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
Wyoming Senate District 6 Finalists Share Values But Differ On Legislative Approach
The three contenders for the Wyoming Senate seat vacated by Darin Smith are all pro-life, pro-ICE, and pro-restriction of sexual content in children’s libraries. But they differ in how they’d approach those issues.
Clair McFarlandAugust 28, 2025
Riverton Oil Field Burglars Plead Guilty After Armed Standoff, Shrapnel Injury
Two men admitted to an aggravated burglary that led to a gunshot shrapnel injury and manhunt in plea agreements with prosecutors. One faces 10-30 years in prison and the other would be eligible for a youthful offender program.
Clair McFarlandAugust 27, 2025
Now A Candidate For Gov, 50-Year-Old Rule Says Eric Barlow Can’t Chair Committee
Now that state Sen. Eric Barlow has announced he’s running for governor, he’s stepped down as chairman of a state legislative committee. That’s because of a 50-year-old rule that says candidates for statewide office can’t chair legislative committees.
Clair McFarlandAugust 27, 2025
Two-Thirds Of Wyoming House Sign Letter Urging Trump To Pardon Diesel Mechanic
Two-thirds of Wyoming's state House on Tuesday urged President Trump to pardon Troy Lake, a 65-year-old diesel mechanic in prison for stripping emissions systems from trucks. The 41 Republican House members called his prosecution EPA overreach.
Clair McFarlandAugust 27, 2025
Albany County Man Accused Of Killing Wild Horse With ATV
An Albany County man accused of fatally ramming a wild horse with his ATV told Cowboy State Daily the neighbor who turned him in is retaliating over a land use dispute. The neighbor said that's not the case, and the act was cruel.
Clair McFarlandAugust 26, 2025
Brief: Platte County Sheriff David Russell Resigns
The Platte County Commission accepted the resignation of Sheriff David Russell on Tuesday, effective Sept. 30. A reason for his resignation wasn’t given to the public. Russell was elected sheriff in 2022 at the age of 31.
Clair McFarlandAugust 26, 2025
Cheyenne Woman Arrested On Shoplifting Charge Dies In Jail
A 47-year-old woman arrested on shoplifting charges Saturday was uncooperative but otherwise seemed fine, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office says. She was later found unresponsive and died that night, the agency reported Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandAugust 26, 2025
Wyoming Senators Cheer Trump’s Order Against Flag-Burners, But Is It Legal?
President Trump’s new order calls for stricter prosecution for people who burn American flags while committing other crimes. It drew praise from Wyoming’s U.S. Senators while getting strong criticism from a leading First Amendment expert.
Clair McFarlandAugust 26, 2025
Wyoming Democrats Lead Statewide Listening Tour On Public Lands, Hot-Button Issues
Democratic state Reps. Karlee Provenza and Mike Yin are holding town halls across Wyoming to learn which issues trouble people most. They're also riding the momentum of a public lands outcry Provenza led this summer.
Clair McFarlandAugust 25, 2025
After Fatal Wyoming Incident, Sig Sauer M18 Pistol Back In Use At Air Force Bases
The section of the U.S. Air Force that oversees the military branch’s bases is putting the Sig Sauer M18 handgun back in use, the USAF announced Sunday. It had paused the M18’s use for a month after the July shooting death of a Wyoming-based airman.
Clair McFarlandAugust 25, 2025
Death Along Road Near Prison Farm North Of Riverton
A death Saturday morning on Honor Farm Road near the prison farm just north of Riverton brought at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles and prompted an hourslong investigation. In an update, the sheriff's office reported that a juvenile male was stabbed fatally.
Clair McFarlandAugust 23, 2025
Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Sorority Over Wyoming Trans Member — Again
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority Friday for allowing a transgender member into its University of Wyoming chapter. It's the second time the judge has tossed the claim.
Clair McFarlandAugust 23, 2025
Wyoming Highway Patrol, Truckers Support Trump's Work Visa Pause For Drivers
Wyoming officials and industry leaders support the Trump administration’s pause on issuing work visas for commercial truck driving, but critics say the move targets a small group and overlooks broader trucking safety issues.
Clair McFarlandAugust 23, 2025
Rock Springs State Legislator Has Missed All Interim Meetings To Date
A state legislator from Rock Springs has not attended any meetings of the two interim committees he's on. Darin McCann told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that he didn’t realize the interim is so active and meetings are on days he can’t get away from work.
Clair McFarlandAugust 22, 2025
Judge Allows Claim That Large Investors Conspired To Drive Up Coal, Energy Costs
A lawsuit by Wyoming and 10 other states can continue against giant investment companies, on claims they conspired to drive up coal and energy costs. They used their pull as coal shareholders to push “a climate activist agenda,” Gov. Mark Gordon has said.
Clair McFarlandAugust 22, 2025
Lyman Man To Plead Guilty In Fort Bridger Murder, Faces 50-75 Years In Prison
A Lyman man accused of killing another man by shooting him about 10 times last August has agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. If the judge accepts the plea agreement, Gray will be sentenced to 50-75 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2025
Why It Took 18 Months And A Grand Jury Indictment To Charge Cody Roberts
Difficulties with evidence and a murder case delayed the investigation into Cody Roberts, the Daniel man accused of abusing a wolf last year. Now, Sublette County’s top prosecutor faces walking a legal tightrope if he wants to convict.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2025
Federal Appeals Court Says Waiting Periods To Buy Guns Are Unconstitutional
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Wyoming, has ruled that waiting periods to buy guns are unconstitutional. The ruling makes New Mexico's waiting-period law "likely" unconstitutional and casts doubt on a similar law in Colorado.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2025
Wyoming National Guard Feeling Money Pinch From Inauguration, ICE Missions
The Wyoming National Guard is preparing to help ICE, and provided $250,000 worth of security for President Trump’s inauguration. Now the Guard is bracing to cut back on normal "business," saying those responses could cause a budget shortfall if Congress doesn't help.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2025
Cody Roberts, Accused Daniel Wolf Abuser, Indicted For Felony Cruelty To Animals
A Sublette County grand jury on Wednesday greenlit the indictment of Daniel man Cody Roberts for cruelty to animals, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $5,000, the county’s top prosecutor says.
Clair McFarlandAugust 20, 2025
Counselor's Sexual Harassment Case Against Casper Psychiatrist Is ‘Resolved’
The lawsuit filed by a licensed counselor accusing a Casper-based psychiatrist of sexual harassment has been resolved and dismissed without a trial. Along with making sexually-charged comments to women, he allegedly would joke about his own genitals.
Clair McFarlandAugust 20, 2025