Izzo: “Expectations are definitely high this year.”
Car show comes to Grand Ledge
TSN FILE PHOTO
Owners compete for best classic vehicle CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 3 Lansing resident Al Hagen.
statenews.com | 7/15/2013 | @thesnews
WESTON BROOKS/ THE STATE NEWS
Michigan State University’s independent voice
SPORTS + FEATURES, PAGE 6
NUMBER ONE SPOT
L E G I S L AT I O N
Lawmakers discuss safety of hydraulic fracturing By RJ Wolcott rwolcott@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS ■■
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS
Rapper Ludacris, right, performs on stage with Lil’ Fate on Sunday at Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing during Common Ground Music Festival. This was the last day of the seven-day music event.
State lawmakers are looking to bring greater transparency and safety to hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, which has become a lightning rod for controversy in recent years. This comes as Encana, a Canadian energy producer, intends to drill 500 additional natural gas wells in Michigan, prompting legislators to push for greater regulations on the books. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of pumping large quantities of water and sand along with various chemicals into the earth and pressurizing the components in an effort to crack shale, which releases natural gas or oil reserves. The oil or gas released is pumped back through the well along with the used water, processed, separated and stored in tanks for later transport. “This goes well beyond politics; it’s about preserving the Great Lakes way of life,” said Nic Clark, the Michigan director of Clean Water Action. See FRACKING on page 2 X
Ludacris makes Lansing shake their moneymakers to close out Common Ground
What the frack is fracking?
By Ariel Ellis
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, involves taking large quantities of water and sand blended with various chemicals. This substance is pumped through the well and pressurized, causing the shale underneath the surface to crack, releasing pockets of stored natural gas. While the sand holds the crack open, the stored gas along with the water and chemicals is pumped back through the well. Afterward, the substances are separated, processed and stored for later transport. The used water is then stored in below-ground tanks or in previously drilled wells, as it cannot be recycled back into the ecosystem.
Lansing resident Kristina Kunze said she saw Ludacris in 2010 at Common Ground and THE STATE NEWS returned Sunday night to see the Atlanta-based rapper again. “I really looked forward to fter an exciting seeing Ludacris,” Kunze said. week of intense “I saw him at Common Ground American rock, before along with Styx and melodic Foreigner (in previous years).” acoustics and newLudacris attracted age folk, ComDid you miss the largest crowd mon Ground endCommon of the night as patrons danced ed with a lyricalGround? Our and sung along to ly charged night reporters have his hit songs from of hip-hop that you covered. the past decade. Jon Conincluded Ludacris, SPORTS+FEATURES, nor opened with PAGE 6 Kid Link and Michisongs from his new gan native Jon Connor. album Unconscious aellis@statenews.com ■■
A
A conflux of common grounders from Michigan and beyond gathered at the front stage to see their hip-hop favorites.
No-preference sophomore Christina Rebbe, center, enjoys the music as members of Foxy Shazam perform on Friday at Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing during Common Ground Music Festival. Friday’s performers appealed toward fans of alternative music.
State — an album that former X-Factor fi nalist Lyric Da Queen described as “universal.” See LUDACRIS on page 2 X
To check out a video of the final day of the Common Ground Music Festival, visit statenews.com/multimedia.
SOURCE: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIT Y
5K COLOR RUN RAISES MONEY FOR ORGANIZATIONS By Anya Rath arath@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS ■■
Downtown Lansing exploded with a rainbow of hues on Saturday morning as the famed Color Run made its way to Michigan’s capital. Alyssa Blackburn, a store girl for the Color Run, said Saturday’s race, a part of Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival, featured around 15,000 runners. “(It’s) definitely one of our bigger races that we have,” Blackburn said. The Color Run, often dubbed “the Happiest 5K on the Planet,” had runners start in front of the state Capitol building. The runners were then released in waves upon the streets of Lansing starting from 8:30 a.m. with the last wave of color runners at 9:30 a.m. The designated route had pink, blue, yellow and orange color zones placed through the route; the ultimate goal was to
“The one here in Lansing is the biggest (stage) we’ve ever had. We throw out prizes (and) every five to 10 minutes, we do a color throw.” Alyssa Blackburn, store girl at the Color Run
coat the color runners, many of whom donned tutus and other costumes. Blackburn said the “paint” that is used during the race is colored corn starch. After the color runners made their way through a route that was a length of little more than three miles, the runners joined a post-party at the Adado Riverfront Park, where Common Ground festivities had been underway for the past week. Common Ground vendors opened up their stalls for the color runners. “At the finish line, we have a huge stage,” Blackburn said. “The one here in Lansing is the
biggest (stage) we’ve ever had. We throw out prizes (and) every five to 10 minutes, we do a color throw.” Tabitha Cooper, packet pickup coordinator, said the two organizations that will benefit from Lansing’s Color Run are the Sparrow Children’s Center and Kelleigh’s Cause. Alicia Townsend, a member of the board of directors for Kelleigh’s Cause, said the organization is dedicated to raising funds to research a birth defect called arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. Townsend said Kelleigh’s See RUN on page 2 X
DANYELLE MORROW/THE STATE NEWS
Volunteers douse runners with yellow powder as they run past a station during Lansing’s Color Run on July 13. Runners and walkers of all age groups participated in the 5K.