur Restaurant will open its second NoVA restaurant and its third in the DMV in early September in the Falls Church spot where Pizzaria Orso was.” The business currently has locations in Chantilly and in D.C.’s Cleveland Park neighborhood. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Traffic Safety Crackdown Produces Thousands of Tickets — “FCPD’s Road Shark campaign has successfully wrapped up its third wave. Officers and Troopers issued over 8,500 citations and warnings, with over 200 citations for reckless driving on our roadways.” A fourth wave of the initiative, which aims to improve traffic safety, will begin on Aug. 5. [FCPD]

It’s Thursday — Showers are possible before 8am, followed by cloudy conditions until mid-morning when skies will gradually clear. The high is expected to be around 88. The chance of precipitation stands at 30%. For Thursday night, expect mostly clear skies, a low of approximately 69. [NWS]