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
Venezuelan Illegal Immigrant Caught, Charged In Sheridan ATM Hacking
A Venezuelan illegal immigrant accused of a hacking heist on a Sheridan ATM was on the run for three months before being caught, then elevated to felony-level court Wednesday. He’s one of three Venezuelans involved, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
UW President Faces Backlash Over Effort To Fund Partner's School, Dean’s Ousting
UW President Ed Seidel is facing backlash after the demotion of a popular dean of engineering. Detractors say the president backed a failed effort to send engineering money to a UW school his partner runs, and the demotion of the dean who stood in the way.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
Wyoming Pro Rodeo Cowboy Dies In Bull Riding Event In Texas
A pro rodeo bull rider from Pavillion, Wyoming, died Thursday night when a bull stepped on him during an event in Texas. Friends and family of Dylan Grant say they’re shocked and saddened by the news.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
Wyoming Vets Say Riverton Grenades For Training — Still Nothing To Play Around With
Wyoming veterans who spoke to Cowboy State Daily say the grenades a teen found in Riverton Wednesday look like they're for training. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous, and it's good that his family called police.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
Mexico Deports Fugitive Wyoming Drug Dealer And Gun Thief
A Wyoming drug dealer and gun thief who broke conditions of his supervised release by fleeing to Mexico has been caught. Mexican authorities announced last week they were deporting him, and he’s now in U.S. federal custody.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
Teen Finds Four Live Hand Grenades Near River In Riverton
When 15-year-old Roxton Lookingbill didn’t catch any fish Wednesday evening on the Wind River, he started walking back toward his grandmother’s house — then something caught his eye. It was a metal box, and inside were four live hand grenades.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
GOP Scrambles To Find Top Prosecutor For One Of Wyoming's Roughest Counties
Fremont County GOP leaders are scrambling to nominate three candidates to replace longtime County Attorney Patrick LeBrun in one of Wyoming's roughest counties. So far, two have applied to replace LeBrun, who left Monday.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Rawlins Inmate Accused Of Attacking Guards Over Forbidden Gingerbread Supplies
A 25-year-old Gillette man who is already in prison for assaulting jail officers is now accused of attacking prison guards when they wouldn’t let him keep gingerbread-making supplies in his cell.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Worland Man Accused Of Shooting His Dog Six Times Pleads Not Guilty
Donald Wright of Worland, accused of shooting his dog six times, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges Wednesday. The dog, Axel, still has four bullets in his body and a plate in his jaw, but is taking well to his training.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Torrington Woman Accused Of Stealing $60K From Little League
A woman Torrington police say stole about $62,000 from the local Little League Association faces one count of felony theft and up to 10 years in prison. Her case will be heard in felony-level court, where she's scheduled for an April 23 arraignment.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2025
Prosecutor Challenges Release Of Twice-Deported Man With 18,000 Rounds Of Ammo
A federal prosecutor last week challenged the release of a twice-deported Mexican immigrant accused of carrying 18,000 rounds of ammunition through Wyoming. The bust indicates cartel activity, the prosecutor argued.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2025
Supreme Court Rules Against Jackson Group Challenging Glamping Septic System
That a Jackson Hole environmental group has spent $500,000 on projects in the area doesn’t give it standing to sue a local glamping business, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Monday. The group had sued over the glamour camping outfit’s septic system.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2025
Laramie County Sheriff Calls In 'Trump' To 'Make VIN Inspections Great Again'
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office called in Donald Trump to educate locals on VIN inspections. Or at least a deputy impersonating the president, who says even "Greenies" from Colorado need to get their vehicles checked when they change hands.
Clair McFarlandMarch 31, 2025
Brother Of Yellowstone Shooter Wants His Guns Sold, Money Go To Ranger He Shot
The brother of Lucas Fussner, who was killed in a shootout with rangers at Yellowstone last summer, says the government shouldn't be able to keep his car and other items. He wants his brother's guns sold and the money given to the ranger he shot. Â
Clair McFarlandMarch 31, 2025
'Coordinated' Hacking Hits Big Horn County ATMs For More Than $50,000
Two men suspected of a "coordinated" hacking scheme, stealing more than $50,000 from at least three ATMs in Big Horn County in mid-March, await extradition from a Denver jail. The pair each face up to 70 years in prison if convicted.
Clair McFarlandMarch 31, 2025
Irish Woman Sues Dubois Dude Ranch Over Ankle Crushed By Bear-Sprayed Horse
An Irish woman is suing a Wyoming dude ranch for a vacation gone wrong that left her with a crushed ankle. Her lawsuit, filed last week, claims the injury happened when a guide mistakenly bear-sprayed her horse. Â
Clair McFarlandMarch 31, 2025
Reservation Man Accused Of Rape Found Not Guilty In Rare Federal Acquittal
A federal trial jury Wednesday found a 23-year-old Wind River Indian Reservation man not guilty of multiple sexual abuse charges. His accuser had claimed he raped her while she was drunk. Federal trial acquittals are extremely rare.
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2025
Wyoming Man Accused Of Machete, Hammer Attacks Nabbed In Colorado
A 25-year-old Goshen County, Wyoming man was on the run from the law, accused of swinging a machete at his sister. He was caught Wednesday in Colorado — and his sister says he wasn’t really trying to hurt her.Â
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2025
Wyoming Cell Tower Worker Hit While Air Force Members Shoot At Targets
A man working on a Verizon cell tower was shot in the thigh Thursday while three U.S. Air Force members were shooting targets on federal land outside Guernsey, Wyoming. The worker was life-flighted, then treated and released from a Cheyenne hospital.
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2025
Trump Bans Northern Arapaho Tribe's Law Firm From Federal Contracts
The White House this week ordered federal agencies to stop working with a law firm that has earned $500,000 lobbying for the Northern Arapaho Tribe. An attorney at the firm worked on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in 2016.
Clair McFarlandMarch 27, 2025
Douglas Woman Accused Of Threats To Blow Up Man’s Business And Poison His Dog
Douglas police claim a local woman threatened to poison a man's dog and bomb his family business to get him to "comply with her demands." Khyrstyn Jackson now faces up multiple felonies, including blackmail. Â
Clair McFarlandMarch 27, 2025