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
Last-Minute $5 Million Deal Saves Fremont County’s Ambulance Service
Fremont County was bracing to lose ambulance service by Thursday, but officials in a Tuesday meeting announced a last-minute, $5 million deal to keep the wagons running. “Everybody relax, you have jobs,” said the president of the EMT union.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 30, 2026
Rothfuss: Don’t Let Wyoming Governments Use AI To Make Decisions Without Humans
A legislative committee didn’t advance a bill by Laramie Sen. Chris Rothfuss on Tuesday that would bar Wyoming governmental agencies from using AI to make decisions without humans. People are "expecting the robot overlords to come and get us," he said.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2026
Teton County Tells Homebuilders To Give $3.5 Million For Nearby Roads Projects
Teton County officials told developers of a non-luxury neighborhood to pay $3.5 million toward off-site road construction. After voicing objections about paying the unprecedented "tax" on a largely philanthropic project, the developers now say they'll compromise.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2026
MLB's Pitch To Build Baseball Park In Grand Teton National Park Will Backfire, Locals Say
Major League Baseball’s idea of building a baseball park in Grand Teton National Park will backfire, local residents said Sunday. MLB has approached the Trump administration about hosting a game in the national park but locals say the idea is "abhorrent."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2026
Meet The Pardoned Delete Mechanic Who Wants To Stop Your Car From Spying On You
Pardoned mechanic Matt Geouge has built a device that blocks vehicles from spying on their drivers, because in 2018 his fiancée realized investigators were following her. Now he braces for steep opposition from manufacturers as he unveils his new product.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2026
‘Total Chaos’: A Dozen Teens Could Be Charged In Cheyenne Football Game Brawl
Cheyenne police said Thursday that they're recommending criminal charges for a dozen teens ages 13-17 involved in a brawl at a Cheyenne Central High School football game earlier this month. “Total chaos,” is how a witness described the scene.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2026
New Uniforms Make It Clear That Many National Park Rangers Are Real Cops
New uniforms make it clear that many National Park Service rangers are real cops — with “police federal officer” printed on their ballistic vests. Some say that makes it seem they’ve merged with other federal police, while others like the new branding.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2026
Hot Springs County Chair Switches From Republican To Constitution Party
Hot Springs County Commission Chair Bob Aguiar has switched from Republican to Constitution Party, as did his wife, a top staffer for unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Brent Bien. This comes as the Constitution Party fields Rebecca Bextel for governor.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2026
Oregon Man Loses Argument That Yellowstone Superintendent's Power Is Unconstitutional
An Oregon man who fished without a license in Yellowstone National Park lost an argument that the superintendent wields crime enforcement power unconstitutionally. He then pleaded guilty and was fined $500 last week.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2026
Teton County GOP Tells Donors How To Give More Than Max, Then Says Not To Do It
The Teton County Republican Party corrected itself this week after telling people how to donate above the legal limit for candidates. A local elections attorney said he finds it "refreshing" that the party chair took accountability.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2026
Barrasso Endorses Cody Republican For State House, Libertarian Opponent OK With It
Wyoming’s U.S. Sen. John Barrasso turned his attention briefly from Washington, D.C., politics to the state legislative races Tuesday to endorse Cody-based attorney David Hill for state House. Hill's libertarian opponent isn't bothered by the move.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2026
Fremont County Ambulance: Maybe We Don't Have To Go On Strike After All
The president of the union representing Fremont County's ambulance workers said their planned strike is now delayed to Oct. 1 - the day their company's contract expires anyway. But he was optimistic Tuesday that local governments will soon have a way to keep the service running.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2026
Outspoken Veterinarians Kill Bill To Let Non-Vets Do Livestock Pregnancy Checks
Large-animal veterinarians pleaded for their livelihoods Tuesday when discussing a bill that would have let non-vets pregnancy-check livestock. One rancher cried during the hours-long debate. In the end, the bill died by an 8 to 5 vote.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 22, 2026
Wyoming Group Bashes Hageman Bill Capping Conservation Easements At 30 Years
A Wyoming federal lands group is bashing a bill U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman has unveiled that would cap government conservation easements at 30 years. Hageman says it will balance landowners’ rights, while opponents claim it will harm conservation efforts.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 22, 2026
Facing Electricity Shortages, Wyoming Legislators Say Make Utilities Compete
Some Wyoming legislators are pushing a bill that would let independent power suppliers compete with utilities by selling to companies like trona mines and data centers. Four House members killed the effort, but it's coming back next week.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 21, 2026
Investigators Say No Evidence Horrific Wyoming Truck Stop Stabbing A ‘Hate Crime’
While a congressman links Sunday’s Wyoming truck stop stabbing to what he calls racist messaging from the Trump administration, investigators say there’s no evidence it was a hate crime. So far “we have zero motive,” says a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2026
Rebecca Bextel Says Legal Battle With Wyoming Game And Fish Is Political
Gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Bextel has been accused of trespassing, barred from building on her land, and locked in a legal war with Wyoming Game And Fish. She says she's a political target, while her neighbors say she violated a hunting easement.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2026
Judge To Review College Discipline Records Of Trans Activist’s Alleged Victim
A Laramie-based judge is letting a transgender person who is facing trial for allegedly pulling a gun on a man in the street subpoena university discipline records about that man. Rihanna Kelver has asserted that it was an act of self-defense.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2026
Supreme Court Says Legislature Shortchanged Schools, But Don’t Make Them Buy Computers
In a three-justice majority opinion, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Thursday the Legislature has been violating the state Constitution by shortchanging public schools. However, the state can't be forced to buy more computers or pay for school lunches.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2026
Sheridan County GOP Posts, Then Removes, Statement Backing Bextel Over Barlow
The Sheridan County Republican Party posted, then apparently took down, a statement last week touting Wyoming Constitution Party nominee Rebecca Bextel for governor over Republican Eric Barlow. The party's chair says she doesn't know who made the post.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2026
Republican, Democrat, And Libertarian All Vie For Cheyenne's 'Purple' House District
The three-way race for Wyoming's House District 11 pits libertarian Ryan Shollenberger against Republican Dan McIntosh and Democrat Britney Tennant. That's one of Wyoming's rare "purple" districts, where the libertarian's run for office is a wildcard.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2026