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
Rock Springs Man Gets 8-12 Years In Prison For Toddlerâs Drug Death
A Rock Springs Man will face 8-12 years in prison for keeping illegal drugs in his home where his toddler son could access them. The 2-year-old died.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2023
Deep Red Politically, Wyoming Is Ranked 'Moderate' For LGBTQ+ Policies, Analysis Says
With 70% of voters backing former President Trump in 2020, Wyoming is one of the most conservative states in the nation, but its policies regarding the LBGTQ+ community show Wyoming as much more moderate, says an analysis of all 50 states.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2023
Judge Who Banned Feds From Censoring Social Media Lists Evidence: Here's What's In It
A federal judgeâs order showed the Wyoming Dept of Health fell victim to the federal governmentâs collusion with social media giants during Covid when the Wyoming agency was unable to share its âvalid public health messages." The CDC then asked Facebook to fix the issue.  Â
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2023
Loaded Diaper Leads To Domestic Abuse Arrest For Cheyenne Man
A Cheyenne man was arrested Wednesday, accused of punching his childrenâs mother in the eye when she yelled at him for failing to change their babyâs diaper.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2023
Biden Says Not Allowing Government Censorship Will Cause âIrreparable Harmâ
Not being allowed to pressure social media platforms to censor people causes the federal government âirreparable harmâ and goes against the public interest, President Joe Bidenâs administration argued Friday. Â
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2023
17-Year-Old Lander Boy Charged As Adult For 100 MPH Chase Through Town On July 4
Lander police say Evan Smith, 17, was high on methamphetamine when he allegedly sped through the town at 100 mph, tried to ram a patrol vehicle and crashed into two more cars during the townâs Fourth of July celebration. Â
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2023
CDC Says Itâs OK For Trans Women To âChestfeedâ Babies, Wyo Dept of Health Wonât Comment
While the Wyoming Department of Health wonât comment on the CDCâs position that itâs safe for transgender women to âchestfeedâ babies, Rep. Dan Zwonitzer is âhopeful and optimisticâ the discussion doesnât come here anytime soon.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Wyoming Man Who Killed Man And Had Naked Brawl With Cop To Stay In Prison
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the felony convictions of a Cheyenne man who killed a 61-year-old man, shot a woman in the hip and attacked police after his arrest while wearing nothing but a blanket and handcuffs.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Hageman Thinks Biden Appeal On Social Media Order Likely To Fail
Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman says people should expect President Bidenâs appeal of a federal judgeâs ruling to ban the federal government and agencies from suppressing free speech on social media to fail.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Casper Man Hurt In Explosion While Making Homemade Fireworks
The Casper Police Department says a local man suffered severe burns and nonlife-threatening injuries from an explosion âin an attempt to produce homemade fireworks.â
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Wyoming Sorority Members Say They Wonât Back Off Transgender Lawsuit
Six University of Wyoming sorority members suing their sorority for allegedly bending its own rules to admit a transgender member say they won't back down in response to the sorority calling their lawsuit âfrivolous,â and the transgender member saying it's âvicious.â
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
UW First Amendment Expert Says Message Behind Judge Order On Social Media Is Biden Administration Can't Be Trusted
George Mocsary, a First Amendment expert and University of Wyoming law professor, said by issuing such a broad order, "The court is effectively saying that the executive branch canât be trusted, based on its past actions, to make any âsuggestionsâ to social media platforms."
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Casper Children Who Watched Dogs Die In Trapperâs Snares Can't Sue For Emotional Damages
A Casper family, including two children, sued a Wyoming trapper after the family's three dogs died in snares despite the children trying frantically to free them, but the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Wednesday can't claim emotional distress.Â
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Wright Man Beats Neighbor Boy, 11, And Father With Baseball Bat After Fireworks Dispute, Undersheriff Says
A 64-year-old Wright man allegedly took an aluminum baseball bat to a 37-year-old father and his 11-year-old son Tuesday after a dispute about fireworks hitting a home in their shared neighborhood.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Woman Found Dead In Car In Yellowstone Died By Suicide
Federal authorities confirmed Wednesday that Catheryn Griffin, 38, died by suicide from a single gunshot wound while traveling through Yellowstone, which the woman's family had announced in May.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Drugged-Up Teen Holds Woman Hostage, Leads Police On 100 MPH Chase Through Lander
A 17-year-old from Lander held a young woman hostage in a car while speeding 100 mph at times through the town during its Fourth of July celebration, police say.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Two Young Boys Find Body Under Lander Bridge
Two young boys found a deceased body Saturday under a bridge in Lander, according to police.
Clair McFarlandJuly 04, 2023
Abortion Advocates Say Wyoming Canât Defend Its Ban Because Of Rape, Incest Exemptions
Six abortion advocates claim Wyoming canât defend its two abortion bans in court because their rape and incest exemptions betray a lack of value toward âall potential life.âÂ
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Police Find, Return Special Needs Child Who Wandered Into Cheyenne In The Night
A father was reunited with his special-needs son Monday morning after the boy, who is nonverbal, wandered away from their Cheyenne home overnight.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Teen Shoots Himself 'Clean Through' His Hand In Gillette on Sunday
A 17-year-old Gillette boy thought a 9 mm handgun was unloaded when he accidentally shot a hole âclean throughâ his hand Sunday evening.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Wyoming Supreme Court Upholds Conviction For Drugs Found During Minor Traffic Stop
The Wyoming Supreme Court upheld a manâs felony methamphetamine conviction, but hinted that the Legislature should take a closer look at the minor traffic law police used to arrest the man in the first place.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023