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
Must Be Campaign Season: Rasner, Gray Blast Each Other
Reid Rasner this week accused Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray of hypocrisy for backing wind leases despite criticizing the industry frequently. Gray fired back, calling Rasner’s attacks desperate and linking him to “Las Vegas values.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 24, 2026
Reid Rasner Sues A Fifth Person For Defamation
Wyoming U.S. House candidate Reid Rasner has sued a fifth person for defamation — this time in federal court. That brings the total case count to four. "Mr. Rasner has been the victim of individuals making hateful and untrue statements about him," the lawsuit reads.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2026
Wyoming AG Says Pulling Retired Judge Into Abortion Case Amounts To Judge Shopping
Trying to convince a retired judge to add a fresh challenge against Wyoming’s newest abortion ban into a case that’s been ongoing for a year amounts to “judge shopping,” a Wyoming Attorney General’s deputy argued. A hearing is set for March 30.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2026
Big Horn Prosecutor Seeks Trial For Manhunt Escapee Accused Of Drugging, Raping Teen
Big Horn County’s top prosecutor is asking for a trial date in the case of a man accused of force-feeding a 15-year-old girl Adderall before sexually assaulting her and evading law enforcement for two months. Anthony Pease faces four counts of first degree sexual assault and numerous other charges.
Clair McFarlandMarch 23, 2026
Gordon Declines To Fire Two Hot Springs County Commissioners
Gov. Mark Gordon declined Friday to remove two of Hot Springs County’s three commissioners from office, despite seven locals asking him to do so in October. He said although he disagreed with their actions, they don't rise to the level of misconduct.
Clair McFarlandMarch 21, 2026
Wheatland Man Accused In Hatchet Standoff Says He Wasn’t Sane Enough To Be Guilty
A Wheatland man accused of kicking police officers as they wrestled him away from a standoff where he’d wielded a hatchet has told the court that he’s wasn’t mentally well enough during that incident to be found guilty of a crime pertaining to it.
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2026
Wyoming's U.S. Attorney Says Jackson-Area Cocaine Ring Has Links To Mexican Cartel
Wyoming's U.S. Attorney Darin Smith on Friday said federal, Wyoming and Idaho law enforcement have taken down a Jackson-area drug ring with ties to a Mexican drug cartel. "This cooperation works; we take the bad guys off the streets," he said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2026
Bar Nunn Mayor Says ‘Sleazy’ For Rasner Lawsuit To Be Served At Council Meeting
Bar Nunn’s mayor said it was “sleazy” that a Reid Rasner defamation lawsuit was served against a councilman during a public meeting Tuesday. “That’s probably the lowest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2026
Why Didn't The Legislature Ask Wyoming Voters To Decide If Abortion Is Health Care?
Some lawmakers say the Legislature didn't ask voters to settle whether abortion is health care because they fear the pro-abortion lobby will flood Wyoming with out-of-state money to block a pro-life vote and cement the right to abortion.
Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2026
Chair Of The Wyoming Freedom Caucus Runs For Secretary of State
Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams has entered the race for Wyoming Secretary of State. She supports Chuck Gray’s conservative platform but said she'll collaborate well with clerks. Robert Short also vies for the GOP nomination, and Bryan McCarty's running as a Democrat.
Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2026
Evanston Man Accused Of Killing Dad Not Freed After Self Defense Claim
An Evanston man accused of killing his father in their home will not have his case dismissed early on self-defense grounds, a judge ruled. Court documents say the defendant texted his grandma, "If he tries to break into my room I will defend myself."
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2026
Battle For Biteman's Seat: House Rep. Ken Pendergraft Vies To Move Over To Senate
Rep. Ken Pendergraft, a member of the Freedom Caucus who wants to defund the Wyoming Business Council, is running for an open Senate seat in Sheridan County. He faces a Wyoming business owner who says “burning it down” isn’t the answer.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2026
U.S. House Candidate Reid Rasner Sues Three More People For Defamation
U.S. House candidate and Casper businessman Reid Rasner has sued three more people for defamation. One of the persons said she's not afraid of him and "bring it on." Rasner says the three Natrona County residents have made salacious claims about him.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2026
Hageman Announces $100 Million To Fix Collapsed Goshen County Irrigation Tunnel
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman announced a $100 million federal appropriation to rebuild a collapsed Goshen County irrigation tunnel that feeds Wyoming and Nebraska farmers. Securing the money “was a huge priority,” she said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2026
As 2026 Election Heats Up, Wyoming Political Candidates Stockpiling Endorsements
A flood of political endorsements for some Wyoming statewide candidates is surging now that the Legislature has adjourned. Megan Degenfelder and Chuck Gray appear to be the most active in pursuing this strategy.
Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2026
Supreme Court Ruling Could Impact Wyoming Parents Suing Over School Trans Policy
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could impact a lawsuit filed by parents over a Rock Springs school district’s policies regarding transgender students. That high court decision says schools can’t mislead parents about their kids’ gender transition efforts.
Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2026
Prosecutor Says Deputy Handcuffed Allemand For Safety, Not To Interrogate Him
The prosecutor charging Rep. Bill Allemand on drunk driving allegations says he was handcuffed during his Buffalo traffic stop for safety reasons, not as part of an illegal interrogation. He made a "reckless movement" near a gun, the prosecutor wrote.
Clair McFarlandMarch 16, 2026
Teton County Says It 'Miscalculated' $24,000 Housing Fee, Refunds Money To Couple
Teton County said it miscalculated a $24,325 fee it charged a couple for building a home on their own property and gave them a refund plus interest. The refund made it harder for the couple to keep suing the county, which their lawyer called "convenient."
Clair McFarlandMarch 16, 2026
Clair McFarland: For Middleborn, On His Birthday
Clair McFarland writes, "It’s weird, but the warnings about me bleeding out and dying didn’t matter that much. You were here, and that was plenty. Hard to believe that was 14 years ago today. I wouldn't trade it. Not for anything."
Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2026
Wyoming Reporter Arrested For Using Forged Documents To Fight Wind Farm
A Wyoming reporter faces 10 felony charges for allegedly forging documents and lying about her credentials while opposing a controversial wind farm project in southeastern Wyoming. According to court documents, investigators found evidence she tried to deceive the state's environmental permitting panel.
Clair McFarlandMarch 13, 2026
Wyoming Freedom PAC Pushes Judge To Kill Defamation Case Over Trump Mailers
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus’s campaign arm is asking a Green River judge to end a defamation lawsuit by two GOP lawmakers over mailers claiming they tried to remove Trump from the ballot. The PAC says the ads weren’t defamatory and the lawmakers didn't show they were harmed.
Clair McFarlandMarch 13, 2026