MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The effort to order a recount of Wisconsin’s presidential ballots is likely headed to court.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s campaign said Monday it plans to ask a Dane County judge to order a hand recount of the over 2.9 ballots cast in the presidential race.

The move follows a decision by the Wisconsin Elections Commission earlier in the day to reject Stein’s request for one when she filed her recount petition last week.

WEC staff say state law does not allow them to order a hand recount, unless instructed to by a judge, and that the decision on whether to count ballots by hand or to use a machine is up to local clerks.

Stein and independent candidate Rocky De La Fuente argue the recount is needed to ensure hackers did not abuse Wisconsin’s use of electronic voting machines to change the result of the election and to ensure every vote was counted properly.

State election officials have defended the procedures used by clerks around the state, and maintain a recount is not likely to change Republican president-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the state. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by about 22,000 votes.

A court battle could prove problematic for the already tight deadline for the state to complete a recount and certify the results of the presidential voting.

The WEC has ordered clerks to complete their recount by 8 p.m. on December 12, which is just a day before a federal deadline. Currently, the recount in all 72 counties is expected to begin on Thursday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Ground was broken Monday for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's new Transportation Center.

The project is part of a $66.5 million referendum approved last year.

The 63,000-square-foot facility will house auto labs for diesel truck repair, collision and refinishing, as well as general auto repair.

There will also be study spaces, classrooms, a welding shop and a demonstration lab.

The college president says there's a need for this industry.

"We always go out there and talk to various employers to find out what the need is, and this was certainly an area of need that was identified," said NWTC president Jeff Rafn.

The Transportation Center is expected to open next fall.

The facility will be capable of serving nearly 200 auto tech and diesel truck repair students and 32 collision and refinishing students.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Police in the Fox Valley are crediting social media postings with helping to get a man who has been sentenced to prison for a pair of armed robberies to turn himself in.

42-year-old Justin Posey, formerly of Kaukauna, was convicted of the armed robbery at the Walgreens store on Northland Avenue in Appleton on January 13. Posey was also convicted of the January 25 armed robbery of the La Quinta Inn and Suites on W. College Avenue in Grand Chute.

Outagamie County Judge Vince Biskupic sentenced Posey to 12-and-a-half years in prison on Monday. Posey is due back in court in January for the 2015 armed robbery of a Menasha convenience store.

Both the Appleton and Grand Chute police departments posted surveillance photos from the robberies on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. The photos depicted the suspect and his vehicle. 

Posey ended up calling police to admit his involvement in a number of gas drive-offs in the Fox Valley. Investigators eventually tied him to the armed robberies.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - With the Wisconsin presidential recount set to begin Thursday, each of the 72 county clerks are scrambling to get their ducks in a row.

For Outagamie County Clerk Lori O'Bright, that scurry began on Sunday.

"I worked until midnight and this morning (Monday) I met with the county executive and we're working on a lot of the logistics," says O'Bright in a phone interview Monday afternoon. "The details of which we're still working on."

There's a lot of organization which dominates those logistical details. 

"Obtaining a location to do it, getting the agendas out, getting the necessary workers or tabulators to support a canvass," O'Bright explains. "Making sure that all the materials are received from the municipalities because in addition to what they brought back the day after Election Day, they have to bring in their records to compare with the county records."

It was Monday morning when the Wisconsin Elections Commission officially approved the timeline for completing a recount of the state’s presidential vote, which calls for having results submitted to the agency no later than 8 p.m. on December 12.

"A lot of coordination at this point, you know, just to be ready to go when it starts Thursday morning," says Sue Ertmer, Winnebago County Clerk. 

Much like when buying real estate, the stage for this nationally-watched recount is all about location, location, location. It also best be secure.

"Here it'll be at the courthouse," Ertmer says. "Because all of the ballots are secured at the county level, so we try to have a location to conduct the recount where we can keep everything locked up until we need it. So we just take out the ballots and materials that we need, and then do the recount on each reporting unit or each municipality and secure them again."

O'Bright did not specify where they were going to be conducting their recount.

SO WHO'S COUNTING

It's going to be a long 12 days for the volunteers and others who will be looking over the ballots of each Wisconsinite who submitted one earlier this fall.

Experience with handling elections and voting is key.

"We reach out to the municipal clerks because they are the ones who work with all their poll workers, and find and hire people to work at their polls," says Ertmer. "So those are ideally the best people to come in and conduct the recount because they're familiar with the materials."

As Ertmer continued to fill out her roster of detail-oriented individuals, O'Bright has already checked this task off her list.

"I sent an email out to my municipal clerks, requesting either the clerks or the chief election inspectors. That's the primary labor force I want to work with," O'Bright says. "In addition, part-time county staff has also volunteered, those who might want extra hours or that are on vacation and can assist with this effort."

The time crunch is something that got a bit tighter, after the WEC pushed up the deadline from December 13 amid concerns that they might not have enough time to review and certify the results before the federal deadline. Both clerks, however, say this won't be an around the clock operation.

"No, because the Board of Canvass is human, we have to sleep," jokes O'Bright. "What I'm looking at is a 10-hour day, and that will probably be sufficient for the Board to be able to have oversight for all the workers that are going to be working through this."

Ertmer believes they'll have an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule daily through the deadline. The reason, aside from not having enough staff to work 24/7, is that it's an important, yet grueling task.

"People physically get exhausted and you don't want them to make mistakes because they're tired," Ertmer says. "We'll do our darndest to meet the deadline and we'll just work the hours we have to."

ECHOES OF 2011

The last time the Badger State conducted a recount was the 2011 Wisconsin Supreme Court race between David Prosser and JoAnne Kloppenburg. At that time, it was the first recount Wisconsin had in more than 20 years.

Ertmer and O'Bright were both in their positions that year, and recall what that was like as they prepare for an even more contentious venture.

"That was a little bit of baptism by fire then," says O'Bright, who had taken the clerk's job just a day before the recount announcement. "So a lot of the records that I maintained and put into place in 2011 will assist greatly with this effort."

The span of time it took for that recount, which Prosser won by nearly 7,000 votes, is what sparks Ertmer's memory.

"We had just under 40,000 votes and it took us 9 days," Ertmer says. "And now we've got almost 90,000 votes and they want us to get it done in 12. So, we'll do what we have to do, but it's going to be very time consuming."

For this particular race, Republican Donald Trump won Wisconsin over Democrat Hillary Clinton by 22,177 votes. Late Monday, the WEC estimated the cost of conducting the recount at nearly $3.5 million.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc police say they've arrested a man accused of exposing himself at a local restaurant.

Officials were called to the restaurant around five Monday afternoon.

A female employee says the man exposed himself to her at the register.

Police say the man left the restaurant and was later located at a local motel.

The man initially denied the incident, but later admitted to exposing himself.

Police say the man, who is from out of state, also admitted it wasn't the first time he had exposed himself.

The suspect was taken to jail on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior. He has yet to be charged.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Green Bay city council members say they need more information before deciding whether to stop issuing hard liquor licenses to convenience stores.

After recently granting convenience stores hard liquor licenses on a case by case basis, some Green Bay aldermen want a more uniform policy.

Randy Scannell spoke with WLUK.

“We're changing the rules in the middle of the game here and I want to have a bigger discussion is that wise? And if so, then what rules should we adopt going forward?”

Scannell says the council previously granted licenses based on the applicant's history of violations, and police recommendations.

However, in the past few weeks, Scannell says the council didn't use those standards when denying three license requests, and granting two others.

The city's protection and welfare committee discussed the topic last night.

Denmark resident Joe Lambert told the committee he is considering opening a gas station in Green Bay, but needs to know the rules first.

“If I want to build over here, I want to be able to do what Kwik Trip is doing and Krist Oil is doing and whoever else is coming into town to get a license”

The committee voted to have city staff and police gather a variety of information in order to come up with a recommendation.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police are hoping the public will help them find out more information about a series of crimes in Brown County. 

Since late September, the department has been investigating multiple armed robberies at local convenience stores and gas stations.

Police officials said there has also been an increase in vehicle thefts, which were later used to commit the armed robberies.

34-year-old Joshua Stutleen of Green Bay was arrested on November 12. Less than one week later, investigators arrested 26-year-old Jose Roman-Zayas of Green Bay.

Police said both Stutleen and Roman-Zayas are in the Brown County Jail on probation violations. They are also charged with armed robbery and auto theft.

Green Bay police are now looking for more details related to either suspect or the crimes they possibly committed.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (920) 448-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 920-432-7867. You can also text GBTIP to 274637 (CRIMES) or visit www.432stop.com. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in a plea deal on Monday.

Online court records indicate Darryl Ripkowski was convicted of 15 counts of child porn possession, while another 15 counts were dropped. 

Ripkowski will be sentenced on January 18.

Another man, Jon VanGheem, was arrested at the same time as Ripkowski in 2014 in an unrelated case.

VanGheem was sentenced Monday to six years in prison and 10 years extended supervision on 7 counts of possession of child pornography.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Oshkosh say a 15-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle while crossing a street Monday afternoon.

Officers, along with Oshkosh Fire Rescue, were called to Witzel Avenue near Westbrook Drive just after 4:30 p.m.

A witness told investigators that the girl was waiting to cross Witzel Avenue for about a minute. She was standing on the curb, in line with the crosswalk at Westbrook Drive. 

The teen then walked from the south side of the street to the north side when she was hit by a car driving eastbound. At the time, police say the girl was close to the center of the road, in the crosswalk, when she was hit.

The collision, police indicate, caused her to be thrown across the center line into the path of a truck driving westbound. She was also hit by the pickup truck. Neither driver was hurt in the incident.

The girl was rushed to a local hospital where she received treatment for injuries to her head and pelvis. As of Tuesday morning, the teen has been stabilized and is recovering. No further information about her condition is being released.

Oshkosh police say no citations have been issued pending the outcome of their investigation.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Deer hunters in Wisconsin bagged more bucks, but fewer deer overall during the recently completed nine-day gun season.

Preliminary registration numbers released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources show that 97,892 bucks were harvested, which is up 5.7 percent from 2015. Overall, figures show that 196,785 deer were taken over the course of the season, 1,272 fewer than last year.

"While many factors influence hunter success, the buck harvest is one of our best indicators of how the population is responding to harvest strategies in the Forest Zones," said Wisconsin DNR big game ecologist Kevin Wallenfang. "The harvest is never uniform just as deer densities aren't uniform, but overall it is encouraging to see the increase in the northern counties, and statewide harvest levels similar to last year."

Early totals show the biggest change in the buck harvest took place in the Northern Forest Zone, where 30 percent more antlered deer were taken. Officials cite two consecutive mild winters and limited antlerless tags as reasons for the jump.

Here's a breakdown of the regional harvest by region in 2016:

• Northern Forest Zone: 23,445 antlered (30% increase from 2015); 8,955 antlerless (21% increase)
• Central Forest Zone: 5,067 antlered (2% decrease); 2,943 antlerless (2% decrease)
• Central Farmland Zone: 48,872 antlered (1.4% increase); 62,612 antlerless (8.2% decrease)
• Southern Farmland Zone: 20,508 antlered (3.4% decrease); 24,383 antlerless (10% decrease)
• Total: 97,892 antlered (5.7% increase); 98,893 antlerless (6.2% decrease)

DNR officials anticipate those deer numbers to climb as hunters are still involved with the ongoing statewide muzzleloader hunt, the statewide four-day antlerless only hunt and the nine-day anterless only Holiday Hunt in select farmland counties.

"The gun deer hunt is one of our more anticipated outdoor traditions, and it's very important to Wisconsin's economy and conservation while providing millions of hours of enjoyment in the field," Wisconsin DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said in a statement. "White-tailed deer are one of our greatest natural resources, and it's exciting to see the passion so many people have for hunting and conservation in our state."

Fewer gun deer licenses were sold for the 2016 season. According to DNR figures, 598,867 licenses were sold through the end of the nine-day season, compared to 612,377 last year. 

Overall, 834,092 gun, archery and crossbow licenses (not including upgrades) have been sold through the end of the nine-day season, which is 15,686 fewer than in 2015. Deer license and tag sales, however, will continue throughout the remaining hunting seasons.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Layoffs are coming for a paper mill in Neenah.

Officials with Clearwater Paper says they will cut about 85 positions out of the 400 total employees as it shuts down a pair of tissue-manufacturing machines. The move is scheduled to take effect December 31, and will reduce production by about 32,000 tons.

The facility, located at 249 N. Lake Street, will continue to operate 3 other tissue machines.

“Although a difficult decision when considering the impacted employees at Neenah, we expect the plant’s restructuring to lower our overall costs and significantly strengthen the facility,” Glenn Taylor, vice president of manufacturing for Clearwater Paper’s consumer products division, said in a news release.

Clearwater Paper is also shutting down its Oklahoma City facility next March. That move will lead to 131 layoffs.

Company officials say they'll work with state workforce development agencies to help employees get training, education and career assistance services.

Clearwater is based in Spokane, Wash., and has facilities in 10 states.

In its most recent quarterly report on Oct. 20, Clearwater reported sales were down 1.6% compared to the same period in 2015.

The company expects the Neenah and Oklahoma City moves to save about $13 to $16 million total by the end of 2017, and $10 million a year after that.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - One of the two presidential candidates who asked for recount of Wisconsin’s presidential vote has withdrawn his request.

The move comes a day after the Wisconsin Elections Commission said those asking for a recount would have to pay $3.9 million, with the campaigns of Independent “Rocky” Roque De La Fuente and Green Party candidate Jill Stein expected to split the cost.

De La Fuente said Tuesday that continuing to pursue the effort would be “cost prohibitive,” so he has decided to withdraw his petition.

“I do not want to favor one candidate over another. My only interest is to create a nationwide awareness of the vulnerability of our election system and to do everything possible to assure that your vote counts for the candidate for whom it is cast,” he said in a statement.

De La Fuente’s withdrawal leaves Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to shoulder the entire cost of the process. Her campaign began raising money last week to support recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

So far, they report raising more than $6.4 million, but say another $2.4 million may be needed. Stein’s campaign has indicated it plans to fully fund the Wisconsin effort ahead of a 4:30 p.m. deadline Monday.

De La Fuente said he does intend to pursue recounts in Nevada and Florida.

“It’s not about flipping a state and changing the results. It’s about making sure that every vote counts as it’s cast,” he said.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Grand Chute police say an 11-year-old boy who was reported missing earlier Tuesday has been found safe.

Officials say Tupak Kue was reported missing from his mother's car around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday that was parked in the north parking lot of Brewster Village, 3300 W. Brewster Street. 

Police say Kue was home sick from school, but his mom decided against leaving him home while she went to drop off a job application at Brewster Village. She left him in the car while she went inside the building, but when she returned, he was gone.

The mom checked inside the building, thinking Tupak may have gone in to use the bathroom, but he was not there.

As many as 60 people have been involved in the search.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An extradition hearing in Brown County court did not take place Monday, as a suspect tied to troubled used car dealerships turned himself in to Michigan police.

John M. Solberg is accused of a felony charge of check-non-sufficient funds of $500 or more in Schoolcraft County. 

Last month, a magistrate in the city of Manistique issued a warrant for Solberg's arrest. They then sought an extradition order in Brown County, where the 34-year-old Solberg was jailed.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison or by a fine of not more than $500, or both. Phone calls to Schoolcraft County court officials were not returned as of Tuesday.

Solberg is currently a defendant in several civil lawsuits in Wisconsin, along with a Wisconsin Department of Transportation suit and the apparent target of a FBI investigation. This all stems from his connection to the shuttered used car dealerships Standard Pre-Owned in Suamico and Standard Pre-Owned #1 in Kaukauna.

One of those small claims lawsuits is heading for circuit court in Outagamie County, after the transmittal fee was paid on November 4.

Solberg has continually maintained his innocence in each of these cases, claiming he's being framed by others involved with the dealerships.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The Wisconsin Elections Commission has received a bank wire transfer of $3,499,689 from the campaign of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to prepay the estimated cost of conducting a statewide recount.

With payment received, the Commission is issuing an order for the recount to begin on Thursday.

The campaign of Roque De La Fuente withdrew its recount petition on Tuesday, and will not be participating financially in the cost of the recount.

On Monday, the Elections Commission released an estimate of nearly $3.5 million. There was an error in adding up estimated recount cost figures from the 72 Wisconsin county clerks, and the actual total is $3,898,340.

At this time, the Commission will not be requiring the Stein campaign to pay the additional amount.  When counties report their actual costs, the Commission will either bill the Stein campaign for any costs over the $3.5 million or refund the campaign any unused funds.

The Commission’s role in a recount is to order the recount, to provide legal guidance to the counties during the recount, and to certify the results.

If the candidates disagree with the results of the recount, the law gives them the right to appeal in circuit court within five business days after the recount is completed. The circuit court is where issues are resolved that may be discovered during the recount but are not resolved to the satisfaction of the candidates.

Stein’s campaign began raising money last week to support recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. So far, they report raising more than $6.4 million, but say another $2.4 million may be needed.

Stein and De La Fuente both requested recounts, citing concerns about possible tampering with electronic voting machines in the state. Elections Commission officials have said they strongly doubt that could have happened.

UNDATED (Wisconsin Radio Network) - A multi-state outbreak of drug-resistant Salmonella has been linked to dairy bull calves sold in Wisconsin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 21 people in eight states were infected between January and October of this year, with eight of those people hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The CDC says its investigation identified dairy bull calves from livestock markets in Wisconsin as the likely source of the infections.

Just over half of the cases were in Wisconsin, with 12 people infected in eight counties. Minnesota and South Dakota each had two cases and California, Iowa, Idaho, Missouri and Oklahoma each had one.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt should be fined and given community service for violating Wisconsin's campaign finance laws.

That's the recommendation by the special prosecutor in his criminal case.

Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf filed an 11-page sentencing memorandum, which shows the state is asking the judge to issue Schmitt $4,000 in fines and 40 hours of community service.

Schmitt was charged with 3 misdemeanor counts in September following a 20-month investigation into his campaign finance reports.

While Landgraf didn't seek any jail time, as part of a plea deal reached before charges were filed, he does ask Judge Mitchell Metropulos to consider 34 other campaign violations when deciding on a sentence.

The violations are for accepting contributions over the legal limit and accepting corporate money.

Landgraf also notes that Schmitt has transferred $23,198 from his campaign account to the Common School Fund, which was also part of the plea deal.

Schmitt's attorney, Patrick Knight, told FOX 11 he will file a sentencing memorandum in Brown County Court on Wednesday. Without getting into specifics, Knight says his office will also be asking the judge to impose a fine.

Schmitt will be sentenced in Brown County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 5.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - "Run. Hide. Fight." is the text message many students at Ohio State University received Monday, alerting them of an active threat on the campus.

At the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay that same principle applies.

David Jones, public safety emergency manager at UW-Green Bay, spoke to WLUK.

"Preparedness is key, we adopted the federal system Run, Hide, Fight"

Jones says Run, Hide, Fight is simple and effective, a lot like stop, stop and roll, the warning if your clothes catch on fire.

In both cases they aim to save lives.

"It's usually best to run or evacuate if at all possible, if that's not an option, you should hide, which isn't being passive, it's been active"

Jones says when when those aren't options, you fight.

In addition to alerting UW-Green Bay students through the campus public address system, Jones says they are also able to sign up for what they call "GB alerts."

"Most students always look at their cell phones, so we send out a GB alert , a system like the Buck Eyed alert that went out for their college"

At St. Norbert College Rev. Jay Fostner, Vice President for Mission and Student Affairs, says if the worse were to happen, they could secure the whole campus with just a push of the button.

"All of our buildings have an auto lock down, so again by a computer within seconds we can lock the entire campus"

Fostner says the college also participates in a text message alert system.

Faculty, staff, and students regularly participate in training and drills.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Three people, including two children, suffered carbon monoxide poisoning overnight in Green Bay.

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department received a call around 2 this morning (WED) for an unconscious child on Deer Trail.

A second child in the home was also found to be unconscious.

When rescue crews were there, a carbon monoxide monitor on an EMS bag began to alarm. Crews found extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in the home.

The home was evacuated. The victims were taken to a Green Bay hospital.

The two children were transported to an Appleton hospital for additional treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

Officials found a carbon monoxide alarm in the home wasn't working and past its expiration date.

A reminder from the fire department: test your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms regularly.

FLORENCE, WI (WTAQ) - The search continues for a Florence County woman who disappeared in July, and now her sons are again asking the public for help finding her.

Marvin and Joe Renkas spoke at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Florence County Sheriff's Office.

"We miss her dearly and would love to have her back home," Marvin Renkas said.

47-year-old Nancy Renkas was last seen at Super One Foods in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on July 18. Florence County Sheriff Jeff Rickaby says surveillance video shows Renkas getting into a white SUV in the store's parking lot. That SUV then drove east on Highway 2.

"We spoke with her several times that day before her phone was shut off, and (she) was planning on returning home by 4 p.m.," Marvin Renkas said. "This is not normal for her, and we fear that something bad has happened to her."

Rickaby says investigators are examining several pieces of evidence. They were able to track her cell phone before it shut off, but Rickaby declined to say where the last known location was. He also said they can't rule out foul play.

Several area law enforcement agencies created a task force to focus on the case in August.

"There's people out there that know what happened. We know that," Rickaby said.

A Facebook page and billboard have been created. Rickaby also asked hunters and people participating in outdoor recreation to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

Renkas is 5'4" and weighs about 200 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. She was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and blue jeans when she left home.

"She's just really kind-hearted, she's really outgoing, she loves people, she likes talking to people. Everybody loves her that talks to her, sees her," Marvin Renkas said.

Anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers at (800) 427-5857.