A former Des Moines news anchor has lost an age discrimination lawsuit after an eight-day trial in Polk County District Court.Sonya Heitshusen had been at WHO-TV for 17 years when, she says, she was denied an on-air contract in 2020. In August 2021, she filed an age and gender discrimination lawsuit against WHO-TV and its parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., challenging what she called a widespread practice of removing older, female staffers from the air because of their looks. Station news director Rod Peterson and general manager Bobby Totsch were also named in the suit.Nexstar, however, characterized Heitshusen's firing as a reduction in its workforce.The lawsuit went to trial in Polk County last week, with the jury returning a verdict in favor of the defendants on Wednesday afternoon. Nexstar provided a statement after the verdict.“From the beginning of this lawsuit in 2021, we have maintained that Nexstar and WHO-TV acted in good faith in deciding not to renew Ms. Heitshusen’s contract," the statement reads. "Today a jury agreed. We make staffing decisions based on legitimate business reasons in compliance with applicable laws, and we will continue to do so.”When Heitshusen was let go from WHO-TV nearly four years ago, she lost more than a job, she said."I lost my profession because I was over 50 years old and made too much money," Heitshusen said in a statement following the verdict. "I was not the first and will not be the last woman to suffer this fate, but I am not giving up. I will continue to support my colleagues and other women who face the same age and gender discrimination. The fight is not over."Heitshusen thanked her attorneys, Tom Newkirk, Jackie Judickas and Larry Dempsey, for their work on the lawsuit."I also want to thank my family, friends, current and former co-workers who have supported me," she said in the statement. "I now have a deep appreciation for how all-consuming and all-encompassing this process is. It takes a toll, and I am so glad to have had your caring encouragement along the way."It's unclear if she will appeal the verdict.Heitshusen is currently the public information officer for the Iowa Auditor of State.