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
Gillette Woman In Jail After Allegedly Running Over Boyfriend With SUV
A woman who was trying to drive away from the scene of a verbal argument in Gillette early Saturday ran over her boyfriend in the process, police say. The man was taken to an out-of-state hospital with critical injuries.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2025
Judge Says Rock Springs Woman Accused Of Making Child Porn Has To Stay In Jail
A Green River judge did not hesitate Thursday to deny a woman accused of making child pornography a chance to get out of jail and go to a treatment center. She’s also accused of smuggling meth into jail hidden in a genital orifice.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Full Speed Ahead: Trump Kills Biden Rule Limiting How Fast Trucks Can Go
Wyoming truckers are cheering a new Trump administration rule reversing a Biden-era agenda that would have put speed limiting devices — called governors — on semitrucks. Truckers say the Biden rule would have been a safety hazard.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Cheyenne Restaurant Owner Makes A Gay Joke On Sign — LGBTQ Group Borrows It
When a Cheyenne restaurant owner posted a PG-rated gay joke on his roadside sign, Wyoming’s top LGBTQ advocacy group decided to run with the joke — and call for more.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Thermopolis Woman Gets 24-30 Months For Stealing $25K From FFA Group
A Thermopolis woman who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $25,000 from a Future Farmers of America fundraising group was sentenced Wednesday to 24-30 months in prison. Cody Dyan Stewart cheated kids of their scholarships, the group said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Laramie Homes Evacuated After Materials To Make Fireworks Discovered In House
Several homes in a Laramie mobile home park was evacuated Wednesday as authorities responded to a situation that involved “potential explosives in the area.” Emergency officials say materials to make fireworks were found in a home.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Jackson Man Accused Of Killing Bicyclist While Driving Drunk Sent To Higher Court
A Jackson man accused of killing a bicyclist and local photographer will be tried in felony-level court, a judge ruled Wednesday. The judge also kept the man’s bond at $300,000 and forbade him from driving if he makes bail.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025
Trump Administration Seeks To Defend Wyoming’s New Citizenship Voter Law
The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump filed a brief in court Tuesday to help defend Wyoming’s new voter citizenship law. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says he’s “extremely grateful” to the department and Trump.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025
UPenn Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Sports Same Day Wyoming Law Goes Into Effect
Wyoming State Sen. Wendy Schuler said Tuesday’s decision by the University of Pennsylvania to ban trans athletes from participating in women's sports marks “a great victory for our women and girls.” It happened the same day Wyoming's law that does the same thing went into effect.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025
Trans Woman Breaks Wyoming’s New Bathroom Ban In State Capitol, Nothing Happens
Nothing happened Tuesday when a transgender woman flagrantly violated a newly implemented Wyoming law restricting people to the restroom corresponding to their birth sex in public buildings.
Matthew Christian & Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Wyoming’s New Laws: No Gun-Free Zones, Prove Citizenship To Vote And A Bathroom Ban
In all, 106 new Wyoming laws became active Tuesday. Now, most gun-free zones are gone, voters must prove citizenship and residency to register and people born male can’t use women’s bathrooms in government buildings.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Deal For Manderson Police Chief Charged With Helping Girlfriend Avoid Drug Arrest
The former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, accused of helping his girlfriend avoid a drug arrest has agreed to a plea deal. He’ll get probation and has to give up his policing certification.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Judge Green-Lights Off-Label Prescribing Of Abortion Drugs
Lawmakers may have had Ivermectin in mind when they passed a law to safeguard doctors who prescribe off-label. But a judge on Monday ruled that, at least for now, that protection must apply to abortion-inducing drug providers as well.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Riverton Man In 130 mph Car Chase Faces Up To 7 Years In Prison
The Riverton man accused of leading Fremont County law enforcement on a 130-mph car chase through a construction zone last week could face up to seven years and 40 days in prison. His preliminary hearing is Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2025
Court Gives $15K Back To Man Who Bailed Out Fake Jackson 'Bitcoin Billionaire'
The man who posted a $50,000 bond to free the alleged “Bitcoin Billionaire” scammer from Teton County’s jail can have $15,000 of it back, a judge has ruled. The prosecution argues the suspect's promise to pay the bond back is another of his bogus promises.
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2025
Cassie Craven: School Choice Is About Helping Students, Not Systems
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “The Wyoming Education Association plays victim in its lawsuit. It decries the scholarship with fundamental critique of how the capitalist system has this inherent tendency toward inequality and exploitation. How very Marxist.”
Clair McFarlandJune 29, 2025
Sen. Mike Lee Waves White Flag And Gives Up Public Lands Sell-Off Plan
Utah Sen. Mike Lee waved the white flag on Saturday evening and dropped his controversial public lands-selloff plan. Wyoming State Rep. Karlee Provenza said she was pleased but was concerned with the Wyoming congressional delegation's "lack of leadership."
Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandJune 29, 2025
Chuck Gray Asks Judge To Dismiss Lawsuit Against Proof-Of-Citizenship Voting Law
Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Wyoming’s new proof-of-citizenship voting law. He claims the complaint is brought by “radical left” groups that haven’t shown it could harm them.
Clair McFarlandJune 28, 2025
Supreme Court Upholds Porn Age Verification Days Before Wyo Law Takes Effect
A Supreme Court ruling upholding a Texas law that requires porn websites to verify visitors are adults protects Wyoming’s new age-verification law as well, its sponsor says. “The ruling is a complete win,” says Worland Republican Rep. Martha Lawley.
Clair McFarlandJune 28, 2025
Wyoming Judge Blocks School Choice Money Days Ahead Of First Payouts
A Cheyenne-based judge on Friday temporarily blocked the first phase of payouts for Wyoming’s new school choice program days ahead of the first checks going out July 1. The program gives $7,000 toward private schools or homeschooling for students.
Clair McFarlandJune 27, 2025
Case Against Star Valley Man In Wife’s Death Proceeds After Contentious Hearing
After a contentious hearing full of objections, debates over court rules and photographs of his injured wife before she died, the manslaughter case against a Star Valley man advanced to District Court on Thursday.
Clair McFarlandJune 27, 2025