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
Laramie County Jail To Open Wyoming’s First In-House Mental Health Sections
Nearly half of the inmates in the Laramie County jail have some sort of mental illness, and about 11% are “extremely” ill. That’s why the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office created Wyoming’s first in-house jail pods specifically for mentally ill inmates.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025
‘I-90’ Jane Doe, Suspected Victim Of Serial Killer, Identified After 33 Years
A young, petite, pregnant woman found dead with beating and strangulation injuries 33 years ago in a borrow ditch 15 miles north of Sheridan has been identified as Cindi Arleen Estrada. She’s one of two alleged Wyoming victims of an accused serial killer.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025
Wyoming Senators Say Their Votes To Defund Public Media Due To Left-Wing Bias
In statements and interviews with Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday, Sens. Lummis and Barrasso said their votes for massive cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are warranted because of what they call a left-wing bias of its public media outlets.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025
Man Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting ID'd As 37-Year-Old Worland Resident
The man killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday in Worland was 37-year-old Derek Fyffe, the coroner confirmed Wednesday. He reportedly shot at officers as they approached him near a bridge, who returned fire.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025
Wyoming Judge Blocks School-Choice Program, This Time For Months
A Wyoming judge on Tuesday blocked Wyoming's school-choice program from going into effect, for a period of months or years during a legal challenge against it. The program is likely unconstitutional, wrote the judge.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025
Now A Legislative Committee Investigating Weston County Clerk's Election Errors
The Management Audit Committee is forming a task force to investigate the Weston County clerk's handling of the 2024 election, where multiple errors warped uncontested races. Secretary of State Chuck Gray applauds the move, while others question it.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025
One Man Dead, Officer Wounded In Shootout With Police In Worland
A man is dead and an officer wounded after a Monday shootout on a bridge in Worland, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Worland Police Department confirmed Tuesday. The officer sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2025
Former Thermopolis Police Sergeant Claims He Can't Be Sued For Fatal Shootout
A former Thermopolis police sergeant in a Monday court filing denied any wrongdoing in a fatal April 2023 shootout that left a local man dead. Former Sgt. Mike Mascorro also says he's protected by qualified immunity, therefore can't be sued.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2025
Man Gets 4.5 Years For Stealing $14M In Gold And Silver From 90-Year-Old Dad
A 61-year-old New Zealand man was sentenced Monday to 4-4.5 years in a Wyoming prison after stealing $14 million in gold and silver from his 90-year-old father’s house in Lincoln County, Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025
Man Killed In Pinedale Alley Was Shot From 2-3 Feet Away
The Sublette County Coroner confirmed Monday the identify of the 67-year-old local man shot to death Friday in a Pinedale, Wyoming, alley. The man was shot from about 2-3 feet away, the Sublette County Coroner says.
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025
Suspected Green River Bomber To Have His Sanity Checked
The man accused of injuring his ex-wife with a bomb in 1982, then running from the law for 43 years, will have his sanity checked. Stephen Campbell also is accused of stealing $140,000 in Social Security benefits using the name of a dead college classmate.
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025
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