Clair McFarland
Clair McFarland is a general assignment reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Riverton, Wyoming. She specializes in crime and court reporting and social issues coverage. Clair also writes a twice-monthly column on motherhood and country living.
Previously, Clair wrote for The Ranger, the Lander Journal and the Wind River News. She is an award-winning journalist, columnist and poet, who joined Cowboy State Daily on Valentine's Day, 2022.
Latest from Clair McFarland
Intensive Search On For Missing Wyoming Pilot And Plane Near Rock Springs
Sweetwater County authorities are searching for a Wyoming pilot and plane that left an airport outside Rock Springs on Tuesday morning and never landed in California as planned. Weather and rough terrain forced the search to suspend in the evening.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 15, 2025
Authorities Say Woman Taped Man To Chair, Tortured Him For Three Days           Â
Campbell County Sheriff’s investigators say a woman in Wright, Wyoming, taped a man to a chair at her home and tortured him for three days. She bit his ears, and beat him with a hammer and a pistol, court documents allege. Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 15, 2025
Candidates Challenge "Sore Loser" Law That Keeps Primary Losers From Running Again
The Wyoming Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of the state’s “sore loser" law, which bars failed primary-election candidates from running as independents in general elections. Three candidates are challenging the law.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025
Wyoming Legislature To Consider Two Transgender Bathroom Bans
The Wyoming Legislature, which convened Tuesday, will consider two bans on biological males entering women's multi-stall bathrooms, and vice versa. One focuses on schools, while another stretches into prisons and other government facilities. Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025
Armed Man Steals Beef Jerky, Cash From Rawlins Convenience Store
An apparently hungry masked man brandishing a handgun stole beef jerky from a Rawlins Stinker convenience store on Monday. He also took cash from the register, then vanished.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025
Lander Man Claims He Was Delusional When He Killed Visitor With A Piece Of Rebar
A jury trial began Monday for a Lander, Wyoming, man accused of killing a visitor by bashing his head in with a piece of rebar. He claims he was delusional and reacting to a sexual advance when he attacked the other man.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025
Man Accused Of Disfiguring Girlfriend Claims Judge Illegally “Interrogated” Him
A Wyoming man accused of beating and disfiguring his girlfriend wants evidence against him in a separate case thrown out. He claims a lower-court judge illegally “interrogated” him, but in a Friday filing the prosecutor says he's wrong.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025
Wyoming Woman Charged With Impersonating Police Officer While Boarding Plane
A Shoshoni, Wyoming, woman is accused of impersonating a police officer while trying to get onto an airplane in Riverton. Wearing a security officer badge on her waist, she allegedly claimed she was transporting DNA evidence for the FBI.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025
Duck Hunter Pleads Guilty To Killing Friend, Could Get Probation
A Wyoming college student who unintentionally killed his friend while duck hunting pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Thursday. He also has a chance for probation and a sentence that keeps him from being a convicted felon.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025
Wyoming Supreme Court Considers Whether Cops Can Search Your Lawyer
The Wyoming Supreme Court is considering if or how law enforcement agents can search criminal defense attorneys, their offices and potentially their homes.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2025
In Brief: Barrasso Says Use Unspent COVID Money To Finish U.S.-Mexico Wall
Wyoming’s senior senator introduced a bill Thursday that would use unspent COVID-19 money to finish the southern border wall, if it passes. John Barrasso says it’s critical to protect U.S. citizens from “dangerous criminals and cartels.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 11, 2025
Huge Chinook Choppers Refuel In Riverton On Way To Fight California Fires
Two huge firefighting helicopters touched down Thursday in Riverton on their way to water-bomb the devastating wildfires burning in Southern California. The Chinook choppers can carry up to 26,000 pounds.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 10, 2025
Wyoming Dem Leader Slams Trump's Push For Greenland But Fetterman OK With It
While the head of Wyoming's Democratic Party is saying President-elect Trump's discussion of acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal is "absurd and dangerous," U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, also a Democrat, says the conversation is responsible and he's open to it.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 10, 2025
Wyoming Sheriffs Team Up With ICE To Fight Illegal Immigration
At least three Wyoming sheriffs say they are seeking contracts or agreements with the federal government to detain and question immigrants wanted by ICE for suspected immigration violations. Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 10, 2025
Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden's Transgender Education Rules
A federal judge Thursday struck down President Joe Biden’s mandate that schools give transgender students access to cross-sex bathrooms and other rules. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus hailed the decision as a “common sense ruling” against “the predations of the radical left.”Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2025
Gillette Teen Caught In Snapchat Sting Asking Kids For Nude Pics Gets 8-10 Years
A Gillette 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to trying to seduce multiple underage targets was sentenced last week to eight to 10 years in prison. He was originally caught by a pair of 15-year-olds who set up a fake Snapchat account. Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2025
Wyoming Sheep Shearer Won’t Get New Murder Trial Despite Taboo Evidence
A sheep shearer who stabbed her boyfriend to death in Lincoln County, Wyoming, won’t get a new trial despite prosecutors using taboo evidence against her. In a Wednesday ruling, the Wyoming Supreme Court said the murder case was strong enough without it.Â
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2025
Trump Says No More Wind Farms: “You Don’t Need Energy That Needs Subsidy”
Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday he wants to halt wind farming. Wyoming Sen. Cale Case generally agrees, saying the market — not federal subsidies — should decide.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2025
No-Show Contractor Could Get 100 Years In Prison For Scamming Lusk Residents
A Michigan contractor accused of scamming people in Lusk out of hundreds of thousands of dollars had his case elevated to felony-level court Monday. If convicted, he could get 100 years of prison time.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 08, 2025
Laramie County Sheriff At It Again: Puts Red Neon Vacancy Sign Over Jail
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak is always trying something unique. This time, Kozak has put up a red neon vacancy sign over the county jail to remind everyone they are “open for business.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 08, 2025
Wrong-Way Driver Who Killed Five In Fiery Wyoming Crash Dies In Prison
The wrong-way driver whose meth-fueled crash killed five young people in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 near Sinclair, Wyoming, in 2023 died in prison Tuesday. His case was unique, as the father of two of his victims forgave him and prayed for him relentlessly.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 08, 2025