While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges. Sonya Heitshusen was born in Marengo, Iowa. Now, he has sanctioned a Chicago lawyer to "write and produce a training video in which" she, or a partner in her firm, "addresses the impropriety of unspecified 'form' objections, witness coaching, and excessive interruptions." . While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges. margin-top: 0px; Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? border-bottom: 1px solid grey; text-align: center; You dont see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles, she told The Associated Press last week. Sonya Heitshusen, 55, of West Des Moines is running for Iowa House District 28, which includes parts of West Des Moines, Van Meter and Adel. } Now, people are leaving the state in search of better schools and a more welcoming environment. She said she was devastated last August. text-align: center; Sonya Heitshusen - West Des Moines, Iowa, United States - LinkedIn For more than 17 years, Sonya has dedicated herself to serving the community and being a friend to all of us. Click here to read the survey answers. overflow-x: scroll; .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } She said she was devastated last August. I will listen to people with opposing viewpoints and to people from opposing parties. 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. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. She admitted, though, that she fired the gun into the door but claims she shouldnt be held responsible. width: 100% !important; flex-wrap: wrap; $('.pastResponses').hide(); Former anchor Sonya Heitshusen, 54, was let go from WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, after 17 years and she alleges the reasons were her age and gender. I'm also a good listener. background-color: #6db24f; $('.showResponses').on('click', () => { From 2020:I immediately thought it must be the way I look, Sonya Heitshusen says of leaving WHO. "That said, she is pleased that this matter is now behind her.". .votebox { They are hard workers and can make a difference.. 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. color: #6db24f; 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. left: 0; No one person or party has all the answers. } 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. .non_result_row { Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. We need to ensure women maintain reproductive rights. Ballot measures, Who represents me? .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} $('#candidate-connection-twitter-117956').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); $('.hideResponses').hide(); whotv. position: relative; .indicate_scroll { 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. This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. 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. background: #4c4c4c; She said she was bringing the lawsuit to help spur a cultural shift in the industry that makes discrimination no longer acceptable. Sonya Heitshusen (@newzgirl) / Twitter Ex-Iowa anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news Sonya Heitshusen, a Democrat who challenged Republican Rep. David Young in the 2022 election for West Des Moines-centered House District 28, was charged in June 2022 with reckless use of a. ", The police complaint states that Heitshusen told law enforcement officers "that as she was placing the handgun onto the kitchen table, she pulled the trigger, discharging it. 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. } WEST DES MOINES, Iowa The public information officer for Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is charged with reckless discharge of a firearm after firing a gun from her West Des Moines home. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. } I've also heard from teachers who feel overworked and under attack. The only thing that signaled to me was that its my appearance.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.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.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. Iowa House candidate Sonya Heitshusen was checking on a gun in her home after receiving ongoing threatening messages through social media when it accidentally discharged last week, she said in a media statement Wednesday.