Dutch, the dog, was last seen in the 2000 block of 21st Street N. fleeing the area of the crash in a panic after police found him uninjured.

Officers say they saw him in the area of Langston Blvd. and N. Veitch St.

Police have asked anyone who sees Dutch to please call dispatch at (703) 558-2222.

Democratic state House and Senate candidates have largely zeroed in on abortion as a key messaging tactic, painting their Republican opponents as extreme on the issue. Republicans, on the other hand, have hit Democrats for being too lax on crime. 

The election comes as both parties navigate a post-Roe v. Wade world that has seen crime become an increasing concern for voters. 

“It really is the Democratic message vs. the Republican message and seeing which of those is resonating more,” said Abhi Rahman, communications director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), a group that works to elect Democrats in state legislature races.

Rahman noted that of the 10 most competitive House of Delegates races in Virginia, seven are open seats, while five of the most competitive state Senate seats are open seats. 

“It means basically there is no incumbent advantage,” he noted. 

Polling shows a tight race in the commonwealth. A University of Mary Washington poll released last week found 40 percent of respondents saying they favored Democratic majorities in both chambers next year, while 37 percent said they favored Republican majorities. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 points. 

And both sides are pouring massive amounts of money into the off-year battle. On Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) Spirit of Virginia PAC announced it brought in more than $7 million during the third quarter, while the DLCC said it was injecting $2 million into the races in an effort to boost Democratic candidates. 

Republican and Democratic groups and candidates have been infiltrating Virginia’s airwaves with spots pushing their messaging on their preferred issue in recent months. 

In July, Virginia House Republicans launched a six-figure ad buy targeting 12 House Democrats, painting them as extreme on crime and taxes. Meanwhile, Democrats have sought to capitalize on the party’s successful attacks on Republicans over abortion last cycle. 

Democrats point to the Virginia special House of Delegates race in January in the 7th state Senate District. Now-Sen. Aaron Rouse (D), who campaigned heavily on the issue of abortion, flipped the seat, which represents swaths of Virginia Beach and Norfolk. And two months before that, Democrats performed better than expected in the 2022 midterms.

“The reason we believe that seat flipped for us is because of the messaging on women’s reproductive rights,” said state Sen. Mamie Locke (D), chairwoman of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus. “I did door-knocking for that candidate, and much of what we heard is, ‘This candidate going to protect women’s right to choose?’” 

According to data from the firm AdImpact cited in the Washington Post on Friday, abortion is the top issue in ads supporting House and Senate Democrats in Virginia’s Legislature. Those ads total $4.5 million. 

“People know that the only thing that is stopping Virginia from becoming the next Florida is having a Democratic Senate,” Rahman said.  

The same University of Mary Washington poll found that 53 percent of Virginia voters said the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year would be a “major factor” for them at the ballot box; 23 percent of respondents said abortion should be legal in all cases, while 34 percent said it should be legal in most cases. Another 27 percent of voters said abortion should be illegal in most cases, while 8 percent said it should be illegal in all cases. 

Republicans note that there is much more nuance in abortion messaging, noting how voters nationwide tend to be more supportive of a 15-week federal ban. 

“We’ve told Democrats and the whole commonwealth exactly where we are,” said Garren Shipley, communications director for House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert. “We are at a limit after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life and health of the mother.”

A Gallup poll released last June found that 69 percent of Americans said they believe first-trimester abortions should be “generally legal,” while 37 percent said they supported second-trimester abortion access in general and 22 percent said the same about abortion access in the third trimester. However, Gallup also found that support for second- and third-trimester abortions increased by 9 percent since 2018.  

Veteran Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth said the Democratic messaging on abortion polls well, but noted the support changes when it comes to a 15-week ban. 

“If you ask about the 15-week ban, most of the polls I see, it’s relatively even,” Holsworth said. “What the Democrats are doing, they’re just saying [the Republicans] want a ban, and 15 weeks is disingenuous.” 

“For the Republicans, what’s interesting is, does the 15-week ban … does this work? Or does the fact that Republicans have pushed far more stringent bans in many states make their claim suspect?” 

Virginia Republicans were not immune from Democratic successes during last year’s midterm elections, with Democrats winning two out of the three competitive federal House races, in the 7th and 10th Districts. Republicans were successful in flipping Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Democrats in 2022 focused heavily on the threat of potential state abortion bans in their elections, catching many Republicans nationwide flat-footed. But Republicans inside and outside of Virginia say this time around they’re confronting the issue head-on. 

“We’re not putting our head in the sand,” said Zack Roday coordinated campaigns director for Youngkin's Spirit of Virginia PAC. “We’re correcting the record and sharing where Democrats are in this case, with a pretty simple choice between a reasonable 15-week limit to protect life and an extreme position where there are no limits to abortion.”

“I just always go back to Campaign 101,” Roday continued. “You can’t just ignore what your opponent is leveling against you when it’s their No. 1 attack.” 

Roday said Republicans are continuing to zero in on kitchen-table issues, such as education, crime, and the economy. 

“We’re running toward where the broad majority of issues and where their interests are and that’s the kitchen table around those three: economy, education, and public safety,” he said. 

On crime, Republicans are seeking to peel away from the support Democrats are trying to win in the suburban enclaves in Northern Virginia, outside of Richmond, and the greater Virginia Beach. 

“There is an understanding out there that persuadable voters are concerned about inflation and they’re also concerned about crime,” Shipley said. “The closer you get to an urban area, the more concern about crime pops up.” 

Holsworth also noted that many of the Republican attacks on crime in Northern Virginia are linked to the election of progressive prosecutors in the region. 

“The crime issue is one which is really an attack on the progressive prosecutors, which they’re hoping will rub off on the Democrats,” he said. 

But Democrats also say they are also focused on running on kitchen table issues, including public safety. 

“Voters are really concerned about what happens at their kitchen tables,” said Locke, the state senator. “Yes, they’re concerned about crime. They’re concerned about what’s going on at the federal level, but they’re more concerned about what’s going on in my neighborhood, what’s going on in my community.”

Democrats are also trying to flip the script on Republicans, saying the GOP is to blame for crime-related issues, citing issues such as gun control. 

“Every time that we have tried to address those kinds of issues, they have voted against all of it,” Locke said. 

“We can’t be hypocritical about this issue,” she continued. “Where Democrats have always tried to figure out ways we can be sensible about this issue, we have had roadblocks thrown in our way.” 

At about 2:00 a.m., VSP responded to reports of a man lying on the shoulder along the northbound lanes of I-495 near the exit for Braddock Rd. in Fairfax County.

Police said the man was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Police are seeking information regarding the circumstances leading up to the discovery of the 21-year-old man from Baltimore.

No vehicles were found near him on I-495.

Anyone who may have seen a vehicle stopped on the side of the interstate at around 2 a.m. or has any information about the incident is asked to call VSP at (703) 803-0026.

After receiving reports of a stabbing, police responded to an apartment complex in the 9200 block of Cardinal Forest Lane on Friday at about 1:00 p.m.

A woman was found with stab wounds in her upper body, she was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

She remains in the hospital.

The suspect, her son, fled the area in a vehicle.

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol found Jorge Andres Esquivel Rivera, 27, and took him into custody. He will be extradited back to Fairfax County.

Anyone with information is asked to call (703) 246-7800.

FCPD said that at about 10:10 p.m. officers responded to Richmond Highway near Brevard Court in Woodlawn for a man who was injured in a hit-and-run crash.

Police identified the man as Eder Machado Aleman, 36, of Fairfax. Officials said he was attempting to cross Richmond Highway outside of the crosswalk when he was struck by a driver.

FCPD said the driver did not stop and fled the scene. Machado Aleman was transported to the hospital where he died.

Police said they are working to identify the driver.

FCPD said this is the 7th pedestrian-related fatal crash in the County to date in 2023.

One of those lawmakers is Virginia Rep. Bob Good.

Host Tasmin Mahfuz spoke with Rep. Good on why he did it, what's next for the GOP, and who will become the next speaker.

The vote happened days after lawmakers avoided a government shutdown for 45 days.

Now, who will be the next House Speaker?

Host Tasmin Mahfuz spoke with Mychael Schnell with our media parters at The Hill.

The union, which represents people across the D.C. metro area, said their employees are struggling to live in the area. They currently make $15 an hour and want increases to match inflation.

A representative with the Washington Service Contractors Association said the two sides are "quite a ways away" on wages, but have had a few "productive sessions."

Peter Chatilovicz, WSCA's lead negotiator, said he is "confident, hopeful, and cautiously optimistic," the two sides can reach a deal.

However, if they do not, the union has voted to authorize a strike, which would be effective on October 16.

"We want the public to know these people exist," said SEIU Local 32BJ Vice President Jaime Contreras.

That's why they marched through Rosslyn streets Friday late afternoon, stopping momentarily at a few commercial office buildings to chant.

Among the speakers who spoke at a rally -- Tomasa Amaya, who cleans at Kaiser Permanente during the pandemic, and said the risk the workers take does not align with what they are paid.

She told DC News Now both she and many of her fellow cleaners are living "paycheck to paycheck."

According to the union, they made $15 an hour.

"Most of these workers work two or three jobs to sustain their families," Contreras said. "That's just inhumane in the United States of America."

In addition to workers and union leaders, a few political figures in the region attended the march and rally -- including Del. Patrick Hope and Adele McClure, who is running for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Hope called the workers "the backbone of the economy," and McClure emphasized their importance -- even if the nationwide and regional trend of office-building-conversions continues, with many workers opting to work from home more often.

"They're always going to need employees to help keep that running regardless if it's an office building or if it's an apartment building, whatever it may be," McClure said.

The Consumer Price Index report details prices to dine out increased 6.5% in August, compared to the year prior. In the meantime, restaurant sales increased during the early summer months.

Restaurant sales jumped 11.8% in July, and 9.5% in June compared to a year prior, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

While American credit card debt passed one trillion dollars in the second quarter of this year, there are several opportunities to stretch people's dollars.

The ability to say, "no" when asked to grab a meal at a restaurant will instantly avoid an extra expense, but consumers can set a meals budget to avoid overspending.

Many grocery rewards programs are free and offer cash back on future purchases plus, exclusive discounts on certain products.

Balance transfer credit cards without a fee could offer ability to begin paying down existing debt for a period of time.

Low-interest credit cards specifically tailored for dining out can also offer cash back for future purchases. Chase Freedom, Capitol One SavorOne and Wells Fargo Autograph are among NerdWallet's best credit card picks for restaurants in October.

Consumers looking for an alternative to take out meals can consider the "Too Good to Go" app, where local restaurants and businesses can sell discounted bundles of food.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said American aid to Ukraine must continue, arguing that if Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t stopped in Ukraine, he’ll invade neighboring NATO countries, resulting in American troops going to war. 

“Lessons of history are pretty clear,” Kaine said. “You allow an authoritarian dictator to do an illegal invasion and eventually it would be American troops in harm's way.”

Meanwhile, Virginia Republican Congressman Bob Good (VA-05) voted against the most recent Ukrainian aid package. 

“I don’t think it's our national security issue,” Rep. Good said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sept. 1. “I don’t think that we ought to be leading NATO and Europe and carrying the lion's share of it. I don’t know what the exit strategy is. I don’t know what the result looks like.”

Good adds the U.S. should use any additional money that would be sent to Ukraine to tackle issues affecting Americans more directly. 

“We don’t have accountability for the $113 billion or so that has already been sent there,” Good said. “We have to borrow the money that we send there. We have our own national security issues. We have our own weakened military issues."

One of those issues for Republicans is border security. Kaine said if sending money to Ukraine is conditional on passing a true border security bill, it will get support from Democrats. However, if the deal includes other things outside of what he considers border security, it’s unlikely to pass. 

“If what border security means is a dramatic re-write of immigration laws to eliminate refugee or asylum status or criminalize behavior that is now not criminalized or other draconian measures that are seen as anti-immigrant,” Kaine said. “I’m not sure you can say that Democrats will agree to whatever the House asks for.”

Kaine said with the House without a leader, the Senate should take the lead on Ukraine funding in an attempt to have whoever is elected speaker hold a vote.