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
Gillette Realtor Accused Of Stealing Commissions Wants Victim’s Phone Records
A Gillette real estate agent charged with stealing commissions now wants one of her victims’ phone records. The prosecutor calls the move “extremely concerning” and an invasion of the victim’s privacy.
Clair McFarlandAugust 09, 2024
Texas Man Caught Taking Photos Up Shorts Of Young Girl At Jackson Carnival
A Texas man was caught taking photos with his phone angled up the shorts of a 7- or 8-year-old girl at the Teton County Carnival, allegedly. His case rose to felony-level court Wednesday and he's now out on bond.
Clair McFarlandAugust 09, 2024
Wyoming Is “Ground Zero” For AI News Reporting Fears After Cody Enterprise Scandal
A reporter for the Cody Enterprise used artificial intelligence to make up quotes for his news stories. Since a reporter at the Powell Tribune noticed and investigated, the unraveling scandal could make Wyoming “ground zero” for fears about AI news reporting.
Clair McFarlandAugust 08, 2024
Grand Teton Worker Accused Of Choking Girlfriend Admits He Gets “Black-Out Drunk”
A Grand Teton National Park seasonal worker is accused of choking out his girlfriend during a fight over a broken necklace. The man allegedly admitted to the assault and says he routinely gets “black-out drunk” and forgets things.
Clair McFarlandAugust 08, 2024
Landon Brown Says Opponent Playing “Cheney Card” Won't Hurt Reelection Chances
Landon Brown’s Republican primary opponent has resurrected a 2022 CNN interview in which he praised Liz Cheney and called Trump “unfit for office.” He said Exie Brown playing the “Cheney card” won’t hurt his reelection chances.
Clair McFarlandAugust 08, 2024
Sheriff: “Divine Intervention” At Work For Wright Deputy Who Survived Shootout
The Campbell County Sheriff says a Wright, Wyoming, man shot at a deputy just as the deputy exited his car Sunday. The sheriff said Wednesday that the deputy’s body cam video shows “divine intervention” at work. "It’s just crazy,” he said about the footage.
Clair McFarlandAugust 08, 2024
Wyoming Man Tells Police He Wanted Girlfriend To Watch Him Kill Their Toddler Son
A Ranchester, Wyoming, man told police he wanted to make his girlfriend watch as he killed their toddler son and then kill her, according to a court affidavit. He also said he “just snapped” while the couple argued.
Clair McFarlandAugust 07, 2024
Lightning Sets Gillette Apartment Complex On Fire, Forces Evacuation Of 21 Units
A bolt of lightning energized the plumbing and wiring of a Gillette apartment complex Tuesday night, sparking multiple fires within the walls. Twenty-one units were evacuated and the building is now uninhabitable.
Clair McFarlandAugust 07, 2024
Sheridan Woman's Credit Score Tanks When Texas Man Allegedly Steals Her Identity
A Sheridan woman learned her identity had been stolen, but not before her credit score tanked by 100 points. A Texas man was in Sheridan County court Monday to face allegations he used the woman’s information to rent an apartment, then didn’t pay rent.Â
Clair McFarlandAugust 07, 2024
Bob Nicholas Frustrated Over “Dishonest” Mailers Telling "Lies The Size Of Texas”
Cheyenne House member Bob Nicholas is voicing frustration over mailers opponent Kathy Russell is sending out. He says their claims that he wants trans surgeries for kids, LGBTQ books for young children and is friendly to China are "lies the size of Texas.”
Clair McFarlandAugust 07, 2024
Man Accused Of Smashing Up The Riverton Post Office To Show He’s A Gangster
A Wyoming man pleaded not guilty Friday to allegations he smashed up the Riverton Post Office to show he’s a gangster. Police allege he snorted a line of meth, then busted up the post office to scare off other gangsters.
Clair McFarlandAugust 06, 2024
Child Torturer Cries In Court As Judge Gives Him 9 Years In Prison
A Wyoming reservation man who brutally tortured his stepson cried in a federal courtroom Tuesday as a judge gave him 9 years in prison. The judge also blasted the Northern Arapaho DFS for failing his victim.
Clair McFarlandAugust 06, 2024
Up To 80 Years For Rawlins Man Who Tried To Gun Down Niece And Nephew
A 74-year-old Rawlins man who tried to gun down his adult niece and nephew will spend the next 40-80 years in prison. “I hope he rots in hell,” said the niece.
Clair McFarlandAugust 05, 2024
Campbell County Deputy Kills Suspect, Came “So Close To Dying” In Shootout
A Campbell County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a suspect Sunday night near Wright, Wyoming. The man fired a shotgun at the deputy first, the sheriff says, adding that the deputy came “so close to dying last night.”
Clair McFarlandAugust 05, 2024
Woman Drives Truck Into Gillette Motel Pool, Arrested For DUI
A woman drove a large Ram pickup into the outdoor pool of the National 9 motel in Gillette on Friday evening. Nobody was hurt, but video of the aftermath shows a wrecker pulling the truck out and the woman’s DUI arrest.
Clair McFarlandAugust 05, 2024
Minnesota's 'Draconian' Self-Defense Ruling Exposes Loophole In Wyoming Law
When the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday crafted a groundbreaking rule against the self-defense concept of standing one’s ground, it highlighted a potential loophole in Wyoming’s own laws, says a firearms law expert.
Clair McFarlandAugust 03, 2024
Targets Of Wyoming Freedom PAC Mailers Send Cease And Desist Demand
Two Fremont County legislators say they may sue the campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus if it doesn’t stop sending false mailers to voters.
Clair McFarlandAugust 02, 2024
Evanston Couple Suspects In Abuse Of 15-Day-Old Who Had Seizures, Brain Bleed
A couple living in Evanston, Wyoming, can’t be ruled out as potential abusers of their 15-day-old daughter. The baby suffered seizures and a brain bleed a doctor determined were not accidental in nature.
Clair McFarlandAugust 02, 2024
Wyoming Father Denied Daughter’s Counseling Records Scores Win With Supreme Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a father who sued after being denied his 7-year-old daughter’s counseling records. The counselor claims that would violate medical privacy, but state law says parents can waive that.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024
Chuck Gray Defends False Campaign Mailers Targeting Wyoming Candidates Â
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Wednesday defended false campaign mailers targeting some candidates. Among other misleading statements, they falsely claim legislators voted to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024
Wyoming Man Accused Of Beating Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Another
An Ethete, Wyoming, man accused of murdering a woman while out on bond for beating another has pleaded not guilty. A federal judge Monday ordered he remain in jail this time.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024