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Crime and Courts Reporter

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.  

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Latest from Clair McFarland

Nearly all members of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday. Department leaders say the Albany County Fire District Board acted without transparency, while critics of the department say its members have been causing problems.

Nearly All Vedauwoo Volunteer Firefighters Resign, Upset With Board Actions

Nearly all members of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday. Department leaders say the Albany County Fire District Board acted without transparency, while critics of the department say its members have been causing problems.

Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025

Terri Lesley

Judge Says Ousted Gillette’s Librarian's Discrimination Lawsuit Can Go Forward

A fired Campbell County library director's lawsuit against the family that accused her of peddling pornography can go to forward, a federal judge ruled Friday. The judge said the civil suit can continue because the law protects LGBTQ advocates.

Clair McFarlandApril 14, 2025

Interstate 80 is one of the busiest — and most dangerous — east-west routes across Wyoming and the nation.

Hageman Wants To Ditch Policy That Keeps Non-English-Speaking Truckers On The Road

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman wants the Dept of Transportation to reconsider a policy that allows non-English-speaking truckers on the road. The policy is a “major safety issue for all drivers," she said.

Clair McFarlandApril 12, 2025

Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.

Two Men Accused Of Drunken Rampage That Left Kinnear Post Office ‘Trashed’

Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.

Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 11, 2025

Sheriff John Grossnickle signs an MOU with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to build a task force of up to five deputies who can enforce immigration laws.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Building Local ICE Task Force

Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It will let the sheriff build an ICE task force with up to five of his own deputies. 

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

A pro-choice coalition’s court challenge to Wyoming’s newest abortion restrictions has been reassigned to a retired judge. That means he’s not up for retention every six years and can’t be ousted by voters.

Abortion Case Reassigned To Retired Judge Voters Can’t Oust

A pro-choice coalition’s court challenge to Wyoming’s newest abortion restrictions has been reassigned to a retired judge. That means he’s not up for retention every six years and can’t be ousted by voters.

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

A Union Pacific locomotive pulls a string of empty cars through Wyoming's coal country.

Wyoming Man Who Says AI Driver Wrecked Train Settles With Union Pacific

A Pinedale, Wyoming, man secured a settlement against Union Pacific Railroad on Wednesday. He’d accused the railroad of making him work on a locomotive driven by an artificial intelligence system that caused a crash.

Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025

The coffee shop where Scott Schroefel of Casper is accused of running an illegal gambling operation.

Wyoming Gambling Law Showdown Averted After Deal Struck Over Illegal Operation

Scott Schroefel, 54, pleaded guilty to illegal gambling Wednesday in Natrona County District Court in Casper. Before the plea, Schroefel’s attorney challenged Wyoming’s gambling laws as unconstitutional. 

Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025

The North Platte River near Torrington.

Duck Hunter Gets 3 Years Probation For Unintentional Shooting Death Of Friend

A 21-year-old Pinedale man says he feels “incredible sadness” every day for the unintentional shooting death of his friend while duck hunting last year. He was given three years of probation Wednesday.

Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025

Laramie Police Department 4 7 6 23

Neighbors Tried To Get Laramie Man To Stop Slamming Another’s Head Into Asphalt

A 28-year-old man faces an aggravated assault charge after witnesses saw him slamming another man’s head onto the street last month in Laramie. His case rose to felony-level court Friday.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. Here she and her parents Dan and Cathy Holman, center, meet with legislators before Gillian testified Tuesday, April 8, 2025, before the Legislature's Management Council at the Capitol in Cheyenne.

Lawmakers Consider Stronger Laws After Wyoming 16-Year-Old Stalked, Bullied

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. A 41-year-old woman was sentenced last month for impersonating and bullying the girl and another teen.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly concerned, left, before a Tuesday two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which he was visibly relieved, right. UW confirmed after the meeting that Seidel remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership. 

UW President Ed Seidel Still Has A Job Day After Faculty ‘No-Confidence’ Vote

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly relieved Tuesday following a two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which UW said he remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership. 

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Other Authors

Evan Whitt Bradley

National Guard Cooperating With Investigation Into Sergeant’s Underage Sex Case

The Wyoming National Guard is cooperating with the investigation of a guardsman and former high school teacher charged with nearly 20 sex crimes, including against someone younger than 16. He has an April 16 arraignment in Platte County District Court.

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

Justice Earl Geho

Felony Charges For Cheyenne Man After Pokémon Deal Goes Wrong

A 22-year-old Cheyenne man has been charged with felony theft in connection with a Pokémon card deal that went wrong. Court documents say Justice Geho drove off Thursday with a rare $3,300 Umbreon card a seller let him hold.  

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

The possibility of the death penalty is off the table for both Big Piney teens accused of ambushing and murdering their friend with a bow and arrow. Rowan Littauer, pictured, pleaded not guilty Monday, as did his alleged accomplice Orion Schlesinger on March 20.

No Death Penalty For Either Big Piney Teen Charged In Bow And Arrow Ambush

Sublette County's top prosecutor on Monday withdrew the possibility of the death penalty for Rowan LIttauer, just as he had in March for Orion Schlesinger. The teens are accused of ambushing and killing their friend with a bow and arrow in February.  

Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Think You Can Survive A Charging Grizzly? Take On Wyoming’s ‘Robobear’

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Mark Heinz & Clair McFarlandApril 05, 2025

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Venezuelan Illegal Immigrant Caught, Charged In Sheridan ATM Hacking

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant accused of a hacking heist on a Sheridan ATM was on the run for three months before being caught, then elevated to felony-level court Wednesday. He’s one of three Venezuelans involved, court documents say.

Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel, left, and former UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dean Cameron Wright.

UW President Faces Backlash Over Effort To Fund Partner's School, Dean’s Ousting

UW President Ed Seidel is facing backlash after the demotion of a popular dean of engineering. Detractors say the president backed a failed effort to send engineering money to a UW school his partner runs, and the demotion of the dean who stood in the way.

Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025

Dylan Grant in his University of Wyoming rodeo vest. Grant died Thursday, April 3, 2025, when a bull stepped on him during an event in Wharton County, Texas.

Wyoming Pro Rodeo Cowboy Dies In Bull Riding Event In Texas

A pro rodeo bull rider from Pavillion, Wyoming, died Thursday night when a bull stepped on him during an event in Texas. Friends and family of Dylan Grant say they’re shocked and saddened by the news.

Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025

Wyoming veterans who spoke to Cowboy State Daily said the grenades a teen found in Riverton Wednesday look like they're for training. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous, and it's good that his family called police.

Wyoming Vets Say Riverton Grenades For Training — Still Nothing To Play Around With

Wyoming veterans who spoke to Cowboy State Daily say the grenades a teen found in Riverton Wednesday look like they're for training. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous, and it's good that his family called police.

Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025

Gabriel Seth Rodgers, a Wyoming drug dealer and gun thief who broke conditions of his supervised release by fleeing to Mexico, has been caught. Mexican authorities announced last week they were deporting him, and he’s now in U.S. federal custody.

Mexico Deports Fugitive Wyoming Drug Dealer And Gun Thief

A Wyoming drug dealer and gun thief who broke conditions of his supervised release by fleeing to Mexico has been caught. Mexican authorities announced last week they were deporting him, and he’s now in U.S. federal custody.

Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025

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