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.
During a year when politics often took our attention away from the business going on right around us, retail development in Wauwatosa went from next-to-nowhere to no-end-in-sight growth.
Victoria's Secret staffer calls police after customer complains that a strange man's opening line gave her the creeps.
After police release photo of armed robber in Speedway incident, a tipster recognizes suspect. According to police, he's admitted his part in the crime and given information about his accomplice.
Woman's checks are stolen before she knows she has them, but thanks to an alert banker and a neighbor who puts right above friendship, she keeps her money, and a suspect faces all the charges he deserves.
More reports have been submitted and approved from an enforcement effort last weekend, including one afternoon arrest for multiple dangerous violations in the Village.
Woman was living with minor in his parents' Wauwatosa home when, police say, he assaulted her during an argument. Both claimed he was 17, but an investigation revealed him to be two years younger.
Man doesn't get far trying to flee on foot carrying six 1.75-liter bottles, police say, and after ditching it he gets a few more blocks before being captured.
After long debate over several possible changes to Wauwatosa's residency ordinance – including doing away with it all together – Common Council votes to stay with status quo.
Humor carries the message as 'the worst kids in the history of the world' hijack pageant but then learn the reason for the season. Village Playhouse offers three showtimes this weekend.
In still photo from store security video, suspect can be seen stealing Children's Miracle Network donation jar.
Our area was under a Winter Weather Advisory until 9 p.m. Tuesday, but it's what's on the way Wednesday and Thursday that could put a serious wrinkle in travel plans.
Huge reconstruction project was expected to take at least six years by design, and now Wauwatosa looks at the prospect of additional years because of budget shortfalls.
Confrontation in parking lot over a bottle of liquor turns terrifying when thief's companion pulls knife on two Walgreens employees. In second incident, theft is thwarted but suspect again threatens a store manager.
In one break-in, woman interrupts burglary; in another, police just miss when sent to wrong address; and in two cases, neighbors spot suspicious activity but fail to report it.
Besides alcohol levels of .13, .18, .20 and .24 for four drivers, another is stumbling high on pot and another doped on a whole pharmacopoeia, police reports say.
President and CEO of Emory and Co., a major investment banking firm in Milwaukee, makes allusions to his position and asks about leniency after drunken driving arrest.
Two hooded men, one with a pistol, hold up attendant and take cash, smokes and a children's donation jar.
Family marriage celebration at Applebee's turns into a major disruption, and in an attempt to restore peace, Tosa officer is injured when scrum with groom topples him over backward.
Tosa School District has trained for the day, with police and fire departments, when it might have to deal with crisis – and has dealt with it before.
Driving in wrong lanes of Mayfair Road, suspected drunken driver plunges into utility trench, flips over and then wanders into hotel to report his misfortune, police reports say.
