AUGUSTA

Citizens group hopes to offer gun trigger locks

A group in Maine is hoping to relaunch a program to provide free trigger locks to protect children from guns.

Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence was announcing the program on Saturday’s one-year anniversary of the school shooting in Connecticut that killed six educators and 20 children.

It said trigger locks can reduce accidental shootings, which kill or injure children.

The group said that about 10,000 trigger locks were given away in partnership with Maine police departments about 10 years ago. It hopes to launch a similar program and is currently talking with retailers and finding funding.

Group director Frances Buerkens said it has found passing legislation aimed at preventing gun violence to be difficult, so it’s shifting its efforts to “where people will truly benefit from the work.”

PORTLAND

Cold temps help six ski areas open for the season

Ski season is underway in Maine, with eight ski areas now open in the state.

Six areas open this weekend, joining two others, Sunday River and Sugarloaf, which have had skiing since November.

Bigrock in Mars Hill, Hermon Mountain in Herman, Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent, Mt. Abram in Greenwood, Shawnee Peak in Bridgton and Titcomb Mountain in West Farmington all opened this weekend. The Ski Maine Association said November in Maine was colder than it’s been in decades, allowing many ski areas to open early. It said it expects that nearly all ski areas will be open by Dec. 21.