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
Lawsuit Claims Wyoming Billionaire, 89, Propositioned Employees For Orgies
Hansjörg Wyss, an 89-year-old Teton County billionaire is being sued in a California court. He’s accused of repeatedly propositioning a woman and her husband who worked for his company to have orgies with him.
Clair McFarlandMay 16, 2025
ICE Arrests Wanted Illegal Mexican National In Casper Operation
ICE officers met with other federal agents just before 4 a.m. Thursday in Casper to plan the arrest of a wanted illegal Mexican National. In what the agency calls the first Wyoming ICE ride-along it knows of, Cowboy State Daily documented the operation.
Clair McFarlandMay 16, 2025
Bridget Hill Will Conflict Out Of About Half Of Wyoming Supreme Court Cases
It will be six to nine months before the Wyoming Supreme Court’s newest justice can participate fully. That’s because Bridget Hill, who will soon be sworn in as a justice, has represented the state on at least half the appeals the high court is hearing.
Clair McFarlandMay 14, 2025
Mom Accused Of Giving Guns To Sheridan Cop-Killer Gets Plea Agreement
The mother of a man who killed a Sheridan police sergeant in February 2024, has a plea agreement with prosecutors over allegations she gave her son guns. The public can't see her plea since the federal authorities for Wyoming keeps those private.
Clair McFarlandMay 14, 2025
Evanston Couple Get 6 Months For Child Abuse In Death Of Baby Found In Filth
An Evanston couple got six months in jail Tuesday for child abuse after the death of their 9-month-old. The sentence comes after a prosecutor conceded there wasn’t enough evidence that their filthy home or neglect associated with it killed the baby.
Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025
Studying Obscenity Laws And Sex Books In Libraries No. 1 Priority For Committee
The No. 1 priority for the Wyoming Legislature’s interim Judiciary Committee is to consider tying sex books in libraries to state obscenity laws. The debate continues years of controversy over sexually graphic books available to kids in libraries.
Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025
Remains Found By Construction Workers In Cheyenne Field 7 Months Ago Identified
The remains of a man found by construction workers in a field just south of Cheyenne last October have been identified as Roy Arthur Moates of Laramie County. The discovery of his human remains prompted a two-day, 50-person search of the field.
Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025
Wright Woman Accused Of Torturing Man For Three Days Pleads Insanity
A Wright woman accused of taping a man to a chair and torturing him for three days has entered an insanity plea. She claims in a court filing last week that she had “extreme paranoia” at the time.
Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025
Legislators Eye Tougher Fines For Officials Who Won't Give Up Public Records
Wyoming lawmakers decided Friday to consider assessing harsher penalties for public officials who don’t produce public documents upon request.
Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025
Court Gives Sorority Women 30-Day Deadline In Lawsuit Over Wyoming Trans Member
A Wyoming-based federal judge is giving the women suing their sorority for inducting a Wyoming transgender member 30 days to re-file their lawsuit or give up the case. The women's attorney told Cowboy State Daily they plan to refile the case.
Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025
Laramie County Man Gets Four Years For Mercy-Killing Friend
A Laramie County man was sentenced Friday to four years in prison, for mercy-killing his friend. Court documents say Switzer's friend had a pending criminal case for child pornography, had just increased his life insurance policy and made other end-of-life arrangements.
Clair McFarlandMay 11, 2025
Wyoming Hasn't Executed Anyone In 33 Years, But It's Tried
It's been 33 years since Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan stood in his office next to his priest, warring with himself over the execution of convicted serial killer Mark Hopkinson. The state hasn't executed anyone since that day — but it's tried.
Clair McFarlandMay 10, 2025
Voter-Rights Group Sues Over Wyoming's Proof Of Citizenship Voter Law
A voter-rights group filed a lawsuit Friday asking a federal court to block Wyoming’s new proof of citizenship and residency rules for voting. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says the challenge is “the radical left” making “false claims.”
Clair McFarlandMay 10, 2025
Thousands Sign Petition To Ease Trump Mandate For English-Speaking Truckers
Commercial truck drivers for whom English is a second language are galvanizing. A petition opposing President Trump’s mandate all truckers speak English has amassed nearly 5,000 signatures.
Clair McFarlandMay 10, 2025
Wyoming Legislators Consider Banning Public Money Going To Lobby Groups
Wyoming mayors and other public officials lined up Friday to argue against a proposal to ban public money going to groups that lobby for them. Despite the show of force, a legislative committee decided to continue considering it.
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025
'Poor' Chance Of Settlement In Jackson Hospital Lawsuit Over Gangrene Death
A lawsuit brought against a Jackson-based hospital over the gangrene death of an illegal immigrant has a “poor” chance of reaching a settlement, according to a Thursday filing in the case.
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025
Wrong-Way Driver Shuts Down I-90 With Claim Of Bomb In Vehicle
A Gillette man drove the wrong way on Interstate 90 three times Thursday as he led law enforcement on a 70-95 mph chase. He then claimed there was a bomb in his vehicle, but it turned out to be a possibly drug-induced perception of loose and exposed wires.
Clair McFarland & Jen KocherMay 09, 2025
Hageman Wants To Halt Student Visas For Colleges In ‘Sanctuary Cities’
Harriet Hageman introduced a bill Thursday to keep student visas from being issued in “sanctuary” cities that don’t cooperate with ICE. She says it’s a response to those “who seek to elevate the interests of foreign nationals above our own citizens.”
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025
Chuck Gray Supports 22 New Election-Reform Bills, Committee To Study 10
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray expressed support for 22 election-reform bills during a meeting with legislators Thursday in Lander. The committee chose to take up 10 for study, ranging from requiring photo-identification to random hand counts.
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025
Feds Don't Believe Sheridan Cop Killer Stole Guns From His Mom
A federal prosecutor Wednesday voiced skepticism of a Wyoming woman’s claims that her son stole her guns before he killed a Sheridan police sergeant in February 2024. She’s accused of buying the guns for her son, who is a convicted felon.
Clair McFarlandMay 08, 2025
Man Accused Of Trashing Kinnear Post Office Faces Less Time Under Federal Charge
Federal charges against the man arrested on suspicion of trashing the Kinnear post office may mean a lighter sentence compared to state charges. His case was moved to federal court Monday.
Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2025