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
Survey Shows Overwhelming Support For Oil, Gas Production In Wyoming, Even Democrats
Oil and natural gas production in Wyoming is supported by an overwhelming majority of state residents questioned in a statewide survey, including 68% of Democrats polled.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2022
Lander City Council Asks Eastern Shoshones for New Names For Squaw Creek
As part of the Department of Interior's initiative to remove offensive names, Lander officials have asked Eastern Shoshone tribal members to come up with a new name for Squaw Creek in central Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2022
Man Convicted Of Torturing, Killing 22-Month-Old Daughter Files Federal Appeal
Andrew Yellowbear, who was convicted of torturing and killing his 22-month-old daughter, is asking a federal court to reverse his conviction claiming that he was convicted in the wrong court and should be freed.
Clair McFarlandMarch 22, 2022
Judge Hired To Enforce Reservation COVID Rules Becomes Trial Court Judge
Kevin Ferris, who served as Wyoming's only judge specifically assigned to oversee violations of Covid orders and quarantine rules, has transitioned to being a trial court judge on the reservation.
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2022
Former Riverton Woman Who Gave Birth & Abandoned Baby On Sidewalk Faces Felony Charge
A former Riverton resident accused of giving birth to a baby boy on the sidewalk of Omaha, Nebraska, and leaving him there in below-freezing temperatures has been transferred to a higher court for felony-level prosecution.
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2022
That’s A Wrap: House Speaker Eric Barlow Says Goodbye After 10 Years in House
In a tearful goodbye to the Wyoming House, Barlow hugged his mom and said, "My mother was born in Southeast Asia, was a very well-educated attorney, law-professor type in Cambodia, who met a man from northeast Wyoming; and she came to northeast Wyoming and raised a family with three kids."
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2022
Global Mining Business Finds Significant Deposits Of Uranium In Wyoming’s Red Desert
A global mining business said it discovered a likely source of raw uranium, or yellowcake, through a first-time exploratory drill program called the Thor project in the Great Divide Basin.
Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2022
Man Shot By Federal Agent On Reservation Recovering In Hospital
In an interview with Cowboy State Daily, the man said he and his girlfriends family had been drinking together since noon Monday, when her cousins showed up" and a knife fight ensued. Shortly after, an agent shot him, he said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2022
Dispute Over Cell Phone Leads To Sen. Tom James Getting Booted From GOP Meeting
A dispute over a cell phone in a private legislative meeting last week resulted in state Sen. Tom James being removed by members of the Wyoming Highway Patrol.
Clair McFarlandMarch 16, 2022
House Speaker Says He Asked Highway Patrol To Investigate Death Threat Against Lawmaker
House Speaker Eric Barlow asked the Wyoming Highway Patrol officers providing security at the state Capitol to investigate reports of a death threat made by one legislator against another.
Clair McFarlandMarch 16, 2022
FBI Releases Few Details About Reservation Shooting On Monday
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was releasing little information Tuesday about a Monday shooting on the Wind River Indian Reservation involving a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer.
Clair McFarlandMarch 15, 2022
Legislators Look For Ways To Exempt American Indians From Online Sales Tax
Sen. Affie Ellis said the bill would ensure that "if you're an Indian person and you're purchasing something online that would normally be subject to state sales tax, on the reservation, then you are exempt."
Clair McFarlandMarch 15, 2022
Ethete Legislator Claims Fellow Lawmaker Made Death Threat Against Her
Rep. Andi LeBeau, D-Ethete, said she was recovering from a death threat made by fellow legislator Rep. John Romero-Martinez, R-Cheyenne.
Clair McFarlandMarch 15, 2022
Legislators Concerned Police Put Themselves Above The Law; Prosecutors Disagree
While discussing a gun rights bill that he believed was weak, Rep. Bob Wharff said he knows of two instances where county prosecutors refused to charge police officers implicated in wrongdoing.
Clair McFarlandMarch 12, 2022
Clair McFarland: Driving Lessons With A 9-Year-Old
Clair McFarland writes: "Sometimes I let the kid drive. For a 9-year-old to be given a Honda Accord, the interior conditions must be perfect: brotherly harmony, mild heating, minimal flatulence."
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2022
Ban On Russian Oil Not Likely To Help Wyoming Industry Unless Biden Lifts Restrictions on Federal Lands
Unless President Biden lifts his restrictions on leasing and permitting of federal land for oil and gas development, Wyoming is unlikely to see an increase in production.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2022
Flu Tracking In Wyo Back After Two Years, Infections Slightly Above Projections
After a hiatus of nearly two years, the Wyoming Department of Health is tracking influenza infections once again.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2022
Bill Making Meth Use By Pregnant Women A Felony Dies In Senate
State Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, told the Senate he opposed the bill because he wanted to see more emphasis on treatment and was worried women would get abortions in prison.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2022
Wyoming House, Senate Approve $2.7 Billion Budget; On Its Way To Governor’s Office
A two-year budget detailing spending of roughly $2.7 billion from the states main bank account in fiscal 2023-24 was approved Monday by both the Wyoming House and Senate.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2022
Senate Committee Approves Bill Creating Felony For Meth Use While Pregnant
A bill classifying methamphetamine use while pregnant a felony crime narrowly passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, winning approval on a 3-2 vote despite some vocal opposition.
Clair McFarlandMarch 04, 2022
Wyoming Experts On Indian Culture Welcome Elimination Of ‘Squaw’
The prospect of changing landmark names in Wyoming to remove the word squaw -- like "squaw teats" -- is being met with sighs of relief from two Indian culture experts in Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandMarch 04, 2022