Seven-year-old Dorrith Oppenheim arrived in July 1939. text-align: center; 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. 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. For subscribers:Gun safety taught at Iowa schools? $('.showResponses').hide(); div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } color: black; .votebox-results-metadata-p { 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. How to vote | 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). 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. } Anchor the 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM newscasts at WHO-TV. We will miss you, Sonya! I'm most concerned about education, providing opportunities for working families, keeping and attracting workers, and our environment. } She was a trailblazer in many respects. Nexstar calls itself "America's largest local television and media company," with 199 stations. z-index:1; Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? In addition to Nexstar, the lawsuit names Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch as defendants. } You dont see women on TV with gray hair and wrinkles, she told The Associated Press last week. padding-left: 10px; .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} display: block; Will the Las Vegas MLB team be called the As? recounted Heitshusen, who was the oldest female anchor in the station's history. We will lead them by telling them the truth and entrusting them with it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. I will also fight to close the gender pay gap. column-width: 175px; In court filings, Heitshusen had sought dismissal of the charge, arguing that an accidental discharge is not an "intentional discharge" under the relevant law. The company has denied wrongdoing and the case is scheduled for trial in July. } .widget-value { The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. column-count: auto; 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. background-color: #f9d334; | Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller. 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." . .leg-hnt-flex-column { I will fight to keep reproductive healthcare between a woman and her doctor. Her conviction resulted in her becoming the first woman to serve as President of the local school board. height: 100%; .votebox { She said she was devastated last August. width: 50%; document.getElementById('leg-hnt-toggle6450bb2a28ea0').addEventListener('click', event => { .votebox-results-cell--check { .widget-row.Green { A separate West Des Moines Police report said the gun belongs toHeitshusen's partner, a Des Moines police officer.

max-height: 580px; overflow-x: scroll; Heitshusen, now public information officer . .percentage_number { display: inline-block; Click here to read the survey answers. margin-bottom: -2px !important; Judge Cobb has scheduled a hearing on the recusal request for October 18, but Heitshusen is asking the court to reschedule the hearing for November 10, two days after the election. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges.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.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.In addition to Nexstar, the lawsuit names Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch as defendants. } .key-messages li:last-child { margin-bottom: 0px;} This is unacceptable. 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. 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. I also believe elected officials need to be courageous. .hideResponses { display: none;} .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { }) 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. School districts | They are hard workers and can make a difference.". 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. There were no incumbents in this race. According to Heitshusens filings, the defendant [Heitshusen] mistakenly suggested November 3, 2022, but meant to request the following Thursday, November 10, 2022. Heitshusen recounted. border-radius: 50%;

While seemingly a joke, the comment reflected a deeper truth that her age was a concern to management, it alleges. Recreation Fund, which voters overwhelmingly approved in 2010. Who do you look up to? break-inside: avoid-column; Doing so would be a good first step to cleaning up our waterways, which in turn would attract more people to our state. 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. 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. I strongly believe compromise is necessary. Heitshusen, a former WHO-TV news anchor, said in a. color: white; We must make it a priority. I would raise the minimum wage to help struggling families, boost wages for all workers, and help combat the workforce crisis our state is facing. vertical-align: top; } WHO-TV is one of Iowa's biggest local television stations where Heitshusen was known for doggedly investigating injustices and holding the powerful accountable. Heitshusen, now public information officer for the Iowa State Auditor, got emotional recounting how the firing ended her award-winning journalism career. background-color: #f9d334; a.communitylink { color:black; font-weight:bold; } .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. .leg-hnt-leadership-title { How to run for office | Like the time she advocated for a boy with autism whose insurer refused to cover his ABA therapy. Where are all the women who are in TV broadcasting over 50? 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. div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } } . .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { } Nexstar spokesman Gary Weitman declined comment, "as this is a matter of pending litigation.". 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. 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. 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. whotv. According to court records, she also must complete an online gun safety course as a condition of her probation. display: inline-block; .results_table { Ballotpedia features 408,503 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. I think I was good at it. if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { No one person or party has all the answers. State legislature | } 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. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? font-weight: bold; SHE WAS LET GO BECAUSE OF HER GENDER AND A SGEONYA HEITZEN WAS FIRED FROM WHO TV LAST YEAR. letter-spacing: .03em; display: inline; background-color: red; In addition to Nexstar, the lawsuit names Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch as defendants. top: 0px; The report notes that Heitshusen had been drinking. In farewell segments, the NBC affiliate did not mention any reason for her departure. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.