BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer A lawsuit filed Wednesday in the Western District of Louisiana claims the state's new congressional map is unconstitutional, saying legislators only considered race when they redrew the state’s districts. Lawmakers created the map, which adds a second majority-Black district, during a special session last month. The new district connects Shreveport to Baton Rouge along the Interstate 49 corridor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the instances of some sexually transmitted infections in Louisiana have reached their highest levels in decades, with rates of syphilis increasing among newborns. Louisiana's falling status erodes years of progress in battling the diseases. It's time to stake out a prime spot for catching beads and other throws as six Mardi Gras parades will take to the streets this weekend in Baton Rouge. Check our route maps before making your plans. | 