In brief: SWAT team responds to Valley residence

Spokane County sheriff’s SWAT members forced their way into a Spokane Valley house Sunday morning to free a woman allegedly held against her will. They arrested Nicholas S. Smith, 30, on multiple charges.

The incident began at 6:35 a.m. when a man called 911 to report that Smith was holding the woman in the 200 block of North Blake Road. SWAT and hostage negotiation teams were called in, and SWAT forced entry to the residence, safely freed the victim and took Smith into custody. No one was hurt, the sheriff’s office said.

Smith was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and violation of a no contact order.

No injuries reported in early morning fire

Two people and a dog safely escaped a house damaged by an attic fire in Spokane early Sunday. The fire’s cause has not been determined.

Firefighters were called to the single-story home at 2007 W. Nora Ave. at 12:22 am. Smoke and fire were reported in the attic. Firefighters were on scene until 3:30 a.m.

Damage to the attic and ceiling was estimated at $30,000, the Spokane Fire Department said.

The Red Cross helped the occupants.

Merkley latest senator to back Iran nuke deal

Washington – Oregon’s Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley on Sunday became the 31st senator to announce support for the Iran nuclear deal, as momentum builds behind the agreement the Obama administration and other world powers negotiated with Tehran.

Merkley’s backing puts supporters within reach of the 34 votes required to uphold a presidential veto of a congressional resolution disapproving the agreement, which curbs Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Republicans are unanimously against the deal. But with an overwhelming number of Senate Democrats in favor, some have now begun aiming to amass 41 yes votes, which would allow them to kill the disapproval resolution outright in the Senate and protect Obama from having to use his veto pen.

A vote on the nuclear deal the U.S. and other world powers negotiated with Iran is scheduled for early September.

Merkley said that while he thinks the deal has “significant shortcomings,” it is the best strategy to block Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.