AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter
AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter
CM
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.  

Find Clair McFarland

Latest from Clair McFarland

A small protest ranging from four to six people at any given time convened over the lunch hour between Sweetwater County District Court and the busy Green River thoroughfare on which it sits, moments before the motions hearing of Cody Roberts. Protestors said they want to change Wyoming’s laws and attitude to instill more respect for wildlife, including predators.

Judge Hints He Will Send Cody Roberts Wolf Torture Case To Trial

A Green River, Wyoming, judge on Wednesday hinted he’ll send the animal cruelty case of Cody Roberts to a jury in two months. Judge Richard Lavery stopped just short of denying Roberts’ argument for immunity, saying he’ll file a written order later. 

Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2026

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced Wednesday her office is launching an investigation into the special education program at Sweetwater County School District No. 1 after multiple noncompliance complaints.

Degenfelder To Investigate Rock Springs School District's Special Ed Program

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced Wednesday her office is launching an investigation into the special education program at Sweetwater County School District No. 1 after multiple noncompliance complaints. 

Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2026

Tribal and case 1 27 26

Wyoming Lawmakers Reverse Course, Will Not Deny $58 Million In Medicaid

Wyoming lawmakers reversed their denial of $58 million in federal Medicaid funds for tribal clinics after people protested. Rep. John Bear called it an accounting issue, while Rep. Larsen said Bear was "covering (his) butt."

Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2026

Becky Hadlock

Weston County Clerk's Thursday Trial Cancelled Due To Appeal

The Weston County clerk accused of skipping a legislative subpoena was scheduled to go to trial Thursday in Casper Circuit Court — until the judge ruled that her claims against the lawmakers who summoned her should be heard in a higher court first.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 27, 2026

State Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, R-Cheyenne, unveiled a bill Thursday that seeks to sell between 30,000 and 200,000 acres of non-trust state lands in 10-acre parcels to individual families — at $1 an acre.

Wyoming Might Not Have Enough Public Lands For Controversial Selloff Bill 

An initial review of data from the Office of State Lands and Investments shows Wyoming might not have enough eligible public land to satisfy a controversial bill seeking to sell between 30,000 and 200,000 acres to families for $1 per acre. 

Clair McFarlandJanuary 27, 2026

House Ag Bill Allemand 4 1 24 23

Wyoming Lawmaker Charged With DUI Asks To Skip Alcohol Testing During Session 

Wyoming State Rep. Bill Allemand, charged with DUI in December, is asking permission to skip random alcohol tests during the legislative session that starts next month. His motion argues the tests are intrusive for someone without a history of alcohol or violent crimes.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 27, 2026

Sen. Brian Boner (left) and State Treasurer Curt Meier (right) are working on a bill to compensate those affected by large industrial projects

State Treasurer, Lawmaker Work On Fund To Compensate Wind Farm Neighbors

State Treasurer Curt Meier and Sen. Brian Boner are working on a bill that would divert one-sixth of property taxes from wind, solar, and industrial projects into a fund for affected neighbors. “I’m not blind to the impacts that people have," Meier said.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 26, 2026

The mother of Aiden Hall, 22, of Cheyenne, who shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car Sunday, is asking how that could happen. She told Cowboy State Daily that police confiscated his pocket knife, but not his pistol.

Mother Asks How Son Shot Himself While Handcuffed In Back Of Police Car

The mother of a 22-year-old Cheyenne man who shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car is asking how that could happen. She told Cowboy State Daily that police confiscated his pocket knife, but not his pistol.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2026

State Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, R-Cheyenne, unveiled a bill Thursday that seeks to sell between 30,000 and 200,000 acres of non-trust state lands in 10-acre parcels to individual families — at $1 an acre. He says it will ease Wyoming’s housing shortage.

Lawmaker Unveils Bill To Sell Between 30,000 And 200,000 Acres Of State Lands

A Cheyenne state legislator unveiled a bill Thursday that seeks to sell between 30,000 and 200,000 acres of non-trust state lands in 10-acre parcels to individual families — at $1 an acre. He says it will help ease Wyoming’s housing shortage.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2026

A board tasked with ensuring Wyoming’s property tax assessments are fair and lawful planned to challenge the state’s 4% growth cap on residential property taxes. Gov. Mark Gordon put a halt to the lawsuit Thursday.

Gordon Halts Lawsuit Challenging Wyoming’s Cap On Property Tax Growth

A board tasked with ensuring Wyoming’s property tax assessments are fair and lawful planned to challenge the state’s 4% growth cap on residential property taxes. Gov. Mark Gordon put a halt to the lawsuit Thursday.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2026

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether a Rock Springs school district’s transgender “privacy” policy violates parents’ rights. A local couple — Sean and Ashley Willey — says behind the policy, teachers called their daughter by a boy name without telling them.

Rock Springs School District Trans ‘Privacy’ Policy Under Review By Federal Court

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether a Rock Springs school district’s transgender “privacy” policy violates parents’ rights. A local couple says behind the policy, teachers called their daughter by a boy name without telling them.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 22, 2026

Cassandra Clinger and her three children. Clinger, a Star Valley High School graduate, was killed by her estranged husband on Jan. 21, 2026. He then reportedly shot himself. The children were not harmed, her family says.

'Satan Got Ahold Of Me' Man Texts After Reportedly Shooting Wife, Then Himself

Moments after reportedly shooting his estranged wife Cassandra Clinger early Wednesday at their home near the Wyoming-Idaho border, 43-year-old Christopher Moon texted his mother-in-law. “Satan, got ahold of me. I’m so sorry, I love her so much,” he wrote.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 22, 2026

Other Authors

Cheyenne mechanic Troy Lake spent months in prison for disabling diesel emissions on commercial trucks. He was later pardoned by President Donald Trump in a case that brought the issue of cumbersome emissions controls for diesel vehicles to the national spotlight.

Department Of Justice Halts Federal Diesel 'Delete' Prosecutions

The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday announced it's pausing criminal prosecutions of diesel "delete" procedures under the Clean Air Act. The DOJ’s maneuver follows Trump’s Nov. 7 pardon of Wyoming delete mechanic Troy Lake.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 22, 2026

Fremont County School District 1 board member Scott Jensen, a federal police officer, said he must resign because of a new policy barring special agents from elected roles. He's spent six years on the board pushing parental rights and book challenges. 

New FBI Policy Boots Conservative From Fremont County School Board

Fremont County School District 1 board member Scott Jensen, a federal police officer, said he must resign because of a new policy barring special agents from elected roles. He's spent six years on the board pushing parental rights and book challenges. 

Clair McFarlandJanuary 21, 2026

Becky Hadlock

Judge Declines To Toss Criminal Charge Against Weston County Clerk 

A Wyoming judge declined Wednesday to dismiss misdemeanor charges against Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock for defying a legislative subpoena on 2024 election issues. Her attorney Ryan Semerad said he'll appeal the ruling "as soon as I'm done walking my dog."

Clair McFarlandJanuary 21, 2026

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray is arguably the most vocal and high-profile opponent of wind-energy projects in the state, calling the industry “woke wind.” But he’s voted to approve wind leases at least three times since 2023.

‘Woke Wind' Critic Chuck Gray Has Voted To OK Leases For At Least 3 Wind Projects

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray is arguably the most vocal and high-profile opponent of wind-energy projects in the state, calling the industry “woke wind.” But he’s voted to approve wind leases at least three times since 2023.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 21, 2026

Clair 2024 column shot

Clair McFarland’s Book Review: Infinite Jest

Clair McFarland writes: "Welcome to my book review, which I’m writing because my four sons (now teen- and pre-teen-aged) are getting squishy about having their adventures published. In December I read 'Infinite Jest,' by David Foster Wallace."

Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2026

The Wyoming Attorney General's office filed a petition Tuesday for a re-hearing, saying the state Supreme Court's ruling striking down two abortion bans betrayed legal precedent. It ignored the Constitution and changed its own rules, the filing claims.

Wyoming Attorney General Says Court Changed Law To Legalize Abortion

The Wyoming Attorney General's office filed a petition Tuesday for a re-hearing, saying the state Supreme Court's ruling striking down two abortion bans betrayed legal precedent. It ignored the Constitution and changed its own rules, the filing claims.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2026

A Wyoming House Representative from Cheyenne unveiled a bill this month that, if it becomes law, would let people get the ivermectin without a prescription. The Legislature may hear the bill in three weeks.

Wyoming Lawmaker Unveils Bill To Make Ivermectin Over-The-Counter

A Wyoming House Representative from Cheyenne unveiled a bill this month that, if it becomes law, would let people get ivermectin without a prescription. The Legislature may hear the bill in three weeks.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2026

A state legislative committee has denied $6.6 million Wyoming Public Television requested to fill a massive federal defunding effort. The decision, which isn’t final, includes $3 million for operations and a $3.6 million grant the feds rescinded.

So Far, Wyoming Says No To Replacing PBS Money Dropped By Feds

A state legislative committee has denied $6.6 million Wyoming Public Television requested to fill a massive federal defunding effort. The decision, which isn’t final, includes $3 million for operations and a $3.6 million grant the feds rescinded.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2026

State Rep. Daniel Singh left the Wyoming Freedom Caucus last month, he told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday.

Cheyenne House Rep Leaves Freedom Caucus, Says It's To Emphasize Independence

State Rep. Daniel Singh left the Wyoming Freedom Caucus last month, he told Cowboy State Daily on Saturday. Singh said he wants to emphasize his independence, but still believes the Freedom Caucus' mission is good. 

Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2026

Next