width: 100% !important; Read More 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. border-bottom: 1px solid grey; column-rule: 1px solid #aaa; } margin-top: 1em; The seasoned reporter said she was told the company might find her a lower-paying digital job but nothing on television. font-weight: bold; } clearInterval(nTimer); Her career experience includes working as a communications director for the Iowa Auditor of State and a television anchor and investigative reporter. @media (max-width:600px) { We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. if (document.getElementById('leg-hnt-content6450bb2a28ea0').classList.contains('leg-hnt-hide')) { } .leg-hnt-section-title { width: 100%; by Luke Martz | Oct 19, 2022 | Campaigns, Legislature, State Government. She earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1992. We must make it a priority. display: flex; } font-size: 12px; Iowa voters established the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund in 2010 but lawmakers haven't figured out a way to fund it. background-color: #f4f4f4; Lack of childcare is preventing women in particular from joining the workforce. Police Report: Sonya Heitshusen Recklessly - Iowa Field Report float: right; } I'm most concerned about education, providing opportunities for working families, keeping and attracting workers, and our environment. We must also provide incentives to attract healthcare providers to underserved areas in our state. Heitshusen, 54, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the stations parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., alleging she was removed from the air because of her age and gender. "I take full responsibility for the accident and we reported it to the police. font-weight: bold; } display: block; letter-spacing: .03em; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Ballotpedia features 408,503 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. 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. There were no incumbents in this race. We need to stand up for what is right, defend democracy, and do the right thing, even when that might not be politically advantageous. background-color: #ccf; display: table; Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news She said she was devastated last August when she realized she could not report on the derecho, the powerful wind storm that ripped across the state. } font-style: italic; $('.pastResponses').show(); Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news background-color: #003388; } 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. I will support our educators and appropriate the necessary funds to keep quality teachers in Iowa and attract new educators to the state. Sonya Heitshusen - West Des Moines, Iowa, United States - LinkedIn Nexstar spokesman Gary Weitman declined comment, "as this is a matter of pending litigation.". $('.hideResponses').show(); .leg-hnt-toggle-text { .widget-row { margin: 0px 10px; .results_row td { Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? word-wrap: break-word; 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. In particular, she maintains that this was an accident and in no way intentional," defense attorney Grant Woodard said in a statement emailed to the Register. font-weight: 500; Heitshusen recounted. vertical-align: top; Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Trial delayed for teen accused of killing 2 at Des, House Republicans advance bill that would kill Democratic, Iowa Republican leadership reach agreement on bipartisan, 7 bodies found in search for two missing OK teens, Biden administration announces new immigration rules, Drake and Iowa State to meet in NCAA Tourney, Andy Fales: Caitlin Clark reminds us of hypocrisies, Murphys Law: why Jack Trice matters so much, Faceoff: Cy-Hawk series, Van Lith to LSU, Rodgers, Mr. Soundoff Says: NFL Draft is just plain cool, Le Creuset just launched a dreamy new color for spring, Our fitness expert weighs in on this years top spring, Picnic-planning ideas for the spring season, Multiple dead after IL dust storm causes pileup, Fort Dodge Baptist missionary convicted of child, Chicago mayor implores Abbott to stop sending migrants, Trump returning to Iowa for rally in Des Moines, Rising Mississippi River tests Iowa, Illinois flood, Iowa students honored as part of Governors Scholar, Montana legislator sues House speaker over censure, Huxley restaurant named Iowas Best Burger winner, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, 7 bodies found during search for missing Oklahoma, Iowa lawmakers OK new deer hunting season and allow, Police locate body, tentatively identified as missing, Guac talk to get the most out of avocados, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. .leg-hnt-flex-item { }) In farewell segments, the NBC affiliate did not mention any reason for her departure. color: #888; } .results_row.winner { Redistricting created new boundary lines that include parts of West Des Moines in . She said she was devastated last August when she realized she could not report on the derecho, the powerful wind storm that ripped across the state. Women are relevant after the age of 50. Anything less will endanger the lives of women and harm already marginalized families and communities. The late former Governor Robert Ray, a champion of these core, Iowa values, made the case for bipartisanship and hope in his inaugural address in 1975, a time when the Governor and the legislature, and much of the country were politically divided. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. She said she was devastated last August when she realized she could not report on the derecho, the powerful wind storm that ripped across the state. The bullet went through the glass of Heitshusen's sliding glass door, police said. According to. } Irecently forgot that I have a neck. .widget-value { 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. While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges. For more than 17 years, Sonya has dedicated herself to serving the community and being a friend to all of us. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. The lawsuit alleges that Heitshusen faced numerous micro-aggressions over the years, as her bosses treated male anchors more favorably and her age ultimately became seen as a liability. We need to address systemic biases holding women back . .non_result_row div { The lawsuit alleges that Heitshusen faced numerous "micro-aggressions" over the years, as her bosses treated male anchors more favorably and her age ultimately became seen as a liability. .race_footer { font-size: 12px; She said she was bringing the lawsuit to help spur a cultural shift in the industry that makes discrimination no longer acceptable. "No crime was committed and Ms. Heitshusen will be exonerated, ultimately. } Public money should stay in public schools. Friday was Sonya Heitshusens final day at WHO 13. Judge Erica Crisp granted Heitshusen a deferred judgment, ordering her to serve one year of probation and pay a $105 penalty. who challenged Republican Rep. David Young, Gun safety taught at Iowa schools? They have a lot of great ideas. Heitshusen, a former WHO-TV news anchor, said in a. Heitshusen, 54, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, against the station's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., alleging she was removed from the air because of her age and gender. margin: 3px 0; Sonya believes in giving back to the community, serving on the Boards of Directors for the Alzheimers Association and the Ankeny YMCA, and being active in numerous philanthropic organizations, such as the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Team Run Free, and One Iowa to name a few. } Heitshusen pled not guilty, claiming that the prosecution against her was politically motivated. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { She determined all of her children would receive the best education possible. padding-left: 8px; Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news I read a book many years ago and one theme from the book stayed with me: Setting good public policy is the best thing someone can do for future generations. .leg-hnt-flex-column { } padding-bottom: 5px; Heitshusen filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against WHO-TV's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., which calls itself "America's largest local television and media company," with 199 stations. Iowa was once first in the nation in education. That includes investments in affordable housing, reliable internet access, and student loan forgiveness for healthcare providers who commit to residing in underserved communities for a specified period. a report for the Auditors Office that showed an 890% increase in illegal denials of care by Managed Care Organizations in Iowa post-privatization. In farewell segments, the NBC affiliate did not mention any reason for her departure.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. .votebox-results-metadata-p { .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. margin-top: 0px; color: #0645ad; Court records show Heitshusen on Thursday pleaded to a reduced charge of reckless use of firearm with no injury or property damage, a simple misdemeanor. width: 100% A year after she was let go, she is turning those skills on her former employer with the lawsuit challenging what she calls a widespread practice of removing older, female staffers from the air because of their looks. Iowa Democrat Sonya Heitshusen on June 7 primary ballot for - KCCI Counties | Ten years after treatment, my mother and father were the proud parents of six children. "Knowing my partner was leaving town for an extended period of time, I checked one of the firearms, and while checking it, an accidental discharge of the firearm occurred.". Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { "Ms. Heitshusen maintains her innocence. .votebox { font-size: 1.25em; Roughly 700 waterways in Iowa are deemed impaired to the point they cannot be used for sources of drinking water or for recreation. In addition to Nexstar, the lawsuit names Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch as defendants. As first reported by Iowa Field Report, Heitshusenwho also serves the public information office for State Auditor Rob Sand was arrested this summer after she fired a handgun into her sliding glass door, sending the bullet across a busy city road. The company has denied wrongdoing and the case is scheduled for trial in July. She earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1992. We also need to find innovative solutions to the childcare crisis. Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } .widget-row.value-only.white { display: inline-block; Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. p.survey-response {white-space: pre-line;} State lawmakers approved redistricting maps in 2021 that mean much of current House District 19, which is now . Women are relevant after the age of 50. The news was first published on the conservative website Iowa Field Report. box-sizing: border-box; No injuries were reported but, on Tuesday, the West Des Moines Democrat was arrested on a charge of reckless use of a firearm. } Above, Donald Trump, as a Republican presidential candidate, speaks with moderator Dave Price of WHO-TV during a town hall meeting at Des Moines Area Community College Newton Campus on November 19, 2015, in Newton, Iowa. Iowa has plummeted in education rankings. border:1px solid #FFB81F; Heitshusen, who spent a combined total of nearly 28 years as a reporter at WOI-TV, then as a reporter and news anchor at WHO-TV, is now communications director for Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand's office. background-color: white; The lawsuit seeks orders requiring Nexstar to pay Heitshusen unspecified damages and to take remedial actions, including training for management on gender and age stereotypes and an analysis of how female employees have been treated.
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