JOE CRAIN WATCH

Monday, we told you about Joe Crain, a popular meteorologist who has been absent from local television newscasts since criticizing a corporate weather-alert brand last week, prompting an advertising boycott, social media protests and a complaint from a U.S. senator.

 Crain, a WICS (ABC) staff member since 2004, disappeared from the weather report after ad-libbing June 5 about the “Code Red” moniker that station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group implemented as a severe-weather alert.

Reflecting the frustration of a community that believes the brand is overused and often alarms viewers unnecessarily, Crain said, “It’s all-inclusive, it doesn’t recognize that not all storms are created equal.”

WICS General Manager Rick Lipps said Monday the station would no longer do the controversial “Code Reds.”

Well, social media supporting Crain continues to mount, yet no word on his future from Sinclair.

He may work for the other station in town, but @JoeCrain earned my respect when he resisted orders to sensationize the ordinary. I’ll take his authenticity, courage, and clarity over corporate cookie-cutter ratings gimmicks any day. https://t.co/BT8MAQRwtM

— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) June 8, 2019

If you care about communities, stop fear-mongering with Code Red and give Joe Crain his job back. pic.twitter.com/jwqN5BCdUf

— Mike Matessa (@mmatessa) June 7, 2019

Stay tuned.