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Crime and Courts Reporter

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.  

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Latest from Clair McFarland

The death of a woman Saturday in a tanker explosion north of Wright, Wyoming, was accidental, according to the Campbell County coroner. The exact origin of the explosion of a tanker carrying hydrochloric acid is still under investigation.

Wyoming Tanker Truck Explosion That Killed Driver Ruled Accidental

The death of a woman Saturday in a tanker explosion north of Wright, Wyoming, was accidental, according to the Campbell County coroner. The exact origin of the explosion of a tanker carrying hydrochloric acid is still under investigation.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025

Protestors outside the Wyoming Supreme Court in Cheyenne on April 16, 2025, before the court heard oral arguments on a challenge to state abortion bans.

Future Of Abortion In Wyoming Now In Hands Of State Supreme Court

The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case that will determine the future of abortion in Wyoming. A pro-choice coalition argued women have a right to the procedure, while the state's attorney argued the Legislature can ban it.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025

A former Riverton firefighter, Charlie Joseph Lawrence, received a prison sentence of 7-12 years Tuesday. Multiple women came forward during a monthslong investigation saying he offered them rides, then groped them.

Former Firefighter Gets 7-12 Years For Groping Women While Giving Them Rides

A former Riverton firefighter received a prison sentence of 7-12 years Tuesday. Multiple women came forward during a monthslong investigation saying he offered them rides, then groped them.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025

Teton county sheriff 4 15 25

Jackson Man Could Be Deported For The Eighth Time If Convicted

Federal deportation authorities Monday arrested a Mexican national in Teton County, Wyoming, who has been removed from the United States seven times in the past 20 years, court documents say.

Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025

Micah Wyatt is Fremont County's new top prosecutor in one of Wyoming’s most crime-riddled counties. 

New Top Prosecutor Named For One Of Wyoming’s Highest-Crime Counties

Fremont County has a new top prosecutor for one of the Wyoming’s most crime-riddled counties. Asked how they’d reduce crime, one of three finalists for the job said that “none of us were given a magic wand upon graduation from law school.”

Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025

Nearly all members of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday. Department leaders say the Albany County Fire District Board acted without transparency, while critics of the department say its members have been causing problems.

Nearly All Vedauwoo Volunteer Firefighters Resign, Upset With Board Actions

Nearly all members of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday. Department leaders say the Albany County Fire District Board acted without transparency, while critics of the department say its members have been causing problems.

Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025

Terri Lesley

Judge Says Ousted Gillette’s Librarian's Discrimination Lawsuit Can Go Forward

A fired Campbell County library director's lawsuit against the family that accused her of peddling pornography can go to forward, a federal judge ruled Friday. The judge said the civil suit can continue because the law protects LGBTQ advocates.

Clair McFarlandApril 14, 2025

Interstate 80 is one of the busiest — and most dangerous — east-west routes across Wyoming and the nation.

Hageman Wants To Ditch Policy That Keeps Non-English-Speaking Truckers On The Road

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman wants the Dept of Transportation to reconsider a policy that allows non-English-speaking truckers on the road. The policy is a “major safety issue for all drivers," she said.

Clair McFarlandApril 12, 2025

Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.

Two Men Accused Of Drunken Rampage That Left Kinnear Post Office ‘Trashed’

Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.

Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 11, 2025

Sheriff John Grossnickle signs an MOU with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to build a task force of up to five deputies who can enforce immigration laws.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Building Local ICE Task Force

Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It will let the sheriff build an ICE task force with up to five of his own deputies. 

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

A pro-choice coalition’s court challenge to Wyoming’s newest abortion restrictions has been reassigned to a retired judge. That means he’s not up for retention every six years and can’t be ousted by voters.

Abortion Case Reassigned To Retired Judge Voters Can’t Oust

A pro-choice coalition’s court challenge to Wyoming’s newest abortion restrictions has been reassigned to a retired judge. That means he’s not up for retention every six years and can’t be ousted by voters.

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

A Union Pacific locomotive pulls a string of empty cars through Wyoming's coal country.

Wyoming Man Who Says AI Driver Wrecked Train Settles With Union Pacific

A Pinedale, Wyoming, man secured a settlement against Union Pacific Railroad on Wednesday. He’d accused the railroad of making him work on a locomotive driven by an artificial intelligence system that caused a crash.

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

Other Authors

The coffee shop where Scott Schroefel of Casper is accused of running an illegal gambling operation.

Wyoming Gambling Law Showdown Averted After Deal Struck Over Illegal Operation

Scott Schroefel, 54, pleaded guilty to illegal gambling Wednesday in Natrona County District Court in Casper. Before the plea, Schroefel’s attorney challenged Wyoming’s gambling laws as unconstitutional. 

Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025

The North Platte River near Torrington.

Duck Hunter Gets 3 Years Probation For Unintentional Shooting Death Of Friend

A 21-year-old Pinedale man says he feels “incredible sadness” every day for the unintentional shooting death of his friend while duck hunting last year. He was given three years of probation Wednesday.

Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025

Laramie Police Department 4 7 6 23

Neighbors Tried To Get Laramie Man To Stop Slamming Another’s Head Into Asphalt

A 28-year-old man faces an aggravated assault charge after witnesses saw him slamming another man’s head onto the street last month in Laramie. His case rose to felony-level court Friday.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. Here she and her parents Dan and Cathy Holman, center, meet with legislators before Gillian testified Tuesday, April 8, 2025, before the Legislature's Management Council at the Capitol in Cheyenne.

Lawmakers Consider Stronger Laws After Wyoming 16-Year-Old Stalked, Bullied

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. A 41-year-old woman was sentenced last month for impersonating and bullying the girl and another teen.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly concerned, left, before a Tuesday two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which he was visibly relieved, right. UW confirmed after the meeting that Seidel remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership. 

UW President Ed Seidel Still Has A Job Day After Faculty ‘No-Confidence’ Vote

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly relieved Tuesday following a two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which UW said he remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership. 

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Evan Whitt Bradley

National Guard Cooperating With Investigation Into Sergeant’s Underage Sex Case

The Wyoming National Guard is cooperating with the investigation of a guardsman and former high school teacher charged with nearly 20 sex crimes, including against someone younger than 16. He has an April 16 arraignment in Platte County District Court.

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

Justice Earl Geho

Felony Charges For Cheyenne Man After Pokémon Deal Goes Wrong

A 22-year-old Cheyenne man has been charged with felony theft in connection with a Pokémon card deal that went wrong. Court documents say Justice Geho drove off Thursday with a rare $3,300 Umbreon card a seller let him hold.  

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

The possibility of the death penalty is off the table for both Big Piney teens accused of ambushing and murdering their friend with a bow and arrow. Rowan Littauer, pictured, pleaded not guilty Monday, as did his alleged accomplice Orion Schlesinger on March 20.

No Death Penalty For Either Big Piney Teen Charged In Bow And Arrow Ambush

Sublette County's top prosecutor on Monday withdrew the possibility of the death penalty for Rowan LIttauer, just as he had in March for Orion Schlesinger. The teens are accused of ambushing and killing their friend with a bow and arrow in February.  

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Think You Can Survive A Charging Grizzly? Take On Wyoming’s ‘Robobear’

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Mark Heinz & Clair McFarlandApril 05, 2025

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