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.
School Board incumbent Phil Kroner will face challenger Carmela Rios in spring election; Anne Fee and Michael Meier have filed to retain there seats uncontested.
Sarah Lerand saw an accident waiting to happen and decided to prevent it. One alderman was enlisted to help her accomplish that, another was inspired to level-up the effort, and together, they led Tosa light-years forward on school zone safety.
When a clerk from another Mayfair store is found with a dress stolen from hers and is allowed to keep working, aggrieved owners of the merchandise take it to the police.
Racing through red lights in the Village and driving into oncoming traffic on Mayfair Road are among violations leading to drunken driving stops.
After multiple thefts and sightings in which boy brandished, showed or was seen with a knife, boy gets caught while fleeing from an attempted liquor theft from Sentry.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters from across Wisconsin pay their respects to fallen Wauwatosa officer who lived in Menomonee Falls and was killed in Christmas Eve.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters from across Wisconsin pay their respects to fallen officer – the first to die in the line of duty in the nearly 100-year history of the Wauwatosa Police Department.
Tosa officers began to rotate off duty Friday, with other departments taking over, in preparation for a full show of support for Jennifer Sebena, killed in the line of duty.
National Weather Service recaps 2012, which was indeed hot enough for all of us, and continues to have an impact at the grocery stores.
Benjamin Sebena, the Menomonee Falls man charged with killing his wife, a Wauwatosa police officer, admitted to police that he waited in hiding for her near the city's fire station for hours, and shot her when she left the building after taking a b
Husband of slain Wauwaotsa police officer Jennifer Sebena admitted to police that he waited in hiding for her near Fire Station No. 1 for hours, and shot her when she left the building after taking a break, court records state.
Formal charges have been filed against Benjamin Sebena of Menomonee Falls expected in the Christmas Eve murder of his wife, a Wauwatosa police officer.
Formal charges were filed Thursday in the Christmas Eve murder of Wauwatosa police officer Jennifer Sebena.
Services will be Saturday at noon at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield following a morning visitation.
Classic theater to reopen this weekend with a first-run show, and with some Hollywood fanfare to boot – red carpet, tabloids, starlets and spotlights.
Benjamin Sebena taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of his wife in Wauwatosa; couple lived in Menomonee Falls.
Reports indicate Benjamin Sebena is being held at the West Allis Police Department, but they do not say whether he has been arrested for the shooting death of the 30-year-old Wauwatosa police officer.
The Wauwatosa police watch over us while we sleep – and are ready to fall in the line of duty, if duty demands. Rest in peace, Officer Jennifer Lynn Sebena.
Public is invited to join congregation at 10 p.m. in parish garden to remember and pray for Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer Lynn Sebena.
Tosa saxophonist Lenard Simpson is among 30 students from across the nation selected for prestigious Grammy Camp, a week leading up to the red-carpet night, Feb. 7 in Los Angeles.
