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
ACLU Accuses Gordon Of 'Grandstanding'Â On NCAA Policies For Transgender Athletes
The ACLU of Wyoming says Gordon is "grandstanding" by signing a letter Monday urging the NCAA to make its transgender policy fairer to females because it goes against his position that Wyoming's ban on trans female grade-school athletes is "draconian."
Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2023
Gillette Police Investigate After Human Skull Found In Storage Unit
While going through the contents of a Gillette storage unit sold at auction, a human skull was found, believed to be from a white male age 30-50. Local police are investigating.
Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2023
Gillette Man Accused Of Trying To Kidnap Woman Not Too Mentally Ill For Trial
A Gillette man accused of trying to kidnap a woman from a Walmart store and take her to his home has withdrawn his plea of not guilty by reason of mental illness and will face a jury trial.
Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2023
Men Claim Wyoming Ranch Was A Nightmare Of Forced Teen Labor, Trafficking
Two men who spent time at the Triangle Cross Ranch in Powell, Wyoming, claim in a federal lawsuit they were trafficked to the ranch, where they were abused and used as forced labor.
Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2023
Laramie County Sheriff Releases Bodycam Video Of Deadly 2022 Shootout
Saying the public should be able to see bodycam videos of officer-involved shootings, Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak released a narrated account of a deputy's deadly shootout with a defiant suspect last Halloween.
Clair McFarlandOctober 27, 2023
UW Settles With Evangelist Who Called Out Trans Sorority Member
The University of Wyoming has settled with the Laramie evangelist who sued it for censoring his speech about a transgender sorority member and will pay $35,000 for his legal fees. UW will be blocked permanently from censoring or banning Schmidt over his views on Langfordâs sexual identity. Â
Clair McFarlandOctober 27, 2023
Cheyenne Man Accused Of Trying To Arrange Sex With 7-Year-Old Boy
A Cheyenne, Wyoming man didnât know he was chatting with an undercover FBI agent when he reportedly sent images of child pornography, tried to arrange a sexual liaison with a 7-year-old boy and said heâd previously done sexual acts with children.
Clair McFarlandOctober 27, 2023
Wyoming Supreme Court Says Inmates Canât Sue Over Getting Wrong COVID Vaccine
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against three prison inmates who sued over being given a brand of COVID-19 vaccine they didnât consent to get.
Clair McFarlandOctober 27, 2023
Someone Shot Cheyenne Familyâs Cat 19 Times, Left It To Die
Janice Lee of Cheyenne hopes the community exposes whoever âtorturedâ her cat, shooting it 19 times with a pellet gun and leaving it to cry and bleed, so that person can get mental help.
Clair McFarlandOctober 27, 2023
Degenfelder Says Oregon Removing Education Standards A âRoad To Failureâ
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder says Oregon is going down a âroad to failureâ by not requiring students demonstrate mastery of reading, writing and math to graduate from high school.
Clair McFarlandOctober 26, 2023
Wyoming Schools Could Get $68 Million Boost To Deal With Inflation
Wyoming's Joint Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a $68 million annual payout for elementary and secondary schools to adjust for inflation. If approved, this would add to the $1.6 billion the schools receive yearly.
Clair McFarlandOctober 26, 2023
Riley Gaines Speaks To 600 At UW, Calls Kappa Sorority Members 'Inspiring'
Womenâs rights activist Riley Gaines said the six sorority members suing over a transgender member's induction are âinspiringâ while talking to 600 people at a University of Wyoming stop on her âSpeak Louderâ tour Tuesday night in Laramie.
Clair McFarlandOctober 25, 2023
Wyoming Supreme Court Says Former Lawyers Didnât Cheat Tribe Out Of $5.5 Million
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a judge and jury were correct in their rulings that the Northern Arapaho Tribeâs former lawyers did not misappropriate $5.5 million in tribal money.
Clair McFarlandOctober 24, 2023
Riverton Woman Among First Charged With Felony Shoplifting Under New Law
A 48-year-old Riverton, Wyoming, woman with nine prior theft convictions is among the first to be charged under a new state law that allows felony prosecution for repeat shoplifters and thieves.
Clair McFarlandOctober 24, 2023
UW Kappa Members Want To Appeal Dismissal, Not File New Case
The Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority says six women suing it over the induction of a transgender member should try their case again in the court that dismissed it, but the women say that judge has made up his mind and it's time for an appeal.
Clair McFarlandOctober 24, 2023
Vet Says Riverton Woman Ran 'Amphitheater Of Suffering' For Starving Animals
A Riverton woman was sentenced to probation Monday on eight counts of animal cruelty, but she maintained she didnât starve two dozen farm animals to death in what a vet called an "amphitheater of suffering." Â
Clair McFarlandOctober 24, 2023
Bairoil Couple Survived Wild Gun Attack Because God Was âWatching Our Backsâ
A Bairoil couple recalls the harrowing barrage of bullets their uncle reportedly unleashed on them during an unhinged rant over money. Although they were hit multiple times, they survived because God was "watching our backs."
Clair McFarlandOctober 23, 2023
Casper-Area Man Accused Of Pulling Pistol To Enforce Neighborhood Speed Limit
A 62-year-old Casper-area man is accused of threatening neighbors and others with a pistol on multiple occasions, including brandishing it to enforce a 20 mph speed limit.
Clair McFarlandOctober 23, 2023
Wyoming's First Female Attorney General Takes Gold In World Senior Games Â
Gay Woodhouse, Wyoming's first female attorney general, won a 5.5-mile biking race last week at the 36th annual Huntsman World Senior Games, the largest annual multi-sport event in the world for athletes ages 50 and older.
Clair McFarlandOctober 22, 2023
Four Wyoming Doctors Tell Court Abortion Is Not Health Care
Arguing that abortion is not health care, four Wyoming doctors are asking Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens to let them file a brief in an ongoing lawsuit on Wyomingâs abortion bans.Â
Clair McFarlandOctober 21, 2023
DCI: Thermopolis Cop Cleared Of Other Complaints Prior To Killing Suspect
The Thermopolis police sergeant who broke into a manâs home, triggered a shootout and killed the man had been cleared of other professional complaints one week prior, an investigative report says.
Clair McFarlandOctober 20, 2023