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

Nicole Wagon, Lennie Poitras and Matt Hartman protested Friday at Riverton City Park, urging people to ask Sens. Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso not to vote Monday to confirm Darin Smith as U.S. attorney for Wyoming

Wyoming U.S. Attorney Battling Misconduct Claims Ahead of Monday Confirmation Vote

Wyoming U.S. Attorney Darin Smith is set for a U.S. Senate confirmation vote Monday as a controversy heats up over allegations he prejudiced a grand jury. Eight defendants are now suing to dismiss their cases, including one for first-degree murder.

Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2026

Riverton Lawmaker Under Investigation For Living Outside His State House District

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office is investigating after Rep. Joel Guggenmos lived outside his legislative district for months. The county GOP says it stands behind Guggenmos and that "we applaud his honesty throughout this matter."

Clair McFarlandMay 08, 2026

State Rep. Landon Brown announced Friday that he will not be running for reelection.

Cheyenne’s Landon Brown Reverses Course, Won't Run For Reelection To House Seat

State Rep. Landon Brown announced Friday that he has changed his mind and will not be running for a sixth term in the Wyoming legislature. Brown, who squeaked out a win against challenger Exie Brown in 2024, hasn't yet endorsed anyone in his place.

Clair McFarlandMay 08, 2026

Reid Rasner (left) and Sec of State Chuck Gray (right)

Reid Rasner Launches Attack Ad With Chinese Music, Gong and Ninja 'Hoi!’ Grunts’

Reid Rasner is attacking U.S. House opponent Chuck Gray in an ad that calls him “China Chuck” and features Chinese string music, ninja “hoi!” grunts and a gong. Gray says he’s proud to be the Wyoming secretary of state who "fought both China and North Korea."

Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2026

Wyoming Freedom Caucus Criticizes Nethercott For Calling For “Lawfare"

While the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is criticizing Sen. Tara Nethercott for calling for “lawfare” in a speech to attorneys, she said she used the word in a broader context— not about making war on conservative policies, but “to defend the rule of law."

Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2026

Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Bryan Miller, far right, on the final day of the 2026 Wyoming Republican Party Convention on the state fairgrounds in Douglas.

Attorney Says Wyoming GOP Can’t Claim Autonomy When It 'Sat On' Rights For 40 Years

The Wyoming Republican Party can’t use its autonomy rights as a shield when sued if it “sat on” them for 40 years, an attorney suing the party argues. GOP Chair Bryan Miller says, “the party’s rights have been violated for nearly four decades."

Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2026

Former Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock, left, in a file photo during a Weston County Commission meeting. The commission Tuesday rejected three nominees by the county Republican Party to replace Hadlock, who resigned.

Weston County Commissioners Reject GOP Picks To Replace Hadlock As County Clerk

Weston County commissioners rejected the three county Republican Party picks to replace former County Clerk Becky Hadlock, who quit to fight felony-level election charges. "I was not impressed” with how the GOP picked its nominees, one commissioner said.

Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2026

Gray, Rasner, Friess All Send Out Mass Mailers — And They’re Very Trumpy

Donald Trump is a common theme in a recent blast of mass mailers from U.S. House candidates Chuck Gray, Reid Rasner and Steve Friess. They all invoke Trump numerous times and describe how their values line up with the president’s.

Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2026

The Powell City Council on Monday condemned Councilman Troy Bray's (right) comment about “hanging judges” in response to a judge halting an abortion ban. It hasn’t been "the greatest look for the town of Powell,” says Mayor John Wetzel.

Powell City Council Condemns Councilman's ‘Hanging Judges’ Comment

The Powell City Council on Monday condemned Councilman Troy Bray's comment suggesting Wyoming start “hanging judges” in response to a judge halting an abortion ban. It hasn’t been "the greatest look for the town of Powell,” says Mayor John Wetzel.

Clair McFarlandMay 05, 2026

All political parties shrunk in registration since January, but none lost percentage share more than the Wyoming Democratic Party, while the GOP gained on its super-majority. Politicos say it's too early to tell if crossover voters are skewing the numbers.

The Wyoming Democratic Party Is Shrinking, Losing More Ground To Republicans

All political parties shrank in registration since January, but none lost percentage share more than the Wyoming Democratic Party, while the GOP gained on its super-majority. Politicos say it's too early to tell if crossover voters are skewing the numbers.

Clair McFarlandMay 05, 2026

A contractor is suing the two irrigation districts connected to the Wyoming-Nebraska tunnel system that suffered a catastrophic failure in 2019, alleging the districts chose who would win the more than $100 million in repair contracts behind closed doors.

Contractor Sues, Says $100 Million Goshen Tunnel Project Awarded ‘In Secret'

A contractor filed a lawsuit Monday claiming the more than $100 million award to fix a catastrophic 2019 failure of the Wyoming-Nebraska tunnel system was done illegally “in secret.” It also claims there was no competitive bidding process for the work.

Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2026

‘It’s Big Brother’: Wyomingites Concerned About Mandated ‘Kill Switches’ On Cars

Multiple Wyoming lawmakers and a Cheyenne-based car dealer voiced concern Friday over a federal requirement for mandatory “kill switches” in 2027 model vehicles. “It’s Big Brother,” said the dealer, while a state legislator called it “draconian."

Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2026

Other Authors

Family Says Brother Of Deceased Woman Saved Children From Riverton House Fire

The uncle of two Riverton children saved from a fatal house fire Thursday also tried to rescue their mother — his sister — who didn’t survive, family and police say. “I just want everybody to know that Macey was a good mom,” a neighbor says.

Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2026

Judge Rules Freedom Caucus PAC Mailers Didn’t Defame Rock Springs Legislators

A judge on Thursday dismissed the defamation case of two legislators against the campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. “You can say pretty ludicrous stuff” in politics, the judge said about negative mailers targeting the Rock Springs state reps.

Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2026

Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, whose Senate district includes that House District as well as the town of Lander, was clear during the Legislature’s 2021 redistricting talks that race was a factor in drawing that district, since that’s what the reigning case law at the time seemed to require.

U.S. Supreme Court's Racial Redistricting Decision Could Shake Up Wyoming

A Wednesday U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring Louisiana’s race-based congressional district unconstitutional could shake up Wyoming. Fremont County has a race-based legislative district and a race-based commission district.

Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2026

After Abortion Ruling, Powell City Councilman Calls For 'Hanging Bad Judges'

A Powell City councilman suggested on Facebook that Wyoming start “hanging bad judges” after a judge blocked the state’s most recent abortion ban. A former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice said, “This man is obviously an idiot and does not deserve public office."

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Wyoming AG Says Gray Doesn't Have To Reveal Advice On Giving Voter Info To Feds

In a sharply-worded letter to Cheyenne attorney George Powers, the Wyoming Attorney General's office said Sec. of State Chuck Gray doesn't have to release the legal advice he may have received before handing sensitive voter data to the federal government.

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. She won't be unopposed in the primary, however, facing rancher Sam Mead, right, and Jimmy Skovgard, left, both fifth-generation Wyomingites.

GOP Senate Challengers Emerge To Take On Harriet Hageman In Primary

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. Even so, she won't be unopposed in the primary, facing rancher Sam Mead and Jimmy Skovgard, both multi-generation Wyomingites.

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

A frantic woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling them her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.

Neighbor Says Sheridan Shooter 'Sprayed' Cop Cars With Gunshots During Standoff

A woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling neighbors her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.

Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2026

Armed Man Shot By Sheridan Police Early Sunday

Sheridan Police Department officers early Sunday shot a male who fled a home with a long gun after “several shots” had proceeded from the home. A woman was in distress and said someone wanted to kill her baby, according to the police department.

Clair McFarlandApril 26, 2026

State OKs $5 Million for Housing Projects, Gray Tries To Ban Resident Aliens

In a recurring spat on the difference between resident aliens and illegal immigrants, the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board voted Thursday to allocate $5 million for infrastructure and housing projects — mostly for small towns.

Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2026