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.
Criminologists, agents already looking at how Radcliffe Haughton fits into a pattern of rising workplace violence – and an eerily similar case last week in Florida.
If you lost a small bag of white powder while doing business with your banker, it would probably be best if you did not return to inquire about it.
Criminologists, agents already looking at how Radcliffe Haughton fits into a pattern of rising workplace violence – and an eerily similar case last week in Florida.
Agile and resilient animal does not give in after a mere glancing blow from one vehicle and goes on to get the better of another.
In one case, an 11-year-old was home alone but unharmed; in another, bullets were unaccountably fired into a door frame in vacant house.
Purse-snatcher yanks victim to the ground as she tries to hold on to her handbag, she tells officers.
Suspicious character drove away rapidly when school parent approached him to find out what he was up to, she tells officer.
Tim Catlett, brought in two years ago to rebuild drama program, has resigned going into huge production, but show will go on with new director already hired.
City is definite that as of 9 a.m. Monday, North at 90th will be shut off to traffic and will stay closed for between three and four weeks. Both through traffic detours and local shortcuts will be marked.
Immigrant, or son of immigrants, enlisted at the first call for volunteers and would have been present at the first great battle of America's greatest and most tragic conflict.
Team that hadn't had a winning season in 10 years is suddenly in the playoffs after posting massive numbers over the regular season. Win or lose Friday, Tosa West has already made it clear it's back – as in running backs.
A Chrysler sedan disappears, another reappears two blocks away, likely because they're easy to grab. Also, car-entry thieves hit one block of 72nd Street on successive nights.
Suspect openly takes six bottles of bubbly, ignores manager who tries to stop him, then implies that he might turn a weapon on him if he keeps following.
Numerous burglaries in the same area had stopped after four suspects were arrested and subsequently charged, but another of the same pattern picks up a month later.
A Union Army vet who died here as an indigent is somewhere among the burials of the poor near Froedtert. Advocates want to locate him before the hospital digs up remains to allow for a building expansion.
Ryan Baltz, 22, of Wauwatosa, will serve prison time for his role in shooting up a home after getting kicked out of a party in May. The accused getaway driver, Rahul Singh, 20, of Brookfield, is awaiting trial on his charges.
Strong words address congresswoman's changing votes on Iranian sanctions, but former governor goes farther in questioning Baldwin's support for the Jewish people.
Assisting Milwaukee police, a Wauwatosa police officer is forced to use her Taser when she comes upon suspect who appears berserk and threatens her.
Cop hits lights, driver hits gas, cop gives chase, car crashes, two men flee, second cop spots them, they split up, one fords river, cops and dogs swarm park, man recrosses river and both escape — but probably not for long.
Armchair analysts at Patch's debate viewing party in Wauwatosa were split on outcome in both style and substance, but Biden may have tipped the ball in at the buzzer.
