Green Bay News

The Green Bay Packers have had a pretty good run with wide receivers during the Mike McCarthy era.

Whether it’s been Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb or Davante Adams in 2014, it seems someone is always ready to bust out across from Pro-Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers

After getting a taste last season, could second-year wideout Jeff Janis be this year’s breakout player?

The 6’3 220 lb.-speedster has impressed in organized team activities (OTAs) this off-season, showing off his speed and catching abilities.

Drafted in the seventh round out of Division II’s Saginaw Valley State, Janis played in three games last season, making two catches for 16 yards.

However, where he really impressed was in the preseason. In games against the Rams and Chiefs, the then rookie hauled in two touchdowns of 30+ yards. Behind those flashes of skill, many believe No. 83 could be working himself into the rotation this season.

“I think I’ve gotten better at running routes, things like that” Janis said. “Just watching the older guys, seeing how they do things. That’s one area I got better. Like I said, mentally being on the same page as the quarterback.”

“He’s done a lot of good things going up the field,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Catching the ball better, in sync with Aaron has been a big help. I think Jeff has really been improving. Like you said, he has a lot of quality reps with Aaron.”

BELLEVUE – The Bellevue firefighters union is taking on its chief. The union is accusing Chief Brad Muller of safety violations, making sexual comments and using a racial slur.

The allegations are outlined in a complaint filed Tuesday with the Bellevue Fire Commission.

• Click here to read the complaint.

“It’s a behavior by an individual who is creating a lot of tension at the particular department. It’s got to be corrected,” said Chad Bronkhorst, president of the Green Bay area firefighters’ union.

“One of the terms, if I would use that term with my wife, I would have problems,” Bronkhorst said.

What are the words? We’re not allowed to say them on television.

In the complaint, the union alleges Muller used inappropriate sexual terms to refer to women at the village offices and to firefighters. The union says the chief used a racial slur when talking about how to fix a vehicle. But that’s not all.

“There are some safety issues here,” Bronkhorst said.

The complaint also says the chief “…disregarded Department safety.” Earlier this year, a fire truck “…hit the overhead garage door…” and damaged a nozzle. The union says the chief should have made sure the equipment was inspected and safe. One month later, that same truck was used in a training exercise.

“The nozzle falls off the pipe and they’re at 60 feet,” Bronkhorst said. “You’re talking something anywhere between 40 and 60 pounds. At 60 feet that is catastrophic. That strikes somebody that’s a fatality.”

Luckily, no one was hurt, Bronkhorst said.

The village administrator refused to do an on camera interview with FOX 11. But in a statement Angela Gorall said”…neither the Village nor the Fire Commission have received any formal grievances regarding the performance of the Fire Chief” before this complaint was filed.

• Click here to read the full statement from the Village of Bellevue.

The village statement goes on to point out that the village is currently negotiating a contract with the firefighters union. This is the first union contract because the union was just formed last August.

Bronkhorst says the two items are not related at all.

FOX 11 tried to contact Muller for comment but he did not return messages left on his office phone and cell phone. FOX 11 stopped by the fire department but the chief was not around.

The fire commission is expected to hold a hearing the complaint later this month.

GREEN BAY – Wet weather has moved into the area causing flood watches across much of Northeast Wisconsin.

FOX 11’s Meteorologist Katy Kramer took the FOX 11 Storm Chaser out in Green Bay checking for any high water or road flooding.

A Flood Watch remains in effect for much of the area until Friday afternoon.

Click here for the latest full weather forecast.

GREEN BAY – A new partnership that will keep children in low-income homes happy and healthy all summer long.

The Green Bay Area Public School District and the Summer Food Service Program have joined forces to keep children who would normally receive free or discounted school meals fed during the summer.

Children under the age of 18 who qualify can receive these free meals Monday through Friday.

Food Service director, Kathy Walker, says they are excited and happy to help the community, “We know that we have a high poverty need in this area and so we want to make sure kids are successful and that they have the food. So we’re just happy to do that.”

The program runs through Aug. 14.

The lunch times and locations are:

• 8th Street Park: 11:25 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Astor Park: 1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
• Baird Park: 12:45 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
• Bayview Park: 11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
• Beaumont Park: 12:05 p.m. – 12:10 p.m.
• Beaver Dam Park: 1:15 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
• Central Library: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Colburn Park: 12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Danz Park: 1:05 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• East River Park: 12:25 p.m. – 12:35 p.m.
• Eastman Park: 11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
• Edison Park: 1:25 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
• Eisenhower Park: 11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Farlin Park: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• Fireman’s Park: 12:40 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
• Fisk Park: 11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Fort Howard Park: 1:10 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
• Joannes Park: 12:40 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
• John Muir Park: 1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
• Kennedy Park: 12:20 p.m. – 12:35 p.m.
• Marquette Park: 11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Mather Park: 12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Murphy Park: 12:10 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.
• Nicolet Park: 11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. (outside at Nicolet School)
• Perkins Park: 12:30 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.
• Seymour Park: 1:25 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
• Southwest Library: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• St. James Park: 1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
• St. Philips Park: 12:10 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.
• Tank Park: 11:35 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
• VT Pride Park: 11:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.
• Whitney Park: 11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Wilder Park: 11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

 

The daily food service schedule for each summer school site is as follows (no July 3rd meals):

Summer School Sites: Start Date End Date Breakfast Serve Times* Lunch Serve Times* Baird School 22-Jun 31-Jul 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Beaumont School 22-Jun 31-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Danz School (no Fridays) 22-Jun 23-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Danz School 8-Jul 9-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Danz School (no Fridays) 13-Jul 23-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Doty School 6-Jul 30-Jul 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. East High School 22-Jun 14-Aug 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. 11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Edison School 22-Jun 31-Jul 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Eisenhower School (no Fridays) 22-Jun 30-Jul 7:30 – 7:45 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Elmore School 3-Aug 14-Aug 7:45 – 8:00 a.m. 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Howe School 22-Jun 31-Jul 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Jefferson School 15-Jun 26-Jun 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Keller School 15-Jun 26-Jun 8:15 – 8:30 a.m. 11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Keller School 3-Aug 14-Aug 8:15 – 8:30 a.m. 11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Lincoln School 22-Jun 16-Jul 8:40 – 8:55 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. MacArthur School 22-Jun 26-Jun na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. MacArthur School 3-Aug 14-Aug na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Martin School 22-Jun 2-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Martin School 3-Aug 14-Aug na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Preble High School 22-Jun 14-Aug 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Sullivan School 29-Jun 30-Jul na 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Webster School 22-Jun 2-Jul 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. 11:45 – 12:00 p.m. West High School 22-Jun 14-Aug 7:45 – 8:00 a.m. 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Wilder School 22-Jun 31-Jul na 11:50 – 12:05 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Detroit Pistons have acquired veteran Ersan Ilyasova from the Milwaukee Bucks, adding a long-range shooter to their frontcourt.

Detroit sent forwards Caron Butler and Shawne Williams to Milwaukee in the trade announced Thursday.

Butler returns to the Bucks after signing as a free agent with Milwaukee in 2013, though Butler and Williams might be most valuable to Milwaukee for their expiring contracts.

Ilyasova is under contract through the 2016-17 season. He was the longest-tenured player on the Bucks with seven seasons in Milwaukee.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said the 6-foot-10 Ilyasova is a player that Detroit has coveted. He averaged 10.7 points and 6 rebounds in 453 games, all with the Bucks. He is a career 37 percent shooter from 3-point range.

“Not only is (Ilyasova) a proficient 3-point shooter that can stretch the floor, he is a high-energy, hard-playing guy who fits extremely well with how we want to play,” Van Gundy said.

The Bucks get even younger after trading away the 28-year-old Ilyasova. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, both 20, are expected to be frontcourt mainstays for years to come.

Milwaukee might also look to add a rebounding forward with the 17th overall selection in the NBA draft later this month. UCLA one-and-done forward Kevon Looney might be available when the Bucks pick; he was among a handful of prospects who worked out for the team on Thursday.

The Bucks are also hoping to bring back restricted free agent and starting shooting guard Khris Middleton, while key reserve forward Jared Dudley has a player option for 2015-16.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

APPLETON – The city of Appleton is once again turning ordinary sidewalks into works of art.

This is the second year of the Sidewalk Poetry Program.

Five poems were chosen earlier this year to be stamped into the sidewalks.

Several of the poets were on hand for Thursday’s unveiling, and they say the honor is a huge surprise.

“I thought it was cool. It’s fun. I never thought I would do something like that or have that happen, so it’s really unique,” said author of one of the chosen poems, Kim Nelson-Hojnacke.

The goal behind the program is to transform the city’s sidewalks into an open poetry book.

The poems are being installed on sidewalks that are currently scheduled for maintenance, one of which is North Appleton Street.

 

APPLETON – Appleton residents can start looking forward to healthier food options at certain cafeterias.

New raised garden beds were added at the Appleton Medical Center (AMC).

The produce grown in these gardens will be served at the cafeterias at both the AMC and health care facility, Theda Clark.

The goal behind these gardens is a healthy community and the team at Theda Care is working hard to make sure the community as well as their patients have access to healthy food.

Maggie Hintz-Polzin, registered nurse at ThedaCare, says, “We put gardens out here for not only our staff but also our community and our patients and so people can go home with the knowledge of knowing how to do this at home. We put a variety of beds for different people of different ages to be able to garden.”

 

 

ALLOUEZ – Plans for a gas station, convenience store & car wash on Webster Avenue – on the land which used to house the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay’s Chancery building – will finally go before the Village Board next week.

Kwik Trip wants to purchase three parcels at 1910 S. Webster Ave. from the church for the store complex.

The plans were submitted in March, with the village’s Plan Commission rejecting the project March 23, according to Trevor Fuller, planning and zoning administrator.

The Village Board can accept or overturn that recommendation, Fuller said.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the village hall, 1900 Libal Street.

While Kwik Trip would be buying the land from the Diocese, the church leases land to the two banks on either side of this site.

DETROIT (AP) – Michigan wildlife policymakers have approved restrictions to antlerless deer hunting during bow season in the Upper Peninsula as the whitetail deer population has plummeted.

The Natural Resources Commission voted Thursday at a meeting in Monroe to eliminate antlerless deer hunting for archers. The action wouldn’t affect firearm season, which covers most hunters.

The commission’s alternative option was to leave hunting seasons as they are. Canceling the entire hunt also was considered but never likely.

The whitetail population has dropped as much as 40 percent after two bitterly cold, snowy winters.

Officials say the antlerless hunting ban would limit opportunities for archers, but probably protect the highest number of antlerless deer. It follows similar efforts in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

About 100,000 people participate in the U.P. deer hunt.

(CNN) – We all know that when we give blood, we’re giving the gift of life to those who need it.

But here’s a man whose blood contains something so unique, he has single-handedly saved millions of lives.

“I got nicknamed the man with the golden arm,” said Australian James Harrison.

James’ golden arm – his right arm, to be exact – from which he’s donated blood nearly every week, for the past 60 years.

“In 1951, I had a chest operation which they removed a lung. And they said I had 13 units of blood and my life had been saved by unknown people,” said Harrison.

At the time, you had to be 18 to donate blood in Australia.

Not long after James became a donor, doctors called him in with an idea.

His blood, they said, could be the answer to a baffling problem in Australia.

“So in Australia, up until about 1967, there were literally thousands of babies dying each year, doctors didn’t know why, and it was awful. Women were having numerous miscarriages, and babies were being born with brain damage, and researchers discovered NTD and James was discovered to have this antibody in his blood, which was amazing,” says Jemma Falkenmire from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

It’s called Rhesus disease. It’s a condition where a pregnant woman’s blood actually starts attacking her unborn baby’s blood cells. In the worst case, it can result in brain damage, or death, for the babies.

“Australia was one of the first countries to discover a blood donor with this antibody, so it was quite revolutionary at the time. James is effectively helped babies in Australia but he’s helped babies all around the world,” Falkenmire said.

James worked with doctors to develop a vaccine using the antibodies in his blood.

At the donor center, James’ plasma is separated from the red blood cells. He gets those back and the plasma heads off to become the vaccine.

“It’s really very easy for him to do, and he certainly doesn’t see it as anything big. That’s the other rare thing about James — he thinks his donations are the same as anybody else’s. He doesn’t think he’s remarkable,” says Falkenmire.

His blood is precious. In his home country, James is considered a national hero. But he doesn’t see it that way.

“It was quite humbling, as you get further into it, it becomes more humbling when they say you’ve done this, or you’ve done that, or you’re a hero – no, no. It’s something I can do. It’s one of my talents, probably my only talent, is that I can be a blood donor,” said Harrison.

But it is a big deal. James and his vaccine are credited with saving the lives of more than two million babies, that’s according to the Australian Red Cross Blood service.

“Every batch of NTD that has ever been made in Australia has come from James’ blood. And more than 17 percent of women in Australia are at risk, so James has helped save a lot of lives,” Falkenmire said.

 

 

 

 

GREEN BAY – A heavily criticized provision in the state’s next two-year budget that would change requirements for teaching licenses will be re-drafted, says its Republican author.

Under the plan already passed by the Republican-controlled budget committee, people without bachelor’s degrees would be able to teach grades 6-12 in Wisconsin public schools.

The author of the change, State Rep. Mary Cazja, R-Irma, expects it would help rural schools find and keep teachers.

“There’s been a lot of feedback on this and the sky is falling,” Czaja told FOX 11 Thursday. “This is never meant to replace your core teachers. This is to fill opportunities for kids that might otherwise not get those opportunities.”

No other state allows people without a bachelor’s degree to be licensed teachers, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Many Democrats and teachers, like Amy Bahena-Ettner of Green Bay, anticipate the move would hurt students.

“Teaching is a craft, and you need to be well-versed in it and well-trained in it,” said Bahena-Ettner, a member of the Green Bay Education Association. “The teacher quality in Wisconsin will be lowered by allowing these standards of teacher licensure to be lowered as well.”

The original provision would have allowed people without a high school diploma to get teaching licenses. Czaja says she will re-write the measure to require teachers in non-core subjects, like industrial education and art, have at least a high school diploma and limit them to working part-time.

Czaja says she also plans to limit teachers in subjects like math and English who have a degree but lack training to working part-time. And teachers who receive licenses under the provision wouldn’t be able to teach at other schools. School districts would still make hiring decisions on people with alternative licenses.

“We have this up north a lot,” Czaja said. “A retired chemist, he could come in and teach those four to seven kids that specialty subject. It’s like the equivalent of an adjunct professor at the collegiate level.”

Bahena-Ettner said the move is offensive to students.

“I think those are some very quick fixes to a proposal that looked abysmal to families, and I don’t think they’re addressing the real issue which is getting quality teachers in the classroom,” she said.

The re-written plan will be taken up by the full Legislature, said Czaja, but votes in the Senate and Assembly may not happen for a couple weeks. The budget committee plans to work out a deal for transportation spending before the budget process moves forward.

Gov. Scott Walker can also make changes to the budget using his powerful line-item veto. The new budget cycle begins July 1.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dick Costolo will step down as CEO of Twitter after almost five years. It did not disclose a reason for his departure.

Twitter Inc. announced the move in a press release Thursday and Costolo also tweeted the news through his own account.

Welcome back, @jack !! https://t.co/3papmyUKg0

— dick costolo (@dickc) June 11, 2015

The San Francisco company says co-founder and Chairman Jack Dorsey, 38, will be its interim CEO while it looks for a replacement.

Costolo, 51, will stay on Twitter’s board of directors. He has been a director since September 2009 and became CEO in October 2010.

GREEN BAY – As heavy rains continue across Northeast Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Service and Wisconsin River Power Company warn of increased danger near its dams.

The companies, which operate dams mainly on the Peshtigo and Wisconsin rivers, say rising water means more danger above and below dams, reservoirs and on rivers. Dangers include fast-moving currents and greater discharges from dams.

Those who live on reservoirs or downstream from dams are advised to have a plan and escape route in case of dangerous weather.

WASHINGTON – The House on Thursday approved a $579 billion defense spending bill that reflected deep divisions on budget priorities and whether President Barack Obama needs new war powers to fight Islamic State militants.

The bill also includes funding for three littoral combat ships. Construction of the LCS is split between shipyards in Marinette and Alabama.

In the current fiscal year, Austal received funding for two ships, while Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine received funding for one ship, plus advance procurement for the second.

In this budget, the plan calls for that to reversed – and Marinette Marine get funding for two ships – but until the budget is signed, and the Navy applies for the funding, that isn’t finalized, according to Lockheed Martin spokesman Joe Dougherty.

The vote was 278 to 149 in favor of the bill, which drew stiff opposition from Democrats because it uses a war-fighting account to raise defense spending next year.

The measure gives President Barack Obama all the money he requested for defense, but did so by hiking the war-fighting account that is not subject to congressional spending caps. The president says he will veto spending bills that do not deal with the arbitrary spending limits and treat defense and non-defense expenditures equally.

Before the final vote, the House rejected an amendment to force lawmakers to vote by the end of March on new war powers to fight Islamic State militants.

The vote was 231-196 against the amendment, a vote that underscored the lack of political will in both the House and Senate on the bitterly disputed issue.

Introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, the measure would have required Congress to debate and vote on a new authorization for the use of military force by March 31. The amendment called for banning the use of funds in the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria unless Congress passed a new authorization.

“Ten months into an undeclared war against ISIS, Congress yet again dodged its responsibility to authorize the use of force,” Schiff said after the vote. “While our pilots and special forces risk it all, Congress refuses to do its job. Congressional abdication of our responsibility to declare war, or to deny authorization for war, sets a terrible precedent and shifts war-making powers substantially and inexorably towards the executive” branch.

The defense bill itself enjoyed bipartisan backing when separated from the broader budget debate. The measure provides $8.4 billion for 65 next generation F-35 fighter aircraft, eight more than requested by the Pentagon, as well as $16.9 billion toward nine new Navy ships. It also prevents the retirement of the A-10 aircraft that protects ground troops. Men and women in uniform would get a 2.3 percent pay hike, a percentage point higher than requested by Obama.

The defense measure also boosts funding for procurement of National Guard equipment well above the Pentagon’s request, drawing a protest from the administration, and would also block the transfer of Apache helicopters from the Army National Guard to the regular Army.

GREEN BAY – The suspect in an April 2014 murder was convicted on a reduced charge.

Terry Shepard killed Steven Sims at an apartment on Stuart Street on April 14, 2014.

Originally charged with first-degree intentional homicide, Shepard pleaded no contest Tuesday to counts of second-degree reckless homicide, felon in possession of a firearm, and recklessly endangering safety, according to his attorney Jeffrey Cano.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 17.

After killing Sims, Shepard fled to the Racine area, where he was arrested in July. Shepard originally claimed the shooting was self-defense.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Hackers stole personnel data and Social Security numbers for every federal employee, a government worker union said Thursday, charging that the cyberattack on U.S. employee data is far worse than the Obama administration has acknowledged.

Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, said on the Senate floor that the December hack into Office of Personnel Management data was carried out by “the Chinese.” Reid is one of eight lawmakers who is briefed on the most secret intelligence information.  U.S. officials have declined to publicly blame China, which has denied involvement.

J. David Cox, president of the American Federal of Government Employees, said in a letter to OPM director Katherine Archuleta that based on OPM’s internal briefings, the hackers stole military records and veterans’ status information, address, birth date, job and pay history, health insurance, life insurance, and pension information; age, gender, race data.

The letter was obtained by The Associated Press.

The union said it is basing its assessment on internal OPM briefings.  The agency has sought to downplay the damage, saying that only limited personally identifying information was breached.

“We believe that Social Security numbers were not encrypted, a cybersecurity failure that is absolutely indefensible and outrageous,” the letter said.

“Based on the sketchy information OPM has provided, we believe that the Central Personnel Data File was the targeted database, and that the hackers are now in possession of all personnel data for every federal employee, every federal retiree, and up to one million former federal employees.”

MADISON — The WIAA State Softball Tournament games scheduled for today were rescheduled to Friday due to inclement weather. Kimberly and Watertown will now play at approximately 10:15 a.m. Bay Port and Kenosha Bradford will play at approximately at 1:45 p.m. In Division two New London will play La Crosse Logan at approximately 5:15 p.m.

For a list of the games, go to http://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Softball.aspx

Restrictions have been put in place for poultry events and fairs across the state following an outbreak of bird flu.

The state veterinarian has issued two orders restricting participation in events.

One is a ban on poultry participating in any swap meets or shows that are not held as part of a county, district or state fair.

The other requires fair organizers to have poultry exhibitors certify that there hasn’t been any deaths on their farms from the bird flu in the ten days leading up to the event.

Both orders will be in place until the end of the year.

Wisconsin lost more than 1.7 million chickens and turkeys to the outbreak.

The last reported case was May 4.

CHICAGO (AP) — The federal judge assigned to the case against Dennis Hastert will continue to preside over it after disclosing connections to the former U.S. House Speaker and several attorneys.

Prosecutors and lawyers for Hastert filed paperwork Thursday saying they’re willing to have U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin remain on the case.

Durkin donated $500 in 2002 and $1,000 in 2004 to Hastert’s campaign. Before becoming a judge he also worked with attorneys from both sides and with Hastert’s son.

Durkin said during Hastert’s Tuesday arraignment that he believed he can be impartial but lawyers could decide whether he should be replaced.

Hastert is accused of agreeing to pay $3.5 million to keep past misconduct secret. He pleaded not guilty to charges of violating banking laws and lying to the FBI.

WASHINGTON (AP) – First, give presidents the power to strike trade deals. Then, overturn President Barack Obama’s health care law, overhaul the tax code and rework the nation’s welfare system. And someday? Perhaps a run for president.

You might call it the New Ryan Plan, a map not just to change the nation’s fiscal policy, but to Paul Ryan’s future. It steers the nine-term Republican congressman and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee into the thicket of policy fights. The path likely takes him to a familiar decision point – whether to run for president. The 45-year-old Ryan said he might take that step, someday.

“I wouldn’t rule out running for president ever,” he said in an interview this week with The Associated Press, looking not much older than he did in 2012 as Mitt Romney’s running mate. “Just not now.”

That’s because Ryan is on Step One of his plan: Shepherding the “fast track” trade bill that would give Obama the power to swiftly push the long-negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership with Japan, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico and several others. The drive to pass the legislation puts Ryan in an oddball alliance: Working with the president who defeated Romney and Ryan three years ago – and against a bloc of conservatives for whom giving the Democratic president more power is anathema.

Ryan, the father of three young children, nixed the round-the-clock world of presidential campaigning this election cycle. As it is, he spends four days a week in Washington, sleeping in his office, and the other three at home in Janesville, Wisconsin, meeting with constituents and shuttling his kids to summer camp.

Also, there’s this: The chairmanship of Congress’ oldest committee is Ryan’s happy place on Capitol Hill. He’s called it his “dream job” – a phrase seldom, if ever, used to describe the vice presidency.

“He’s right in his element,” said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, a conservative opposed to the trade legislation.

“Probably being part of the national conversation has made him battle-tested for some of the issues that he will face in the upcoming weeks,” said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., a former House member.

If Republicans remain in control of the House over the next six years, Ryan will remain chairman.

Beyond the trade bill, Ryan’s ideas for replacing Obama’s signature health care law, rewriting the tax code and overhauling the welfare system will have to wait for a new president, he said.

The trade bill, which the House is expected to vote on Friday, is the only one of Ryan’s four policy goals that stands a chance of becoming law during the Obama presidency, Ryan said. Republicans were scrambling for votes on Thursday while the administration was lobbying Democrats to back their president.

Ryan was making his pitch to his GOP colleagues.

Immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said Wednesday he moved from leaning “no” to a solid “yes” after Ryan assured him that trade negotiations would include no changes to immigration policy.

“It’s actually a significant benefit because it will prohibit the negotiation of immigration provisions of any kind in any trade agreement that’s negotiated under the TPA,” said King.

If the House backs the measure, Ryan will have passed a key test of leadership, set a standard for his chairmanship and added a solid credential to a resume that already includes House Budget chairman and a GOP spending blueprint. If it fails, he may have to start over.

“He takes on long-shot fights like Trade Promotion Authority not to advance his political prospects, but to advance his convictions about what is right for the country,” Romney said in a statement to the AP.

Added the former presidential candidate: “Paul is an increasingly rare leader in Washington who is without guile, without ego, and without a consuming interest in his political future.”

It’s clear that the two 2012 running mates remain intensely fond of each other despite a season of second-guessing and the short-lived prospect this year of another Romney presidential run.

“I love Mitt,” Ryan said without being asked.

And Republicans, even those not enamored of Ryan’s willingness to negotiate with Democrats, acknowledge that he is a viable leader of a party struggling to appeal to minorities, the middle class and women. Particularly chafing to these Republicans was Ryan’s work with Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in 2013 to strike a budget deal. The two became fast friends and playful rivals, with Ryan trash-talking Murray’s Seattle Seahawks and Murray insulting Ryan’s beloved Green Bay Packers.

“If he can pull (the trade bill) over the finish line, I think that’s a feather in his cap,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., who served with Ryan in the House. “It’s just going to be one more that maybe strengthens his leadership for another national run – which I’d like to see.”

___

Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.