.contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Heitshusen has pleaded not guilty. She said she was devastated last August. It has to change. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Heitshusen's responses. } 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. .results_table { background-color: grey; 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. 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. In farewell segments, the NBC affiliate did not mention any reason for her departure. } padding-top: 5px; 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. } We will lead them by telling them the truth and entrusting them with it.
Suggest a Correction Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. U.S. Congress | You don't see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles," Heitshusen told AP last week. .leg-hnt-title {
By following the money, she also exposed the states failure to track the tax dollars given to that organization. It happened as I backed out of a grocery store parking space. In addition to Nexstar, the lawsuit names Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch as defendants. } } Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. background-color: #ccf; } position: relative; Democrat Sonya Heitshusen and Republican David Young are running in Iowa House District 28, an open seat in Dallas County . padding-bottom: 5px; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { font-size: 20px; $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { font-weight: 500; color: #888; You dont see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles, she told The Associated Press last week. Ballotpedia features 408,503 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Judge Erica Crisp granted Heitshusen a deferred judgment, ordering her to serve one year of probation and pay a $105 penalty. margin: 8px auto; margin: auto; A company spokesman didnt immediately return a message seeking comment.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. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. .outer_percentage { Heitshusen, a former WHO-TV news anchor, said in a. .votebox-results-metadata { They're dismayed by the recent attacks on teachers and the false claims by some GOP lawmakers that educators have a "sinister agenda." .votebox-covid-disclaimer { All rights reserved. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); Heitshusen entered what is called an Alford plea, meaning she maintained her innocence but conceded the state had sufficient evidence to convict her and wished to take advantage of the plea deal. display: none; width: 100%; 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: 3px; font-size: 1.25em; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. top: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; 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. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { .survey-result {padding:10px;} } .leg-hnt-border-top { Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. Heitshusen has been affiliated with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Team Run Free, the Central Iowa Shelter and Services, One Iowa, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Ankeny YMCA, and the Alzheimers Association. padding-top: 8px; 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. display: inline-block; background-color: #f9d334; } Counties | }. I look forward to this matter being resolved quickly.". In that report, police said Heitshusen "admitted to having a couple drinks prior to the incident. 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. } The report notes that Heitshusen had been drinking. I highly recommend it. }) top: -1px; Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? $('.showResponses').show(); Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Sonya Heitshusen, the WHO anchor who was charged with drunken driving on June 7, pleaded not guilty . @media (max-width:600px) { | But a judge in January denied that motion, ruling that based on her statements to police, a jury could find she had intentionally pulled the trigger. She said she was bringing the lawsuit to help spur a cultural shift in the industry that makes discrimination no longer acceptable. width: 50%; margin: 3px 0; .infobox p { Ive listened to disabled Iowans who cant find caregivers to help them out of bed or make their meals. She desperately wanted children and refused to give up. "We believe that this is utterly baseless," he said. border:1px solid #FFB81F; p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} People have also expressed concern that legislation recently passed is creating an "unwelcoming" environment in Iowa. Heitshusen works as the communications director for the Iowa State Auditor's office. I'm not just running to make Iowa better today. font-weight: bold; .race_header { font-size: 16px; .election_results_text { } } This is not the first time Nexstar has been issued lawsuits by female anchors and reporters. box-sizing: border-box; } width: 90%; 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. Sonya went to bat for him, eventually securing the treatment he needed and legally deserved. width: 57%; .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} You dont see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles, she told The Associated Press last week. Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { div.oneoff-scrollbox.short { height:250px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } He also said his sister would not return to Iowa because of the policies that undermine public schools. .race_header.green { Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? She said she was devastated last August. "That said, she is pleased that this matter is now behind her.". text-align: center; 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. max-width: 75px; According to the County Attorneys Office, the nieces role in the Heitshusen campaign creates a conflict of interest for which the judges impartiality might be reasonably questioned. .infobox { Women are relevant after the age of 50. Sonya Heitshusen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. } They have a lot of great ideas. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { color: #fff; While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges. column-count: auto; width: 43%; break-inside: avoid-column; Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? } Sonya Heitshusen is pictured in 2020 in Des Moines, on one of her last days as a reporter and anchor for WHO-TV, an NBC affiliate. 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. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, It has to change. .votebox-results-cell--number { .race_footer { State lawmakers approved redistricting maps in 2021 that mean much of current House District 19, which is now . "Ive received ongoing threatening messages on social media," she said in the statement. 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KCCI-TV. letter-spacing: .04em; He can be contacted atwrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at@DMRMorris. } Examples include lifting the ban on same-sex marriage in 2009 and the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919 (the 10th state to do so). Sonya Heitshusen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 28. Friday was Sonya Heitshusens final day at WHO 13. The case was originally set to go to trial before the election, but Heitshusen asked to reset the trial date until after voters have gone to the polls on November 8. The company has denied wrongdoing and the case is scheduled for trial in July. color: white; "No crime was committed and Ms. Heitshusen will be exonerated, ultimately.