Among the bills debated in the State Senate in recent days was a measure to make the education commissioner a higher level appointed officer. Other news this week included construction on a new traffic plan for Manchester, more passengers on Amtrak and new Google images that show Irene's flood damage. Also, an exhibit on the human body opened at a Burlington museum and fishing season opened.

These were some of the voices in the news this week:

 

Bill Elevating Education Department Moves Through Legislature
Senator Kevin Mullin: "I would like to think that such an important part, close to $1.5 billion of spending of our state resources, would be elevated to the Agency level and would be able to be directed by politics at its best."

With Climbing Gas Prices, Train Ridership Goes Up
Christopher Parker, Executive Director of Vermont Rail Action Network: "Clearly, there's a definite link between gas prices and ridership and if you look back in Amtrak's history, every time gas prices have gone up so has ridership."

Work To Begin, Finally, On Manchester's 'Malfunction Junction'
Manchester planning director Lee Krohn: "Even in the history of Manchester, written in 1961, it talks about traffic jams in the center of town 200 years ago, the only difference being they were horse and buggies stuck in the mud."

Irene Devastation Now Visible By Google Maps
Geographer Richard Kujawa: "In the upper part of the image you can see that during the flood must have just gone right through towards where the cemetery is. And so the river is no longer there, and so you've got a complete sediment field on the flatter land."

Interview: A Look Inside The Human Body
Dr. Gary Mawe, UVM College of Medicine: "Everybody knows some level of anatomy, everybody's heard of the heart, everybody's heard of the lungs. We know what muscles are but many of us have never had a chance to see the real thing before. So that's one great aspect of this exhibit."

Anglers Say Climate Change Should Push Opening Day Earlier
Fisherwoman Brigid Reilly: "There's something about standing on the river that's just so healing, or so relaxing. I mean I love boats; I love the sunshine and the warmth. But there's something about river fishing that is like no other."