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
Rep. Allemand Issues Public Apology For Drunk Driving
Rep. Bill Allemand issued a public apology Friday for driving drunk last December. The state legislator pleaded guilty Wednesday to a DUI charge and was fined and sentenced to probation. “I do apologize for drinking while driving on a public road," he said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2026
Groundbreaking Bill Would Give Wyoming Residents Property Rights Over Their Data
Wyoming legislators are working on a bill to give Wyomingites property rights over their own personal data — and another to restrict license plate reader usage. "It would be far and away the strongest privacy right on the planet,” said a lawmaker.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2026
Degenfelder Releases Trump Double-Down Endorsement With A Month Before Primary
Megan Degenfelder’s campaign for Wyoming governor released a video early Thursday of President Donald Trump doubling down on his endorsement of her. The push comes with a month to go before Wyoming’s hotly contested Republican Primary election.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2026
Rep. Bill Allemand Pleads Guilty To DUI, Gets Probation And $500 Fine
Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand pleaded guilty to DUI in court Wednesday and was given one year probation and fined $500. He faces 88 days in jail if he fails probation.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
License Plate Reader Map Right That Lusk Has Them, Wrong About Cody And Gillette
As people across Wyoming raise concerns over license plate reader cameras, they're mapping cameras that might not actually be license plate readers. A new Deflock.org entry saying Lusk has them is right, but it’s wrong about Cody and Gillette.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
U.S. House Hopefuls Biteman, Balow Grilled By Riverton's Political Old Guard
U.S. House hopefuls Bo Biteman and Jillian Balow became the latest candidates to face a grilling Wednesday, by Riverton's political old-guard coffee group "The Gentry." Balow said the race has people of good character, and some "of suspect character."
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
Teton County Is So Desperate For Housing It Wants To Build It On A Morgue
Some county commissioners say putting an employee housing complex on top of a morgue makes sense due to the housing shortage but the coroner's office is strongly against it. They say the smell is like being “downwind of the carcass disposal pit."
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
On Second Thought, No Press Conference On Cheyenne Meta Data Center Contamination
Despite promising a press conference this week to address the Meta data center contamination of Cheyenne’s wastewater system, the Board of Public Utilities now says it won’t, opting instead to release a statement addressing questions.
Kate Meadows & Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
Judge May Hit Allemand’s Defense Lawyer With Contempt Charge For Missing Hearing
The judge in state Rep. Bill Allemand's ongoing DUI case may hit his defense attorney with a contempt charge for missing a hearing. The attorney says he “did not intentionally fail to appear” and calls the no-show a scheduling mishap.
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
Gray Calls Rasner ‘A Child' For Bringing His Dad Into Fiery GOP Primary Race
GOP congressional candidate Chuck Gray derided primary opponent Reid Rasner after he brought Gray’s father into the campaign by saying "Chuck Gray’s Dad Supports Reid.” Gray called it “More unhinged nonsense from Reid Rasner.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
Arapaho Tribe Tells Christian Church To Leave Reservation; Church Says No
Northern Arapaho Tribal leaders have told a Christian church to leave the reservation after the pastor preached "a pipe cannot hear your prayers.' The pastor said she's staying, and won't apologize for preaching that "Jesus is the only way."
Clair McFarlandJuly 13, 2026
One Of Rasner's Four Defamation Cases Settles, Iowa Dad Apologizes
One of congressional candidate Reid Rasner's four defamation cases has settled and the Iowa dad he sued has apologized. “I regret making social media posts accusing Mr. Rasner of misconduct and recognize that the posts were wholly false," the man said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2026
Mexican Trucker Accused Of Furious Canyon Rampage Trying To Stay In U.S.
A Mexican national who faces eight felonies is attempting to stay in the country after he allegedly chased down and tried to ram travelers off the road in Snake River Canyon. He "deliberately crossed the centerline and targeted our vehicle," one victim said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2026
Another Day, Another Huge Endorsement For U.S. House Candidate David Giralt
David Giralt acknowledges that he has less name recognition than some of the nine other Republicans he's running against in the GOP race for U.S. House. He's also touting endorsements by six sitting U.S. House members — plus rocker Ted Nugent.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2026
Wyoming Local Officials Say They Never Signed Data Center Nondisclosure Agreements
Wyoming local government leaders in data center-heavy areas who spoke with Cowboy State Daily on Thursday say they've never signed nondisclosure agreements with data center companies. The agreements can be legal if built correctly, however.
Clair McFarlandJuly 09, 2026
Hageman Demands Answers From Zuckerberg About Cheyenne Data Center Contamination
Wyoming U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman in a Thursday letter is demanding answers from Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg about how its Cheyenne data center contaminated the city’s wastewater system. “I am deeply concerned,” she wrote.
Clair McFarlandJuly 09, 2026
Arapaho Members Furious At Christian Preacher Who Spoke Against Rituals
Several Northern Arapaho Tribe members are outraged at a Christian pastor who spoke against their religious customs and encouraged worship of Jesus instead. One Arapaho member told Cowboy State Daily that the church is "not welcome here anymore."
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2026
Green River Residents Shut Down License Plate Reader Camera Project
A vocal crowd converged Tuesday on the Green River City Council meeting and opposed a $112,000 federal grant for the police department to install license plate reader cameras. Then the City Council and mayor voted 6-1 against finalizing the grant.
Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2026
Voter-Rights Groups Get New Trial Over Investigation Into 2020 Election Fraud
A court ruled Monday that voting-rights groups in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado can wage a new lawsuit against a private group that canvassed voters about potential voter fraud in the 2020 election. Their methods were intimidating, the groups allege.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2026
Hageman Opponent Sam Mead Defends $27 Donation To Bernie Sanders
A Washington, D.C., super-PAC is attacking U.S. Senate candidate Sam Mead for a $27 donation Mead made in 2019 to then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Mead defended the move Tuesday, saying it was about solving health care policy problems.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2026
Town Of Green River Considers Installing License Plate Readers To Curb 'Terrorism'
The Green River City Council is considering finalizing a $112,000 grant it's been awarded to install license-plate readers in the city. The mayor said the cameras could curb terrorism while former Libertarian lawmaker Marshall Burt says it's all "bullshit."
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2026