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
Judy Shepard, Mother Of Matthew Shepard, Awarded Presidential Medal Of Freedom
Judy Shepard, mother of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard who was tortured and killed in 1998, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday for her LGBTQ advocacy.
Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2024
Judge Says Itâs âTroublingâ State Can Ignore Teton County Regs To OK Glamping
A judge called it âtroublingâ Monday that the state of Wyoming can go around Teton Countyâs land use regulations to temporarily install a glamour camping complex on some of the most expensive land in the nation.
Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2024
Cheyenne Parents Want To Know Why Sexual Identity Survey Kept From Them
A sexual identity survey reportedly made available to Cheyenne high school students, but not made available to parents, prompted an animated turnout of parents, substitute teachers and others at a Laramie County School District 1 board meeting Monday night.
Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2024
BRIEF: Man Accused Of Threatening To Bomb Black Hills Energy Could Get Three Years
A frustrated Black Hills Energy customer in Cheyenne could get three years for telling the company over the phone that âIâm going to blow the building up.â
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2024
Gillette Man Faces Felony For Trying To Bust Open Bank ATM With Hammer, Prybar
A Gillette man has been elevated to felony-level court for allegedly trying to bust open an ATM at a Douglas bank with a hammer and prybar.
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2024
Top-10 Wanted Colorado Sex Offender Hid Out In Cheyenne For Four Years
A Colorado child molester who disappeared and rose to No. 8 on that stateâs most wanted sex offenders hid out in Cheyenne for four years, and struck a plea agreement with authorities Friday.
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2024
Clair McFarland: Shinnying Through Ugliness With A Hacksaw
Clair McFarland writes: "One dead elm branch swoops out, down and back through the other live branches â like a high wave from the river Styx. It has to go, and Iâve got to chop it off."
Clair McFarlandMay 05, 2024
Reporter's Notebook: One Year After The Shootout In Thermopolis
In this installment of Reporter's Notebook, Clair McFarland discusses her visit back to the town of Thermopolis one year after a police sergeant illegally broke into a suspectâs home, got shot through the lung and fired back, killing the suspect.
Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2024
Chemical Hazard At Sundance Courthouse Is Third Wyoming Threat This Week
The FBI is investigating a chemical threat that happened at the Crook County Courthouse in Sundance Friday evening. The threat was the third of its kind this week in Wyoming. Courthouses in Gillette and Casper were evacuated earlier in the week.
Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2024
Porn Actress Who Put Out Hit On Wyoming Ex Tries To End His Parental Rights
A porn actress serving 10 years in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill her ex-boyfriend wants to terminate the ex's parental rights over their daughter. The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday denied her request.
Clair McFarlandMay 03, 2024
Wyoming Man Says He Tried To Gun Down Relatives Because He Was âPretty Madâ
Melvin Bagley of Rawlins pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of attempted murder for gunning down his nephew and nephewâs wife last September near Bairoil because he was âpretty mad.â
Clair McFarlandMay 03, 2024
Fremont Library Board Says It Sorted Out Internet Filters, Book Challenges By Deadline
The Fremont County Library board on Wednesday said itâs addressed the age-appropriateness of its books and the county government's demand that it block porn from youth computers.
Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2024
No New Trial For Man Who Shattered Legs Of Two Wyoming Hunters With One Bullet Â
A man who unleashed a meth-fueled violent crime rampage on homeowners and hunters in Douglas â including shattering the legs of two men with a single bullet â was denied a new trial by the Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday.
Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2024
Wyoming Pawn Shops Bust Alleged $30,000 Illegal Gun Sale Scheme
Two Rock Springs pawn shops exposed a local manâs alleged scheme to circumvent gun registration law and fill $30,000 in gun orders made with fraudulent credit cards.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Committee For Wyoming Tribes Says They Should Get Online Sales Tax
A tax committee serving both American Indian tribes in Wyoming asked state lawmakers on Wednesday to keep allowing online stores to tax natives, while sending those taxes to the tribal governments.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Laramie Child Molester Who Disemboweled Himself Gets 6-8 Years In Prison
An 80-year-old Laramie man who partially disemboweled himself when police came to interview him about molesting an 8-year-old girl was sentenced Wednesday to between six and eight years in prison.Â
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Former AG Says County Canât Replace Library Board Chief With A Commissioner
With a Wednesday deadline to align the Fremont County Library system with community standards or have the county commission replace the board char with a commissioner, a former Wyoming attorney general says that canât happen.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Wyoming May Join Landslide Of States Suing Bidenâs New Gender Rules For Schools
Gov Gordon on Tuesday said he is âreviewingâ whether to join 15 other states in suing the Biden administration over changes to Title IX which would prevent schools from banning biological males from competing in women's sports, among other things.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Jackson Man Who Beat Up Buddy Who Wouldn't Sleep With Him To Plead Guilty
A Jackson man accused of beating up a drinking buddy for shutting down his sexual advances has agreed to plead guilty to felony assault.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Potential Hazmat Threat Empties Campbell County Courthouse Â
The Campbell County Courthouse in Gillette was evacuated late Tuesday morning on the report of a possible hazmat threat.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Wyoming Boys' School Denies It Beats, Humiliates And Confines Teens
In response to a February lawsuit accusing Wyoming Boys' School of beating, confining and humiliating teens, the home for juvenile delinquents denied any wrongdoing Monday and wants the suit dismissed.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024