She is now the Public Information Officer for the Iowa State Auditor's Office. 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. Education is the foundation for every childs future. "Ms. Heitshusen maintains her innocence. Ex-TV Anchor Files Age Discrimination Suit Against Nexstar Media .leg-hnt-hide { No crime was committed. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. display: block; State lawmakers approved redistricting maps in 2021 that mean much of current House District 19, which is now . Doing so would be a good first step to cleaning up our waterways, which in turn would attract more people to our state. ul.key-messages {list-style-type: none; margin-left:10px; } padding-left: 10px; I vow to listen. You dont see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles, she told The Associated Press last week. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? } .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, Anchor the 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM newscasts at WHO-TV. } He also said his sister would not return to Iowa because of the policies that undermine public schools. } .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { A year after WHO-TV in Des Moines abruptly let her go, she is turning those skills on her former employer with a lawsuit challenging what she calls a widespread practice of removing older, female staffers from the air because of their looks. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. In court filings, Heitshusen had sought dismissal of the charge, arguing that an accidental discharge is not an "intentional discharge" under the relevant law. font-weight: 500; 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. if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { They should not be allowed to amass huge profits, largely from our tax dollars, while jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of residents. $('.pastResponses').hide(); | 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. color: white; .clearfix { From 2020:I immediately thought it must be the way I look, Sonya Heitshusen says of leaving WHO. 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. .widget-row.Republican { Court throws out Tirrell case against Gabus; Heitshusen - CITYVIEW Jan 2003 - Aug 202017 years 8 months. font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 8px; position: relative; border-radius: 50%; Sonya Heitshusen; 0 Comments ; Sonya Heitshusen: It's time to turn the page on bitter, divisive politics and usher in a new era of civility, courage, and common sense. As a result, Iowans wont know until next year what Heitshusen said to the police or what other admissions she made when they interviewed her. .votebox { Where the candidates for Iowa House District 28 stand on education I will fight to keep reproductive healthcare between a woman and her doctor. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { $('.collapse').collapse('show'); "It has to change. Iowa House candidate Sonya Heitshusen charged with reckless use of firearm 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." Source. .leg-hnt-flex-column { Were now middle of the pack, in large part because lawmakers have underfunded education for a decade. She said she was bringing the lawsuit to help spur a "cultural shift" in the industry that makes discrimination no longer acceptable. .votebox-results-cell--number { overflow-y: hidden; } } Company statistics show that nearly 80% of its managers last year were men.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. She said in a statement last year she has guns in the home due to a history of threats against her as a journalist and political candidate, and that "an accidental discharge of the firearm occurred" as she was checking one of the weapons. height: 56px; font-size: .9em; Her career experience includes working as a communications director for the Iowa Auditor of State and a television anchor and investigative reporter. .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} The views and content on this page are the Sonya Heitshusen | Des Moines IA This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. The lawsuit also alleges that male anchors received more vacation time and more on-air recognition for journalism awards and that they were not judged by their appearances. font-weight: 300; She was a trailblazer in many respects. 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Judge Erica Crisp granted Heitshusen a deferred judgment, ordering her to serve one year of probation and pay a $105 penalty. .leg-hnt-section-title { Heitshusen filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against WHO-TVs parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., which calls itself Americas largest local television and media company, with 199 stations. } Iowa Democrat Sonya Heitshusen on June 7 primary ballot for - KCCI } .leg-hnt-toggle-text { letter-spacing: 0.03em; "I spent 27 years of my life doing this," she said in an interview Monday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. color: white; @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { 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. overflow-y: hidden; She desperately wanted children and refused to give up. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); I also get my advocacy for education from my mother. The lawsuit also alleges that male anchors received higher pay, more vacation time and more on-air recognition for journalism awards, and that they were not judged by their appearances. EXCLUSIVE: Iowa-Based Organization Launches Six Figure Ad Buy in Support of School Choice. | The lawsuit also alleges that male anchors received higher pay, more vacation time and more on-air recognition for journalism awards, and that they were not judged by their appearances. .leg-hnt-border-top { padding-left: 0; .results_table { margin-bottom: .75em; who challenged Republican Rep. David Young, Gun safety taught at Iowa schools? Sonya graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Journalism. We must make it a priority. position: absolute; 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. } Nexstar, which has characterized Heitshusens firing as a reduction in its workforce, has faced other lawsuits in recent years from female reporters and anchors. } padding-bottom: 8px; } text-align: center; font-style: italic; Traditionally, Iowa has been one of the most progressive states in the country. ", More in September 2020:Another senior TV newswoman in Iowa, April Samp, cites gender bias in her firing, this time by WOI. font-weight: bold; As first reported by Iowa Field Report, Heitshusenwho also serves the public information office for State Auditor Rob Sandwas arrested this summer after she fired a handgun into her sliding glass door, sending the bullet across a busy city road. text-align: left; background-color: #db0000; font-size: .9em; Company statistics show that nearly 80% of its managers last year were men. top: 2px; font-size: 16px; width: 35px !important; color: #888; }) } We need to ensure women maintain reproductive rights. display: none; 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. .non_result_row { } State and local courts | display: block; She sought treatment for infertility in the 1950s when options for women were few and far between. background-color: grey; This election is another opportunity for Iowans to bridge divides and support leaders who are open and honest, leaders who will do the right thing despite the political fallout, and leaders who will put in the time and effort to reach thoughtful, enduring solutions to long-standing, complex problems.

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