White House Says Kidnapped Houston Photojournalist Alive A Houston family whose son, a photojournalist was kidnapped in Syria nearly four and half years ago, gets word from the White House that it’s confident their son is alive. Debra and Marc Tice were briefed recently by James O’Brien, the Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, fueling optimism that their son, Austin Tice, will eventually be released. They told Houston Public Media’s Ed Mayberry that they’ve never had any doubt that Austin is alive and will eventually return safely. And in this conversation, they say they’re heartened that the U.S. government also seems to have the same assessment. The Story