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
Rasner Won’t Run For Governor, Says To 'Stay Tuned For News Next Week'
Reid Rasner won’t run to be the next governor of Wyoming, he told Cowboy State Daily in a Friday text message. “Stay tuned for news next week, the best is yet to come,” Rasner added.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 03, 2026
Wyoming Responds To PETA By Issuing A Pro-Rodeo License Plate
Wyoming issued a new pro-rodeo license plate Friday in response to PETA asking for a plate without the iconic bucking bronco claiming rodeo is cruel. One state legislator said PETA’s request made him want to celebrate rodeo “even more prominently.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 02, 2026
Riverton Man Lassos Suspected Drunk Driver After Officer Hurt In Chase
When a police officer ran into some playground equipment while trying to catch a suspected impaired driver in a Riverton foot chase on New Year’s Eve, a local man felt badly, retrieved his rope and lassoed the suspect himself.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 02, 2026
Former House Candidate From Powell Accused Of Child Abuse, Molestation
A Powell man who ran two unsuccessful campaigns for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives faces up to 215 years in prison on charges he physically and sexually abused at least one child for years.
Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2025
Prosecutor Says Wyoming Wolf ‘Capture’ Rule Doesn’t Apply To Cody Roberts
Sublette County’s top prosecutor argued in a Tuesday court filing that Wyoming’s law allowing people to “capture” wolves doesn’t excuse Cody Roberts. Tormenting the animal was a separate act, he said.
Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2025
Judge Dismisses Claim Against Lawmaker That She Cheated Ex Out Of African Safari
The judge overseeing a small claims dispute has dismissed the case in which the ex-boyfriend of state Rep. Nina Webber accused her of cheating him out of $6,000 for a ticket to an African hunting safari she didn’t join.
Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2025
Wyoming House Rep. Bill Allemand Charged With DUI, Says He Will Dispute It
Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, was arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of drunk driving. He says the DUI is a “false charge" and he’ll fight it. “I got a deputy who did not like me knowing my rights,” he said.
Clair McFarlandDecember 30, 2025
Feds Approve $205 Million For Wyoming, Including 'Bear Care’ Health Plan
The federal government announced Monday it’s approved $205 million for the first year of Wyoming’s rural health program. Part of the plan has been dubbed “Bear Care” because it would cover catastrophic events like being attacked by a bear.
Clair McFarlandDecember 30, 2025
Wyoming Agency Says Opponent Of Wind Project Filed Fraudulent Documents
The Industrial Siting Division said Monday during a hearing on the Chugwater wind and solar project that a critic filed fraudulent documents to contest it. The critic, a news editor in southeast Wyoming, says it's the agency that violated the law.
Clair McFarlandDecember 30, 2025
Chuck Gray Announces Run For Wyoming's U.S. House Seat
After at least two weekends of an aggressive advertising campaign that named no specific political office, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray declared Monday that he’s running for the state’s lone U.S. House seat.
Clair McFarlandDecember 29, 2025
Clair McFarland: The Byron Tragedy Was The Most Significant Story Of My Life
Clair McFarland writes, "I drove to Bryon to interview people about the mother who'd shot her daughters, then herself, in their snowclad home. Her husband voiced a grim resolve to tell me the truth so that at least - at least - the gaping public would have the most accurate account of this already-exposed tragedy."
Clair McFarlandDecember 24, 2025
Wyoming GOP Still Anti-Marijuana, Despite Trump's Push For Medical Use
President Donald Trump’s move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug departs from the tenets of the Wyoming MAGA crowd that usually aligns with him, multiple state leaders said Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandDecember 24, 2025
Hageman's Senate Run Reignites Criticisms Over Public Lands
When Rep. Harriet Hageman declared her run Tuesday for U.S. Senate, it revived her critics' concerns over federal public land holdings. Hageman grappled with the theme for months this year, saying her foes have distorted and oversimplified the issue.
Clair McFarlandDecember 24, 2025
Degenfelder 'Strongly Considering' Run For Governor, Others Ponder Higher Office
Wyoming education chief Megan Degenfelder on Tuesday said she is “strongly considering” a run for governor while other political figures are thinking about higher office too. This comes in the wake of Sen. Cynthia Lummis announcing her departure.
Clair McFarlandDecember 23, 2025
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman Announces Run For U.S. Senate
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman on Tuesday announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate. Hageman said her focus will continue to be combatting government overreach, the war on coal, policies against fossil fuels, bad water policy and environmental over-prosecution.
Clair McFarlandDecember 23, 2025
Contractor Accused Of Cheating Lusk Homeowners Fires Lawyer, Delays Sentencing
The sentencing hearing for a contractor who pleaded guilty to cheating the people of Lusk out of thousands of dollars for unfulfilled home repairs imploded Monday after the man fired his lawyer.
Clair McFarlandDecember 23, 2025
Glenrock Wants Judge To Dismiss Town, Mayor From $350M Lawsuit Over Bank Secrets
Glenrock, the town attorney and mayor asked a Virginia federal judge Friday to dismiss them from a $350 million lawsuit over claims they helped steal banking trade secrets. They’ve called the lawsuit an attempt to "bully a small Wyoming town into submission.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 22, 2025
Wamsutter Trucker Loses $54,000 Found In His Car In Drug Money Ruling
A judge has ruled that though a 77-year-old Wamsutter trucker won an appeal in the Wyoming Supreme Court, the state can keep $54,000 it found in his car. The trucker says it’s his life savings, but the state proved it was drug money.
Clair McFarlandDecember 22, 2025
Former Wyoming Governors Say Requests To Remove County Officials Unprecedented
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has received five clusters of complaints asking him to oust county officials from their offices. Three former Wyoming governors on Friday called that number unprecedented, citing growing political strife.
Clair McFarlandDecember 20, 2025
Lummis Announces She's Not Running For Re-Election
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, the first woman elected to the Senate from Wyoming, on Friday announced she is not running for a second term. She said, "“in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do not have six more years in me.”
Clair McFarland & Jimmy OrrDecember 19, 2025
Trump's Move To Soften Marijuana Rules Could Push Wyoming To Do The Same
Saying Americans should have more access to medical marijuana, President Donald Trump took steps Thursday toward downgrading its federal classification. The move could push Wyoming to do the same, or announce why it won’t.
Clair McFarlandDecember 19, 2025