BY VICKI FERSTEL | Staff writer To hear U.S. Rep. Garret Graves tell it some Republicans may be their own worst enemy. The Baton Rouge Republican said his fellow party members should embrace incremental wins — rather than swing for the fences, and miss, with each pitch — because they control only one half of one of the three independent branches of government. The Advocate's Mark Ballard delves into Graves' remarks. Louisiana's infant mortality crisis is among the worst in the developed world. A special task force is now calling on the state to provide more funds for home visits for families with newborns, mobile units for prenatal care in rural areas and more certified nurse midwives across the state. Read staff writer Andrea Gallo's analysis here. Ah, Fat Tuesday. A day for fun … and funny stories. The Advocate's Judy Bergeron asked our readers for humorous Mardi Gras stories (PG-rated, of course), and she shares her favorites. | 