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
One Dead In Pinedale Shooting, Possible Self-Defense Situation
One person is dead after a shooting Friday in Pinedale, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office reports. Self-defense is being investigated as a possible factor, the sheriff told Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Rock Springs Mother Accused Of Shooting Son In The Neck
A woman could face up to life in prison after Sweetwater County detectives say she shot her son in the neck last month. The mother was arrested Friday, and told authorities her son was going to hit her with a guitar, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Green River Man Guilty Of Encouraging Child Into Sex Acts
A jury took about four hours Wednesday to convict a 50-year-old Green River man on multiple counts of child exploitation. William John Duncan was found guilty of encouraging a preteen child into sex acts.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Supercar YouTuber Among 6 Accused Of Racing Luxury Cars In Grand Teton
A YouTuber who features high-priced supercars is one of six people accused of racing luxury cars in Grand Teton National Park last month. The drivers allegedly were racing up to speeds of 111 mph, a park official says.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Legislators Spar Over Whether Governor’s Agency Should Audit Legislature
A pair of state senators sparred at length Wednesday about whether an agency under the governor should audit the Legislative Service Office. Sen. Chris Rothfuss says it violates separation of powers protocols, while Sen. Darin Smith says it doesn't.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Reid Rasner Sues Anthony Bouchard, Claims He Jeopardized TikTok Deal
Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner filed a lawsuit Tuesday against former state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, claiming he was defamed and jeopardized his reported $47.5 billion bid to buy TikTok.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2025
Two More Girls Say Accused Moorcroft Church Molester Also Touched Them
Two more girls have come forward to say a Moorcroft man accused of molesting little girls also allegedly abused them. Charles Massie, who reportedly confessed to a counselor that “I’m the terrible one,” pleaded not guilty Thursday to nine criminal charges.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2025
Wyoming Lawmakers Use Subpoena Power To Demand Answers For Faulty Town Audits
A Wyoming legislative committee voted to subpoena officials from Bear River, Manderson and a special district Wednesday, over slow progress after problematic audits. Some lawmakers objected to deploying the rarely-used subpoena power.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2025
Murder Charge Filed 2 Years After Man Found On Reservation With Throat Cut
Two years after a man was found dead with his throat cut on the Wind River Reservation, a Riverton man has been charged in his death. John Goodman, 31, was already in prison when evidence surfaced that he killed Gustave Yellowhair with a machete.
Clair McFarlandJuly 09, 2025
2 Men Wanted By ICE Arrested In Wyoming With 80 Pounds Of Illegal Drugs
Two men wanted by ICE were arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol on Saturday with what authorities identified as 80 pounds of illegal drugs. They also had Ecuadorian passports.
Clair McFarlandJuly 09, 2025
Ukrainian Trucker Who Killed Another Trucker In Crash Gets 90 Days
A Ukrainian trucker who slid on black ice and crashed into another truck, killing a 70-year-old woman in its sleeper cab, was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail. He also was fined $1,000 under a plea agreement.
Clair McFarlandJuly 09, 2025
Wyoming Drug Cartel Suspect Who Hid Out In Mexico Gets Plea Deal
A Wyoming man suspected in a sprawling cartel conspiracy accepted a plea deal last week, according to his court file. Authorities say the suspect was hiding out in Mexico after years on the run.
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2025
Lawsuit Claims Wyoming Cosmetic Surgeon Left Women Mutilated And Disfigured
Two women are suing a former Wyoming cosmetic surgeon and others on claims they were left mutilated and disfigured. One suffered with a necrotic, ruptured breast and maggots, the lawsuit says, while another had her infected wound “burst open" at work.
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2025
Lander Man Gets 25-50 Years For Bludgeoning House Guest To Death
A 40-year-old Lander man was sentenced Monday to 25-50 years in prison for bludgeoning a house guest to death last April. One of the victim’s daughters said deeper societal issues are partly to blame in this case.
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2025
Former Police Chief Who Tipped Off Girlfriend To Drug Search Gets 9 Days In Jail
The former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, convicted of interfering with police and shirking his duty will spend nine days in jail and a year on probation, a judge ruled Monday. He was accused of alerting his girlfriend to a drug search.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2025
Billings Man Suspected Of Killing Girlfriend Arrested On Riverton Roadside
A Billings, Montana, man suspected of killing his girlfriend was arrested along a road in Riverton on the Fourth of July. He reportedly was lying in front of an RV “yelling” that he had killed his girlfriend, and asking people to call 911.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2025
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