QUICK HITS

1 Deputy who claimed to help police sentenced in Jan. 6 attacks on officers:

An off-duty Tennessee sheriff’s deputy who claimed he was helping police was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years in prison for aggravated assaults against two officers in one of the most violent areas of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Ronald McAbee, 30, struck D.C. police Officer Carter Moore twice in the face while wearing hardknuckle gloves and a bulletproof vest with two patches that read“SHERIFF” and “III” (for the Three Percenters right-wing, anti-government movement).

2 Iran votes in its first parliament election since 2022 protests:

Iran is voting in its first parliamentary elections since mass 2022 protests over the country’s mandatory hijab laws after the death in police custody of a young woman who allegedly wore her headscarf improperly. Friday’s vote comes with questions looming over just how many people will turn out and cast ballots. Authorities have largely barred politicians calling for any change within the country’s theocracy from running.

Brian Mulroney, prime minister 3 who led Canada into NAFTA, dies at 84:

Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th prime minister, whose statesmanship on what he called“great causes,”from free trade and acid rain in North America to the overthrow of apartheid in South Africa, gave way to accusations of financial misdoing and influence-peddling after he left office, died Thursday in a hospital in Palm Beach, Florida, where he had a home. He was 84.

An extremely dangerous 4 blizzard has begun in the Sierra Nevada:

A historic blizzard — with winds as strong as a hurricane — is dumping incredible amounts of snow on the Sierra Nevada. The snow began Thursday, and accumulations could reach 8 to 12 feet in the highest elevations by Sunday, while winds top 100 mph. Whiteout conditions are already enveloping the high terrain, leading to near zero visibility and what the National Weather Service in Sacramento is calling“extremely dangerous to impossible travel.”

Man faces first-degree murder 5 charges in Missouri after officer, court employee shot:

A man was charged Friday with two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of a court employee who tried to serve an eviction notice at a home in Independence, Missouri, and an officer who responded, prosecutors said. Larry Acree was also charged with first-degree assault in the wounding of the other officer who responded, and three counts of armed criminal action, according to court documents.