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
Trump Pardons Cheyenne Diesel Delete Mechanic Troy Lake
President Donald Trump pardoned Troy Lake on Friday. The 65-year-old Wyoming diesel mechanic spent seven months in federal prison for tweaking and removing emissions systems on ailing engines. When he got the news, he wept.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2025
Wheatland Man To Plead Guilty In Liquor Store Break-In That Left Buddy Beaten
A Wheatland man took a plea deal for felony burglary after breaking into a closed liquor store and beating his friend, avoiding trial. He faces five to ten years in prison and agreed to testify about his accomplice’s role.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2025
Judge Upholds Wyoming's 'Sore Loser' Candidate Law And Crossover Voting Ban
A Wyoming judge upheld state laws banning crossover voting and keeping “sore loser” primary election candidates from launching petitions to get onto the general election ballot. The plaintiffs are likely to appeal, arguing the laws limit voter and candidate rights.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2025
Powell Woman Who 'Escaped' California Politics Sues City To Keep Pygmy Goat
A California woman moved to Wyoming to escape "imperious" politics. But now she’s suing the town of Powell after being denied a permit to keep her pet pygmy goat. She claims the city’s decision violates her constitutional rights, was arbitrary and unfair.
Clair McFarlandNovember 06, 2025
Weston County Clerk Criminally Charged For Dodging Legislative Subpoena
The Weston County Clerk has been formally charged with the crime of dodging a legislative subpoena during a subcommittee's investigation of her handling of the 2024 election. She reportedly told an investigator she had other appointments that day.
Clair McFarlandNovember 06, 2025
Uinta County Voters Defeat $40.6 Million Tax Project By More Than 2-To-1 Margin
Uinta County voters don’t want to pay an additional 1% tax for a new swimming pool and other projects totaling about $40.6 million. They voted more than 2-to-1 against the controversial proposal.
Clair McFarlandNovember 06, 2025
Wyoming Freedom Caucus Membership Survey: 31 House Reps Say They're Not Members
Through past reporting and a slew of point-blank inquiries this week, Cowboy State Daily has determined that half of the Wyoming House of Representatives, which has 62 members, are not Freedom Caucus members or say they're not Freedom Caucus members.
Clair McFarland & Jackson WalkerNovember 06, 2025
Wyoming Pastors Say Nobody Should Rejoice Over Cheney’s Or Kirk’s Deaths
Right after both Vice President Cheney and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk died, people mocked them and left hateful messages all over social media. Wyoming pastors told Cowboy State Daily that none of us are "pure enough to spit on anybody's grave."
Clair McFarlandNovember 05, 2025
Wyoming GOP Wants More Power For Non-Elected Members
The Wyoming Republican Party on Tuesday asked a legislative committee to loosen state laws that restrict its internal elections. The committee agreed to one of the party’s many suggested tweaks.
Clair McFarlandNovember 05, 2025
Bill Heads To Session That Would Ban Dropping Off Ballots For Others
A Wyoming legislative committee advanced a bill Tuesday to criminalize dropping of ballots for other people, with a few exceptions. Supporters say it protects election integrity, while critics say it could make felons out of well-meaning friends.
Clair McFarlandNovember 04, 2025
Dick Cheney, Vice President And Former Wyoming Congressman, Dies At 84
Dick Cheney, regarded as the most powerful vice president in U.S. history and former congressman of Wyoming, died Monday night at the age of 84.
Clair McFarlandNovember 04, 2025
Legislature To Consider At Least 13 Election Bills After Committee Adds 6 More
A Wyoming legislative committee on Monday voted to sponsor six election-integrity-oriented bills. That’s in addition to the three it adopted in August and the four another committee advanced last month, bringing the total to 13 so far.
Clair McFarlandNovember 04, 2025
Lyman Man Gets 50-75 Years For Fort Bridger Rendezvous Murder
A Lyman man who shot a tattoo artist about 10 times with a .45-caliber handgun during a Fort Bridger summer festival last August was sentenced Monday to between 50 and 75 years in prison. The victim's daughter called Skyler Gray a "coward."
Clair McFarlandNovember 03, 2025
Hiker Accused Of Attacking Others On Wyoming Trails Released After Plea Deal
A hiker who goes by “Cottonmouth” and is accused of attacking others on Wyoming trails has been released from jail after making a plea deal. He threw a bottle at another hiker in Carbon County in July and had a reported bear spray standoff last year.
Clair McFarlandNovember 03, 2025
Air Force Base Shooter Pointed Gun At Airman's Chest In 'Joking Manner’
A Wyoming-based U.S. Air Force member was killed when a fellow airman at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base pointed a Sig Sauer M18 pistol at his chest in a joking manner while his finger was on the trigger, the 90th Missile Wing reported Friday.
Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2025
State Asks Court To Give Legislators A Breather While They Tweak School Funding
The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office is urging the state Supreme Court to give legislators more time to tweak school funding before being forced by a court order. That includes a computer for every kid and elementary mental health counselors.
Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2025
Casper Burglar Who Broke Into Wrong House To Stay In Prison
One of the two men who broke into a Casper home two years ago — not expecting to encounter a scrappy sheriff’s deputy the deputy’s pregnant, pistol-packing wife — has to keep serving his 22-to-25-year prison term, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2025
Wyoming Investment Earnings Blow Past Projections By Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars
The Consensus Revenue Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) report given to legislators Thursday shows that the state's investments outpaced projections by hundreds of millions of dollars. Record-high investment earnings of $1.86 billion “dominated” the 2025 fiscal year.
Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2025
Ousted Library Board Member Files Case Against Fremont County Commission
David Mossburg, ousted from the local library board last week by a surprise Fremont County Commission re-vote, petitioned a court Wednesday to reinstate him. A local newspaper has claimed the secret ballot vote that led to his appointment is illegal.
Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2025
Jury Chooses Lighter Penalty For CNA Who Let Dementia Patient Freeze
A jury found a former Gillette assisted living center CNA who lost track of a dementia patient, who then got outside and froze to death, guilty of misdemeanor negligent homicide. But the jury acquitted him of the manslaughter felony he originally faced.
Clair McFarlandOctober 29, 2025
Pine Bluffs Crop Duster's Shooting Death Ruled Self-Defense
An investigation into the June shooting death of a Pine Bluffs crop duster and former university-level rodeo athlete that left friends puzzled for months is now closed. The shooting was self-defense, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandOctober 29, 2025