Newsletter: Today: The Sheriff and the Scandal. Obama’s Admission.

I’m Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

‘They Shot My Baby’

The Minnie Mouse balloons and leftover cake from 1-year-old Autumn Johnson’s birthday were still in her home when gunfire rang out and killed her Tuesday night in Compton. “My innocent baby got shot for nothing. She was sitting — just standing in her crib — and out of nowhere, gunshots,” Autumn’s mother said. Investigators are trying to determine if the violence was gang-related and think the intended target was the baby’s father.

The Sheriff and the Scandal

For years, retired Sheriff Lee Baca insisted he played no role in the scandal over the beatings of inmates and visitors at the nation’s largest jail system. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents and federal prosecutors investigating those abuses in a deal with the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors agreed to not seek a prison sentence of more than six months. Read on to see how that deal was reached, the reaction and the next steps.

Obama: Regrets, He’s Had a Few, but Then Again …

Fresh off his speech in Illinois bemoaning how political insults have become the norm, President Obama met with The Times for an interview about legislative gridlock in Washington. With three retired state senators (two Democrats and a Republican) by his side, he admitted that he was partly to blame: “There is no doubt that every step of the way, every day that I’m in that office, maybe I could have done that a little better,” he said. Read on for more of Obama’s comments about partisanship, race and how he hopes history will treat him.

Black and Latino Votes Matter

After Bernie Sanders’ big win in New Hampshire, his and Hillary Clinton’s respective campaigns are shifting their focus to states with more racially diverse populations. That means wooing the African American and Latino voters who will now be crucial to the outcome of the Democratic contest. Here’s how they are trying to establish their bona fides. On the Republican side, there was different fallout from the Granite State: Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina threw in the towel.

They Messed With Les

Some of the hundreds at a marathon public hearing in Morro Bay held signs that said “The Coast Is Not for Sale” and “Don’t Mess With Les.” Many spoke, singing the praises of California Coastal Commission executive director Charles Lester. But in the end, the commissioners voted 7-5 to fire Lester. Some of those commissioners had said he was lacking in management and leadership skills, and they rejected claims that their action was tied to developer interests.

CALIFORNIA

-- UC Berkeley is bearish: With money tight, its chancellor says the university must “reimagine” its future.

-- From elected official to FBI informant in Southeast L.A. County.

-- The Coastal Commission wades into a surf turf war on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

-- Ten fun ways to mark Lunar New Year in L.A. Tell us how you celebrate.

NATION-WORLD

-- Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy is arrested in Portland; Oregon standoff holdouts signal they will surrender to the FBI.

-- The U.S. Justice Department sues Ferguson, Mo., and demands an end to biased policing practices.

-- It’s do-or-die time in the Syrian peace talks.

-- A federal program that issues smartphones to new immigrants raises questions.

-- Five years on, Tahrir Square activists look back at Egypt’s revolution: “Maybe we were naive.”

-- The drug behind that Super Bowl constipation ad — and what the ad didn’t say.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Donald Trump, played by Johnny Depp, gets a thumping in a new Funny or Die parody “biopic.” Here’s how it was made.

-- Is the world ready for a foul-mouthed, fourth-wall-breaking superhero in the R-rated movie “Deadpool”?

-- Adele announced a surprise Los Angeles show at the Wiltern on Friday, but it’s already sold out.

-- Sylvester Stallone fought his way back to drama in “Creed,” but don’t expect him to return for a sequel.

-- Carolina Miranda: A floating library is one of nine must-sees at this weekend’s L.A. Art Book Fair.

-- Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party is still a star-studded hit as it marks 40 years.

BUSINESS

-- Janet Yellen indicates the Fed could delay raising interest rates.

-- Tesla Motors’ net loss more than doubles in the fourth quarter.

-- Southwest Airlines makes a bid to serve Long Beach Airport.

-- What’s behind Twitter’s troublesome numbers?

SPORTS

-- Pat Haden, USC’s athletic director, will have a medical procedure after being hospitalized.

-- Columnist Chris Erskine will once again be an L.A. Marathon man on Sunday. Here’s how he rolls.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Why Hillary Clinton has a giant network of foreign policy advisors drafting memos. (Foreign Policy)

-- Trying to dodge the Iranian morality police? There’s an app for that. (BBC)

-- NASA’s space travel posters go retro. (The Verge)

-- Fifty shades of hay: American Pharoah’s life as a stud making $200,000 a night. (Bloomberg)

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

Death Valley is alive — with wildflowers. Thanks to the rain in October and late January (remember what rain was like?), the national park is blooming and is expected to remain colorful through late March or early April. Here are some of the best places to see wildflowers in Death Valley — with pictures, of course.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.