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
Now Never-Trump Attorney Will Attempt To Keep Chuck Gray Off Wyoming Ballots
Retired Laramie attorney Tim Newcomb agreed to dismiss his lawsuit to get Trump off Wyomingâs future ballots, but says his next target to disqualify from state elections is Secretary of State Chuck Gray.
Clair McFarlandMarch 26, 2024
People Can Sue Police For 'Negligent' Investigation, Wyoming Supreme Court Says
In a split 3-2 decision Tuesday, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled people can sue police who perform ânegligentâ investigations, a controversial decision to which Justice Keith Kautz wrote a blistering dissent on his last day on the bench.
Clair McFarlandMarch 26, 2024
Wyoming Meth 'Mule' Says He Didn't Realize He Also Had Fentanyl
A Wyoming man fresh on parole admits to being a drug mule in federal charges leveled on him Thursday, but said he had no idea he was also carrying fentanyl.
Clair McFarlandMarch 26, 2024
Free Speech Lawyer Says Charging Wyoming Man For Angry Signs âReally Lameâ
A felony interfering-with-a-witness charge for a Wyoming man who displayed strongly worded signs in his yard is âa really lame case,â a longtime First Amendment attorney says.
Clair McFarlandMarch 25, 2024
Gordon Vetoes Legislature's Defunding Of DEI Programming At University Of Wyoming
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Saturday vetoed the legislature's defunding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at the University of Wyoming â but he still let the budget defund the DEI office. The latest veto prompted legislators to call for a special session.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2024
Clair McFarland: Women Are Not Three-Legged Dogs At A Race
Clair McFarland writes: "It's cringey when groups try to promote us to power purely on the basis of our sex. As if virtue and intelligence were strictly female traits, concentrated in our fickle uteruses like magic talismans."
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2024
Gordon Allows "Frivolous" And "Superfluous" Parental Rights Bills To Go Into Law Without Signature
Saying the bills undermine local control and don't add much to parental rights already enshrined in law, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon allowed two parental rights bills regarding education to go into law without his signature.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2024
Legislators Say University Of Wyoming 'Flipping The Bird' At People Of Wyoming
Rep. Jeanette Ward said the University of Wyoming is "flipping the bird" at the people of Wyoming by deciding to keep some diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the school despite the legislature pulling funding for them.
Clair McFarlandMarch 22, 2024
Jackson Judge Asks Wyoming Supreme Court If Abortion Is Health Care
Perhaps a sign a ruling may be coming soon in a two-year court battle over abortion in Wyoming, a Jackson judge is asking the Wyoming Supreme Court if abortion is health care.
Clair McFarlandMarch 22, 2024
Gordon Signs Wyoming Ban On Gender Changes For Kids, But Calls It Intrusive
Although he feels itâs intrusive into the âpersonal affairs of families,â Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday signed a bill that bans gender-change treatments for children.
Clair McFarlandMarch 22, 2024
Hageman's Bill To Ban Trans Women In Olympics Clears Committee
Despite emotional attacks from detractors, a bill carried by Harriet Hageman to ban transgender women from competing in Olympics and other amateur spots cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 22, 2024
Riverton Cuts Ties With Chamber Of Commerce Over Bungled Money
The Riverton City Council voted Tuesday to strip the Riverton Chamber of Commerce of its duty to distribute lodging tax money after the chamber reportedly overdrew its bank account by thousands of dollars.Â
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2024
Evanston Man Charged With Felony For Putting Signs In Yard That Scared Neighbor
An Evanston man put signs in his yard that his neighbor says left her feeling intimidated. He now faces a felony charge, on the claim he was trying to intimidate her after she reported him for having unattractive property.
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2024
Wyoming Attorney Withdraws Lawsuit To Keep Trump Off Ballot
A retired Laramie attorney who unsuccessfully tried to keep Donald Trump off future Wyoming election ballots has given up the push in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states canât disqualify federal office-holders.
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2024
Worried For Grizzlies, Judge Halts Year-Round Wolf Trapping In Idaho
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that conservation advocates proved Idaho's law letting people trap wolves year-round on private property could harm grizzly bears and blocked the practice.
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2024
Laramie Woman Charged With Stealing Thousands From Man With Dementia For Gambling
A Laramie woman is facing 10 years in prison for allegedly draining an elderly man's bank account and using the money to pay for gambling. She has been charged with one count of felony elderly abuse.
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2024
Wrong-Way Driver Accused Of Killing 5 On Wyoming Highway Sane Enough For Trial
Reportedly high on meth when he drove the wrong way on I-80 and triggered a fiery chain-reaction crash that killed five Bible college students last year, Arthur Nelson agreed Wednesday that heâs sane enough to stand trial.
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2024
BRIEF: Colorado Man Allegedly High On Pot Edibles Breaks Womanâs Legs In Head-On
A Colorado man had his court case elevated to felony court Monday on allegations he was high on cannabis edibles when he crashed head-on into a vehicle in Wyoming, breaking both femurs of a woman in the other car.
Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2024
RFK Team In Wyoming, Needs 3,500 More Signatures To Get Him On The Ballot
Independent third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.âs campaign is crossing Wyoming this week, gathering signatures to get him on the stateâs presidential ballot.
Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2024
Gillette Teens Bust Alleged Pedophile With Vigilante Snapchat
A 15-year-old teen who was allegedly stalked and sexted by an 18-year-old acquaintance set up a fake Snapchat account to catch the man in the act. Police say they've since found numerous potential young victims, and one bestiality video.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2024
Brutal Reservation Rape Charges Dropped, Feds Not Saying Why
Charges of rape against a Wyoming man stemming from an alleged brutal attack and assault on a woman for hours was suddenly dropped Friday. Federal prosecutors and agents are refusing to talk to the press.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2024