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
"Pisses Me Off": Rock Springs Businessman Angered At Gov Candidate's Accusations
A Rock Springs businessman said gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Bextel's accusations about him are "pissing him off." Bextel has claimed that Bruce Pivic approached her at a UW game "foaming at the mouth," which he says didn't happen.
Clair McFarlandOctober 21, 2026
Barrasso, Hageman, And Lummis Endorse Chuck Gray And Eric Barlow
Wyoming congressional delegates Barrasso, Lummis and Hageman bridged the vast differences between Chuck Gray and Eric Barlow on Wednesday, to endorse them both. Gray is an early founder of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, while Barlow has never joined it.
Clair McFarlandOctober 21, 2026
Alpine Mayor Race Getting Heated After Controversial Roundabout Experiment
The race for mayor of Alpine has grown heated, and the town's temporary roundabout experiment didn’t help. Candidate Bill Saks called it a failure from the start and his opponent, Town Council Member Jeremy Larsen chuckled, “Such a positive man."
Clair McFarlandOctober 21, 2026
Steve Harshman, Who Once Tried To Eliminate Property Taxes, Says He Can't Vote For Prop 1
Steve Harshman, the longest-serving state House member, says he can't vote for the 50% tax cut Prop 1. He led a blockbuster effort to cut nearly all residential property taxes in 2024, but he says that measure had more guardrails.
Clair McFarlandOctober 21, 2026
Oklahoma Tribe Buys One Of The Biggest Horse Betting Operations In Wyoming
The Oklahoma-based Chickasaw Nation has bought one of the biggest horse betting operations in Wyoming, including Horse Palace locations and Sweetwater Downs. The sale includes "the entire operations" of Wyoming Holdings LLC, said a gaming official.
Clair McFarlandOctober 20, 2026
Reid Rasner Sues A Seventh Person, This Time A Union Leader, For Defamation
Former Wyoming congressional candidate Reid Rasner this week sued a seventh person for defamation. This time Rasner's target is a United Steelworkers rep out of Green River. Rasner claims William Wilkinson started a salacious gossip campaign on Facebook.
Clair McFarlandOctober 20, 2026
Company Powering Google's Data Center Gives $105M For Yellowstone Conservation
The energy company behind a 2.7-gigawatt data center for Google in Cheyenne is donating $105 million to conservation and education efforts in Yellowstone. Gov. Gordon said he loves the Tallgrass donation because “Yellowstone needs infrastructure."
Clair McFarlandOctober 20, 2026
National Election Analysts Say Wyoming House Race Isn't A Slam Dunk For GOP
Although Wyoming has sent only Republicans to the U.S. House for 50 years, a national nonpartisan analysis group says the GOP lock on the state is no longer a certainty. Inside Elections has moved the race from "Solid Republican" To "Likely Republican."
Clair McFarlandOctober 19, 2026
Man Who Sued Lander Cops Settles For $45,000, Then Gets Arrested Again
A Lander man who received a $45,000 settlement after accusing Lander Police Department officers of excessive force is back in jail. Kayvon Powell, 34, was arrested days after his settlement was finalized, on charges of strangulation and domestic battery.
Clair McFarlandOctober 19, 2026
Wyoming Gov. Gordon Endorses Eric Barlow For Governor
Wyoming's outgoing Gov. Mark Gordon endorsed Sen. Eric Barlow for the seat Monday over opponents Rebecca Bextel and Ken Casner. In the endorsement, Gordon said Barlow was a "leader, a doer and the one who has my most enthusiastic endorsement."
Clair McFarlandOctober 19, 2026
Wyoming Legislator Says He’ll Push Anti-Dark Money Measure After Committee Doesn’t
A Wyoming Legislative committee declined Thursday to draft a letter to Congress urging a constitutional amendment to ban dark money in politics. “It’s something we need to look at closely,” said Sen. Ed Cooper, who promised to push the issue.
Clair McFarlandOctober 17, 2026
Prop 1 Supporters Blast Fire Dept's Cancellation Of Trunk Or Treat As 'Propaganda'
After the Laramie County Fire Authority said they were cancelling its trunk-or-treat due to property tax cuts, supporters of Prop 1 mocked the post as "propaganda" and said it is a political stunt "to tacitly shame people into not voting for a tax cut."
Clair McFarlandOctober 16, 2026
Judge Deciding Whether To Hold Sheriff Kozak In Contempt Over Immigration Records
A Cheyenne judge said Friday she's considering holding Sheriff Brian Kozak in contempt over a delayed handoff of public records to immigration attorneys. Kozak says search results were huge and chaotic, while an immigration attorney claims it was intentional.
Clair McFarlandOctober 16, 2026
With No Chuck Gray At U.S. House Debate, Opponents Offer Anyone-But-Chuck Strategies
Three of four candidates for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat fielded questions Thursday evening at a Wyoming Public Television debate — without Republican nominee Chuck Gray. Minus Gray, two of the other candidates offered anyone-but-Chuck strategies for voters.
Clair McFarlandOctober 16, 2026
Better Wyoming PAC Attack Mailers Targeting Republicans Hit This Week
A Wyoming political action committee (PAC) launched attack mailers this week against some Republicans running for two of the rare purple seats in the state Legislature. “It’s almost to a point where it’s close to libel,” said one candidate targeted.
Clair McFarlandOctober 15, 2026
Wyoming Highway Patrol Investigating "Threatening" Letter To Elections Office
The Wyoming Highway Patrol and federal agencies are investigating a "threatening" letter discovered at the Capitol on Thursday morning, targeting the Secretary of State's office. Election offices in at least five other states were also targeted this week.
Clair McFarlandOctober 15, 2026
At Wyoming Gov. Debate, Bextel Bashes Barlow Almost The Whole Time
Constitution Party candidate Rebecca Bextel took every chance to bash Republican Eric Barlow, calling him a “swamp creature” and a “Democrat” during Wednesday’s PBS Wyoming governor’s debate in Riverton.
Clair McFarlandOctober 15, 2026
If Proposition 1 Passes, Teton County Residents Will Benefit The Most
Teton County residents will benefit the most if Prop. 1, the 50% residential property tax cut ballot initiative, passes, data shows. Residents would save nearly 25% of projected statewide savings. "This is a dream for Teton County," Sen. Cale Case said.
Clair McFarlandOctober 14, 2026
Embattled Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell Resigns
The Wyoming Business Council accepted the resignation of CEO Josh Dorrell on Wednesday. Challenges and controversies flanked Dorrell's tenure, from the state routing COVID relief funds through the agency, to lawmakers trying to eliminate it.
Clair McFarlandOctober 14, 2026
Chinese National Studying At UW Tries To Flee After Charged With Poisoning Colleague
A University of Wyoming graduate student is accused of poisoning her colleague, then trying to flee to China through the Los Angeles International Airport. She was arrested, and is expected to be held in Albany County on a $15 million cash bond.
Clair McFarlandOctober 14, 2026
Former GOP Chair Eathorne Endorses Constitution Candidate Bextel For Governor
Former Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne has endorsed Rebecca Bextel, the Constitution Party candidate, in the race for governor. Eathorne’s endorsement is “quite a turn for the man who preached ‘ride for the brand,’” said a former state GOP delegate.
Clair McFarlandOctober 13, 2026