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.
Don't skip breakfast. And on a laid-back weekend morning, don't rush it, either. We'd like to know where you most enjoy starting your day off or holiday.
Destination ImaginNation teams find creative ways to solve problems and are rewarded with trip top-level tournament. But they need your help in making the journey.
A pair of 17-year-olds amass lengthy files of bans from the mall, but just keep coming back and racking up more fines for trespassing and theft.
Clerk asks for that amount from contingency fund to make up unbudgeted cost of special elections.
To their loss, couple's side door gives way to booted foot, but disease charity's door stands up against burglar's pry bar.
She continues six blocks on wrong side of Burleigh with officer behind her using lights and siren. Another drunken driver tries to ditch weed while in the spotlight.
Which restaurant serves your perfect weekend breakfast? Whether it's an early-morning coffee and pastry, sweet French toast or savory egg dish, Patch is looking to name the best spot for a weekend breakfast/brunch in town.
In one small area of southwest Tosa, 15 citizens report their cars were entered on the same night. Ravenswood was also hard hit two nights earlier.
Century-old business is still popular in its new, cozy location on North Avenue.
Tosa police are installing automated camera systems that can read and react to problem plates in an instant, keeping patrol officers safer and making them manifestly more efficient.
Middle school students eligible to enter thoughtful writing on the subject, 'What does Memorial Day mean to me?'
The public is invited to celebrate the success of troupe that trots the globe winning honors, with Tosa dancers standing out.
Young man hosting a birthday party politely asks his over-served friend to leave, and when he doesn't, decides to throw his weight around.
More than 25 exhibitors will be in attendance, and you can see a movie showing you how to 'bag' your plastic lifestyle.
City is conducting flow tests in neighborhoods north of the Village to determine how much clear water is leaking into area sanitary sewer lines.
First step is quick, economical installation of signs and pavement decals directed at pedestrians, but city will consider crossing upgrades that could cost up to $1.5 million, and officials also ponder lifting city's train horn ban.
For just over an hour and a half, the school was told to let no one go into the neighborhood to the east as police chased burglary suspects.
Just-opened American diner defies its own description by offering a world of choices — including some inventions of its own, all available gluten-free.
A Wauwatosa woman is brutally assaulted at the point of a knife, and not waiting for DNA evidence to be returned, detectives develop a lead. They were on the right track, but it turned out their quarry was already beyond justice.
Superintendent Phil Ertl heard from parents that most were opposed to earlier school hours, especially for high schoolers. He has revised his proposal, keeping high school at 8 a.m. and starting lower grades 10 and 20 minutes later.
