.results_text { The bullet went through the glass of Heitshusen's sliding glass door, police said. .percentage_number { Elections in 2023 | Nexstar, which has characterized Heitshusen's firing as a reduction in its workforce, has faced other lawsuits in recent years from female reporters and anchors. margin-bottom: 1px; background-color: grey; Suggest a Correction Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. She was valedictorian of her class and earned music and academic scholarships to Valparaiso University but her father refused to let her attend. The report notes that Heitshusen had been drinking. I've also heard from teachers who feel overworked and under attack. An unsuccessful state legislative candidate and former Des Moines-area TV reporter and anchor has been ordered to complete a firearm safety class after being convicted of mishandling a handgun. I believe this is due in large part to . .leg-hnt-district-container { She sought treatment for infertility in the 1950s when options for women were few and far between. A former television anchor for WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit against the stations parent company, Nexstar Media Group Inc. We must also provide incentives to attract healthcare providers to underserved areas in our state. background-color: red; What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? The lawsuit alleges Heitshusen, 54, was "thrown out to pasture" because she was no longer seen as camera-worthy, after years in which she saw her male colleagues receive better treatment from management. This saddens me. display: block; color:white; Iowa Democrat Sonya Heitshusen on June 7 primary ballot for - KCCI a[aria-expanded=false] .fa-chevron-down { display: none; } Democrat Sonya Heitshusen and Republican David Young are running in Iowa House District 28, an open seat in Dallas County . padding:7px 8px 8px; They have a lot of great ideas. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Democratic Iowa House candidate charged with recklessly firing handgun, Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, Iowa primary elections: Sonya Heitshusen wins House District 28 Democratic primary, will face Republican David Young, Democratic Iowa House candidate charged with recklessly firing handgun. } } letter-spacing: .04em; It happened as I backed out of a grocery store parking space. padding-top: 3px; Photo courtesy Sonya Heitshusen via AP Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news Heitshusen left WHO-TV last summer after what the station called a remarkable 17-year stint in which she was a hard-hitting news reporter and an anchor also known for softer segments on fitness. Prominent reporter and anchor Sonya Heitshusen leaves WHO-TV, I immediately thought it must be the way I look, Sonya Heitshusen says of leaving WHO, WOI-TV denies sex, age discrimination against former news director in federal court, Another senior TV newswoman in Iowa, April Samp, cites gender bias in her firing, this time by WOI, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Take a look back at her remarkable career at WHO 13. border-bottom: 1px solid grey; if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { padding-left: 0; She said she was bringing the lawsuit to help spur a cultural shift in the industry that makes discrimination no longer acceptable. Heitshusen said she was blindsided in April of 2020 when the station's news director, Rod Peterson, informed her that the station was exercising a clause in her contract to fire her without cause as a "business decision." Sonya Heitshusen is pictured on July 29, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa, on one of her last days as a reporter and anchor for WHO-TV, an NBC affiliate. IOWA CITY As a prominent reporter and anchor at one of Iowas biggest local television stations, Sonya Heitshusen was known for doggedly investigating injustices and holding the powerful accountable. Women are relevant after the age of 50. The lawsuit recounts an incident in which Peterson told the newsroom that Heitshusen had a reaction to the shingles vaccine but that others need not worry because only her advanced age caused her to need the shot in the first place. Heitshusen left WHO-TV last summer after what the station called a remarkable 17-year stint in which she was a hard-hitting news reporter and an anchor also known for softer segments on fitness. .race_header { background-color: #db0000; width: 100%; .results_table_container { color: #888; display: inline-block; Nexstar spokesman Gary Weitman declined comment, "as this is a matter of pending litigation.". width: 350px; } } else { display: inline-block; We will lead them by telling them the truth and entrusting them with it. I thought, Im good enough to work here but Im not good enough to be on camera? recounted Heitshusen, who was the oldest female anchor in the stations history. Nexstar spokesman Gary Weitman declined comment, "as this is a matter of pending litigation.". Iowa voters established the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund in 2010 but lawmakers haven't figured out a way to fund it. }); What's on my ballot? event.srcElement.innerText = '[hide]'; } People once moved to Iowa because it offered excellent schools. "Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? He can be contacted atwrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at@DMRMorris. How a bipartisan bill could make it happen, I immediately thought it must be the way I look, Sonya Heitshusen says of leaving WHO, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. vertical-align: top; width: 90%; width: 100%; .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { .election_results_text { Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. } Nexstar's company statistics show that nearly 80 percent of its managers last year were men.

.mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { .leg-hnt-leadership-title { } Heitshusen said she was blindsided in April 2020 when the stations news director, Rod Peterson, informed her that the station was exercising a clause in her contract to fire her without cause as a business decision. She said she was told the company valued her and might be able to find her a lower-paying digital position, but nothing on the air. .leg-hnt-responsive-columns { Poverty in America estimates the livable wage in Iowa is $23.88 per hour. Heitshusen is represented by Des Moines civil rights attorneys Tom Newkirk and Jill Zwagerman, who specialize in showing how implicit biases can impact the workplace and have won landmark cases in the past. font-style: italic; These two issues were underscored in a conversation with a gay couple I spoke with. } Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. display: inline; Heitshusen said she was blindsided in April 2020 when the station's news director, Rod Peterson, informed her that the station was exercising a clause in her contract to fire her without cause as a "business decision." Sonya went to bat for him, eventually securing the treatment he needed and legally deserved. overflow-y: hidden; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; According to court records, there are recordings of Heitshusen discussing the incident, but those are being kept confidential until the trial. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} They are hard workers and can make a difference.. We must raise the bar, and we can do that by adequately paying healthcare providers for the essential services they deliver to people in their homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. color: black; The lawsuit alleges Heitshusen, 54, was thrown out to pasture because she was no longer seen as camera-worthy, after years in which she saw her male colleagues receive better treatment from management. font-size: .9em; padding-bottom: 5px; Public policy. }) document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content6450bb2a28ea0').classList.add('leg-hnt-hide'); padding-bottom: 3px; A statement from Heitshusen's attorney Grant Woodard said, "The charges are baseless. Take a look back at her remarkable career at WHO 13. font-weight: bold; } Sonya Heitshusen was born in Marengo, Iowa. a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } } } } WHO-TV is one of Iowa's biggest local television stations where Heitshusen was known for doggedly investigating injustices and holding the powerful accountable. box-sizing: border-box; Iowa was once number one in education in the nation. We also need to find innovative solutions to the childcare crisis. Heitshusen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. margin-top: 5px; I thought, Im good enough to work here but Im not good enough to be on camera? State legislature | Heitshusen said she was blindsided in April 2020 when the stations news director, Rod Peterson, informed her that the station was exercising a clause in her contract to fire her without cause as a business decision. She said she was told the company valued her and might be able to find her a lower-paying digital position, but nothing on the air. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. We're now middle of the pack. ", "No one was hurt and no property was damaged other than my own," Heitshusen said in her statement. "I spent 27 years of my life doing this," she said in an interview Monday. Anything less will endanger the lives of women and harm already marginalized families and communities. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. clearInterval(nTimer); As a journalist, I know the importance of listening to all parties and the importance of using facts to find the truth. I will fight any legislation to further restrict access to abortion. They have a lot of great ideas. The only thing that signaled to me was that its my appearance.. height: 22px; Meanwhile, the suit claims that managers told Heitshusen she could not negotiate for more time off, that one once commented to her and another female anchor about losing weight, and that managers gave her more support for pursuing softer feature stories than investigative news, it claims.