Youth softball program to raffle AR-15 — An Oregon youth softball program has decided to move forward with plans to raffle off an AR-15-style assault weapon as part of its fundraiser. Residents have called the raffle tone-deaf in wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. The Lady Dragons fast-pitch softball program of Dallas is hosting the fundraiser for equipment, field improvements and to help ensure registration fees remain low for families. The program has teams for girls ages 10 and under through 16 and under. A Lady Dragons statement says the program sympathizes with current events, but the fundraiser “is a legal, well-regulated raffle, with tickets being sold to willing and able purchasers.” Michelle Johnstone, superintendent of the Dallas School District, said the program is not affiliated with the district

Eugene aims to silence train horns — The Eugene City Council agreed to spend more than $7 million for safety upgrades at railroad crossings, a move intended to silence the horns of passing trains. Federal regulations give cities the option to pay for upgraded safety devices at crossings so train engineers don’t have to repeatedly blast their horns to alert pedestrians and motorists. The safety devices are primarily street medians and additional gates. Residents have complained for decades that the horn blasts disrupt their sleep and lower their quality of life.