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

State Sen. Eric Barlow, R-Wyoming, is the Republican nominee for governor, while Rebecca Bextel, right, is running on the Constitution Party ticket.

Sheridan County GOP Posts, Then Removes, Statement Backing Bextel Over Barlow

The Sheridan County Republican Party posted, then apparently took down, a statement last week touting Wyoming Constitution Party nominee Rebecca Bextel for governor over Republican Eric Barlow. The party's chair says she doesn't know who made the post.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2026

Republican Dan McIntosh, from left, libertarian Ryan Shollenberger, and Democrat Britney Tennant are all running for Wyoming House District 11, one of the state's rare politically "purple" districts.

Republican, Democrat, And Libertarian All Vie For Cheyenne's 'Purple' House District

The three-way race for Wyoming's House District 11 pits libertarian Ryan Shollenberger against Republican Dan McIntosh and Democrat Britney Tennant. That's one of Wyoming's rare "purple" districts, where the libertarian's run for office is a wildcard.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2026

California Gov Gavin Newsom (left) and CNN anchor Jake Tapper attempt to go fly fishing

C.J. Box Says Everything About Newsom And Tapper Fly Fishing Is “Wrong”

Wyoming-based author and longtime angler C.J. Box on Wednesday lampooned CNN's video of California Gov. Gavin Newsom fly fishing with news anchor Jake Tapper. "Everything about it is performative and wrong,” he said, of their casting techniques.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2026

Constitution Party gubernatorial nominee Rebecca Bextel derided her Republican opponent Sen. Eric Barlow throughout a presentation at the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce forum Monday, and cast Gov. Mark Gordon as unintelligent.

Bextel Bashes Gordon And Barlow At Sheridan Candidate Forum

Constitution Party gubernatorial nominee Rebecca Bextel bashed her Republican opponent Sen. Eric Barlow throughout a presentation Monday at a candidate forum. She also cast Gov. Mark Gordon as unintelligent and claimed to have more "balls" than him.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2026

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. and Cyntha Lummis, R-Wyo.

Lummis Slams Senate Democrats For Blocking Huge Crypto Bill

Sen. Cynthia Lummis derided Democrats Tuesday after they blocked a sweeping cryptocurrency bill she pushed for months. It wouldn’t restrain Trump's conflicts of interest, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 15, 2026

Dr. Joe Schaffer, Laramie County Community College President, shares the recommended new name for the college — Wyoming State College — on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, at LCCC in Cheyenne.

Central Wyoming College Opposes LCCC Rebrand To "Wyoming State College"

Officials at Central Wyoming College in Riverton say they are opposed to Laramie County Community College's plan to rename itself "Wyoming State College." But community college chairs in Casper and Torrington say they're just focused on their own work.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 15, 2026

Police Declare Investigation Into Rasner Claim That He Was Threatened "Inactive"

Torrington police say an investigation into an alleged threat against unsuccessful U.S. House candidate Reid Rasner is “inactive,” after Rasner’s attorney didn't give the agency requested documentation. Rasner claimed a former deputy threatened him.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 14, 2026

Luis “Lue” Elizondo, right, author of “Imminent: Inside The Pentagon’s Hunt For UFOs,” filed a lawsuit last week in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming against his former best friend, Tucker Alger, left.

Former Department Of Defense UFO Whistleblower Sues Wyoming Business Partner

A former Department of Defense insider who wrote a book calling for government transparency about UFOs is suing his Buffalo, Wyoming, business partner. He accuses his partner cheating and trying to threaten him out of their vintage military-themed bar.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 14, 2026

Hannah Holtmeier, one of three plaintiffs suing Kappa Kappa Gamma over its transgender membership rule, addresses a crowd at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sorority Back In Court Over Trans Member, Says Historic Definition Of 'Woman' Not Relevant

The women suing Kappa Kappa Gamma for inducting a transgender member went back to court Monday, arguing the sorority betrayed them. The sorority says its council can interpret the bylaws, regardless of what 'woman' meant historically.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 14, 2026

Clair McFarland: Cross Country Is Absolutely A Real Sport And It's The Best Ever

Clair McFarland writes, "The gun sounded. Runners thundered into the trees. 'Gosh,' I said to The Husband. 'Isn’t that the PERFECT sport?' I thought one of his eyelids twitched in the shade of his Red Sox hat. But maybe I imagined it."

Clair McFarlandSeptember 12, 2026

Rep. Harriet Hageman (left) and Secretary of State Chuck Gray (right)

Opponents Blast Hageman, Gray For Skipping PBS Debates Ahead Of General Election

Opponents of Republicans Harriet Hageman and Chuck Gray in Wyoming’s U.S. Senate and House races are blasting them for skipping PBS debates ahead of the general election. Both Hageman and Gray say they’re taking their messages directly to voters.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2026

The mail pickup site within a mountain-base resort in remote Jelm, Wyoming, is slated to close by Sept. 30, the U.S. Postal Service confirmed to Cowboy State Daily.

Postal Service Says It Will Close Mail Pickup Site In Remote Albany County On Sept 30

The U.S. Postal Service confirmed to Cowboy State Daily it's closing the mail pickup site in Jelm, Wyoming, on Sept. 30. Without a quick alternative, locals will have to make a 60-mile round trip to Laramie for mail.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2026

Other Authors

Mills Emergency Meeting To Cover Bar Nunn Payroll In Bank Shutdown 'Torpedoed'

The mayor of Mills tried to work with the city council to cover payroll for Bar Nunn employees while Hilltop Bank was shuttered due to a cybersecurity issue. Some council members "torpedoed" the effort, Bar Nunn’s mayor says, but the bank found a way to help.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 09, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

Wyoming GOP Leader Says Trump's $5,000 Promise For GOP Sweep Not A Bribe

Wyoming GOP Vice-Chair Bob Ferguson says President Trump's controversial promise to give every American $5,000 if Republicans win both chambers of Congress was taken out of context. “That is an outright lie,” he said of charges that it's a bribe.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 10, 2026

Hilltop Bank Shutdown Just Confirms Why Wyoming Needs Gold, Lawmaker Says

Sen. Bob Ide didn't want to say "I told you so," because he empathizes with customers and businesses agonizing over Hilltop's cybersecurity shutdown this week. But this is exactly why he's pushed bills to bring gold and silver into Wyoming's economy, he said.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 10, 2026

For Post-Election Therapy, Jillian Balow Went Bow Hunting And Bagged An Elk

Fresh off her U.S. House primary loss, Jillian Balow trekked her 5-foot-1-inch frame over fallen trees and into a lodgepole pine basin, rested her compound bow against a tree and waited. There, she had to really learn "what stillness is."

Clair McFarlandSeptember 09, 2026

Hilltop Bank shut down all branches and offices Wednesday after experiencing a "cybersecurity incident" and then disconnected itself from the internet to contain the issue.

Customers Shocked As ‘Cybersecurity Incident’ Shuts Down Hilltop Bank Across Wyoming

Customers were shocked Wednesday to find Hilltop Bank closed across Wyoming and unavailable over the internet. The bank said it had a 'cybersecurity incident' and went offline to contain the issue and has no timetable for reopening.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 09, 2026

The University of Wyoming’s new president urged the school to push toward supremacy in artificial intelligence use, and to prioritize the school’s athletics program, during his Tuesday state of the university address in Laramie.

University Of Wyoming President: School Should Dominate In Artificial Intelligence

University of Wyoming's new president Shane Reeves said in his state of the university speech that it's time to embrace AI and push the school to be a leader in it. "This genie’s not going back in the bottle,” Reeves said. “This isn’t a choice."

Clair McFarlandSeptember 09, 2026

Campbell County Commission Chairman Bob Jordan.

Campbell County Commission Chair Cited For Breach Of Peace In Airport Incident

Details were sparse Tuesday about why the chair of the Campbell County Commission was cited last month for breach of peace after a meeting at the local airport. He has been outspoken about higher costs to secure a fixed-base operator for the airport.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 09, 2026

Dem Lawmaker Calls Teton County PAC 'Distortive,' Compares It To The Freedom Caucus

Democratic state Sen. Mike Gierau is calling ads by fellow Dem, Rep. Liz Storer's PAC “distortive” and harmful to what he thought was the higher political ground his party held. Gierau compared its tactics to those of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 08, 2026

University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves

West Point Professor Sues UW President, Says He Lost Job Over Global Warming

A West Point professor who claims he was stifled, then had his contract canceled for teaching humans are a major cause of climate change, is suing new University of Wyoming president Shane Reeves, a former dean of the school, and other officials.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 04, 2026