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
Wyoming Legislators Wear Red To Warn Of Projected $700 Million Budget Deficit
Some Wyoming House members wore red jackets Tuesday to a legislative committee meeting as a warning of a projected nearly $700 million deficit. Detractors of the visual protest say those same lawmakers helped gouge state revenues.
Clair McFarlandJune 25, 2025
Gillette Man Who Admitted Child Sex Crimes While Applying For Deputy Job Gets Deal
A Gillette man is set to plead guilty to child molestation Monday. Prosecutors say he confessed to the crimes while applying for a job at the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office before he was to take a polygraph test.
Clair McFarlandJune 24, 2025
After Intense Backlash, Lee To ‘Significantly Reduce’ Public Lands Up For Sale
After intense backlash over his plan to sell off federal public land in 11 Western states, including Wyoming, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee is scaling it back. He said late Monday he will “significantly reduce” the scope of his plan.
Clair McFarlandJune 24, 2025
Riverton Car Chase Hits 130 MPH, Ends In Rollover
Authorities on Saturday arrested a Riverton man for DUI and felony eluding after he bolted northward through a construction zone, hitting 130 mph in a car chase. Wyoming troopers did a tactical intervention, and the car rolled repeatedly.
Clair McFarlandJune 24, 2025
Provenza Says Gordon, Hageman Are 'Partners In Public Land Grab'
As debate intensifies over the sale of federal lands, state Rep. Karlee Provenza says actions last year in a federal court case show Gov. Mark Gordon and Harriet Hageman are "partners in the public land grab."
Clair McFarlandJune 24, 2025
Riverton Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside Pleads Guilty
The 29-year-old Riverton man who stole a car with a baby inside in it in February pleaded guilty Friday to one count of felony kidnapping. He faces a sentence of between eight and 10 years in prison or could be sent to a “boot camp” program.
Clair McFarlandJune 23, 2025
Rock Springs Man Shot In Neck During Weekend Altercation, No Arrests Yet
Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office says no arrests have yet been made, but there is a person of interest in a Saturday evening altercation that left a man shot in the neck. An investigation continues, and there’s no threat to the public.
Clair McFarlandJune 23, 2025
Witnesses, Evidence Say Man Arrested At Speech Tournament Was With East High Team
Despite the school district saying a Cheyenne man arrested Thursday for causing a panic and stampede at the national high school speech competition wasn't associated with the East High team, witnesses and evidence say he was.
Clair McFarlandJune 21, 2025
Wyo Legislative Leaders Range From Lukewarm To Angry On Public Lands Sale
Leaders of the Wyoming Legislature range from lukewarm to angry about the proposed sale of federal public lands in Wyoming and 10 other Western states. And even though they can’t do anything about it, they’re hearing from constituents.
Clair McFarlandJune 20, 2025
Cheyenne Man Arrested After Causing Panic At National Speech And Debate Tourney
A 22-year-old Cheyenne man with four national speech championship wins to his name was arrested Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, on claims he created a panic at the National Speech and Debate tournament that cleared the venue. He faces charges of disorderly conduct and drug possession.
Clair McFarlandJune 20, 2025
Wyoming Trooper Rolls Vehicle Stopping Colorado Homicide Suspect
A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper rolled his vehicle Friday morning near Cheyenne while grappling the truck wheel of a homicide suspect who was fleeing Colorado, the local sheriff says.
Clair McFarlandJune 20, 2025
In ‘Extremely Rare’ Case, Rock Springs Woman Charged With Making Child Porn
In what authorities say is an “extremely rare” case, a Rock Springs woman is facing child pornography charges in Sweetwater County felony court. She’s scheduled to plead Monday on charges she made, delivered and possessed child porn.
Clair McFarlandJune 20, 2025
Wyoming Schools Say Banning Gun-Free Zones Is Hiking Insurance Rates
Multiple Wyoming school districts say the repeal of Wyoming’s gun-free zones has prompted hikes in their liability insurance costs. The situation sparked debate between supporters and detractors of the new law at a legislative committee this week.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2025
Brief: Two Gillette Motorcyclists Killed In Head-On Near Wright
Two Gillette men died Wednesday when a work truck collided head-on with both their motorcycles on the highway between Wright and Newcastle. Fatigue for the truck driver is being investigated as the cause of the crash.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2025
Degenfelder Plans $6.4 Million School Choice Payout, But Judge Could Stop It
As a lawsuit against the program escalates, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder is still planning at this point to pay out $6.44 million for school choice July 1. A judge could decide next week to halt the payments.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2025
Gillette Nursing Home Ignored Signs Of Fatal Overdose, Family Claims In Lawsuit
A Tramadol overdose in November killed Rhonda Parker, 66, who was living at a Gillette assisted living center. Her family sued the care facility Wednesday, claiming caretakers ignored severe signs of her overdose for hours before she died.
Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2025
US Supreme Court Upholds Child Sex-Change Ban That’s Similar To Wyoming’s
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s ban on medical treatments related to gender changes for kids. That smooths the way for Wyoming's similar ban to survive in federal court, though it's still unclear how it would fare in state court.
Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2025
Blue-Collar Sector To Wyoming Schools: Give Us More Welders
With voids of unfilled technical education jobs in Wyoming — like welders, plumbers and construction workers — the state needs to adjust its education system to those fields. That was the message from the state’s blue-collar sector to legislators Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2025
Bloody, Beaten Man Found In Wheatland Liquor Store Is Alive, Family Says
A man found bloody and beaten in a shuttered Wheatland liquor store Saturday night is alive, his family says. Meanwhile, a 39-year-old local man was charged Monday with aggravated burglary on the theory he broke into the store to attack the other man.
Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2025
Parents Suing State Claim Voucher Program Could Alienate Gay, Trans Students
The same judge who ruled against the state of Wyoming on funding public education has been assigned to a lawsuit challenging school vouchers. Some parents in the lawsuit claim vouchers can alienate “queer,” transgender and nonbinary students.
Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2025
Photographer Wanted To Shoot Lightning; He Found Rarely Seen Lightning Bugs
A photographer out to get shots of lightning Saturday found a field full of rarely seen lightning bugs near Clearmont, Wyoming. It was a rare sighting because the bugs typically come out in humid weather, something in short supply here.
Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2025