Email: james.price@patch.com
Phone 414-218-2779
Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI
Birthday: February 21, 1956
Bio: I've wanted to write ever since my father introduced me to the complete works of Mark Twain when I was a child, but I didn't get my start in journalism until 1986 when I began supplementing my income as an English major through freelancing for the Chicago Reader. Getting paid to write seemed better than not, so after graduating from the University of Illinois-Chicago, I applied to the graduate program of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, the first and I believe still the best J-school in the world.
Still a poor student, I begged my way onto the copy desk of the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. After five years of journalistic boot camp, I made my way to The Milwaukee Journal, settled in Wauwatosa, and I've been here ever since, editing and writing for The Journal and Journal Sentinel and teaching journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I'm thrilled to be a Patch editor in my adopted hometown of 22 years.
Our Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
My Politics
I am unashamed to call myself a liberal in my personal political beliefs, and I don't think anyone should think it's a dirty word, because I believe this nation was founded on the most liberal principles the world has ever seen: that all people are equal and should govern their own affairs as equals. That said, I agree with my hero Thomas Jefferson about the limits of government and with many people today who believe that our government has in many ways outgrown that notion. In any case, I have 25 years of training and experience in journalism and I can assure readers that I have never let any personal beliefs affect my sense of fairness and balance in reporting or editing any story.
My Religion
I grew up in the Methodist Church, and although I do not practice any religion now, I still adhere to much of the guidance of that church, which taught that we should all act toward others and conduct ourselves in accordance with certain beliefs that underlie Christian morality.
Local Hot-Button Issues
The hottest button in Wauwatosa, I believe, is in the undercurrents that swell to the surface from time to time as we try to deal with being the closest suburban community to urban Milwaukee and the socio-economic issues that sometimes spill over our borders.
A large contingent of police officers from the Milwaukee area and throughout the state are in Washington, D.C. to honor their fallen brothers and sisters, including Wauwatosa's Jennifer Sebena and Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergio Aleman.
Panel approves two-part plan, giving Forest Exploration Center School time to raise funds to occupy historic buildings but pre-approving razing three of them if those funds don't materialize.
Group would like to add small living quarters in building for priest to live on premises and is seeking city's permission.
Boys admitted to police wide discussions of bomb plots before they were overheard and reported, news reports says.
Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Sergio Aleman, Wauwatosa Officer Jennifer Sebena and three other officers were honored Friday in Madison.
Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Sergio Aleman, Wauwatosa Officer Jennifer Sebena and three other officers were honored at a ceremony Friday in Madison.
A number of law enforcement agencies, including Brookfield, attended the ceremony. Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber was the keynote speaker at Friday's ceremony in Madison, which also recognized four other officers.
Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber was the keynote speaker at Friday's ceremony in Madison, which paid tribute to Jennifer Sebena and four other officers.
Short of money for prescriptions, a mother leaves her sick child behind and tells police she'd rather have his hospitalization or death on Walgreens' head and not hers.
Bold bike lanes, midstream pedestrian islands and more, on a smoothly resurfaced roadway with no chicanes, comes at a $1 million price tag.
With owner's permission to drive (but no license), juvenile steps on it to try to elude police, ending up wrecking his friend's mother's car and landing in Detention Center.
Woman finds electronics and other property stolen in break-in, then her live-in ex-husband discovers that his handgun is gone from under his mattress.
Police contend with complaints of naked young men running through their yards, and warn that the next call could be one with more serious consequences.
Brookfield resident finds his home broken into and quickly comes to suspect one of his oldest acquaintance's daughter. According to police and the district attorney, he was right.
Probationer has a bundle of strange booty in his bindle that doesn't belong to him, but despite elegant police investigative work, he draws only a municipal citation.
Don't go barging into your own home if you know someone else has. Husband and wife stop short when they see things amiss, and police are able to gather some evidence.
Friday in Madison and Monday in Washington, Wauwatosa police chief will pay respects and honor to Jennifer Sebena and other officers who died in the performance of their duties.
Turning a blah '50s concrete-block box into a bright and bold Parisian-style bakery earns owners civic restoration award.
After property disappears from his business, owner installs video system and sees employee making off with microphones. Ultimately, he learns, he's out more than $13,000 worth of equipment.
A mother stepped forward in April with another allegation inappropriate contact with her child by Father Robert Marsicek, but girl's story was found unreliable as evidence and no further action is to be taken.
