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
Oregon Man Charged With Assault Says Yellowstone Flagger Jumped In Front Of Jeep
An Oregon man faces the felony charge of attacking a government employee after authorities say he hit a Yellowstone National Park flagger with his Jeep. The man counters, saying the flagger jumped in front of his Jeep and tried to stop it with his hands.
Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2025
Clair McFarland: World’s Most Coddled Crime Reporter, Ready For Duty
Columnist Clair McFarland writes: "I have found after several years of covering crime, that where the capacity for violence is greatest, chivalry is also at its peak. It’s the most certain correlation I’ve found in this job."
Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2025
Brief: Gillette Man Didn’t Know Gun Was Loaded When He Shot Pet Cat Dead
A 19-year-old unintentionally killed an 8-year-old pet tabby cat while using it for what he thought was dry-fire, or unloaded, target practice inside a Gillette home Wednesday morning, police say.
Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2025
Riverton Standoff Suspect Was Supposed To Get Probation, Then Skipped Court
A Riverton man who prompted an 11-hour police standoff Wednesday and Thursday was wanted because he skipped a court hearing. At that hearing, he was supposed to receive probation on a felony-level charge for threatening to shoot up the local hospital.
Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2025
Wanted Riverton Man Tear-Gassed, Arrested To End 11-Hour Armed Standoff
A Riverton man wanted on a warrant for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" a hospital barricaded himself inside a house for about 11 hours before being tear-gassed and arrested just before 4 a.m. Thursday. He was armed with a knife and gun, police report.
Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 17, 2025
Wanted Riverton Man In Standoff With Law Enforcement
Riverton and Lander police officers and Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies have surrounded a Riverton home as of late Wednesday evening with their rifles out in an apparent standoff with a barricaded man wanted on a warrant.
Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2025
5 Teens From Wyoming Juvenile Facility Caught In Nebraska With Stolen Vehicles
Details remain sparse about five teens ages 14-17 who reportedly left a juvenile facility in Wyoming and fled through Nebraska in two stolen vehicles Sunday, then leading authorities on a foot chase.
Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025
Wyoming Tanker Truck Explosion That Killed Driver Ruled Accidental
The death of a woman Saturday in a tanker explosion north of Wright, Wyoming, was accidental, according to the Campbell County coroner. The exact origin of the explosion of a tanker carrying hydrochloric acid is still under investigation.
Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025
Future Of Abortion In Wyoming Now In Hands Of State Supreme Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case that will determine the future of abortion in Wyoming. A pro-choice coalition argued women have a right to the procedure, while the state's attorney argued the Legislature can ban it.
Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025
Former Firefighter Gets 7-12 Years For Groping Women While Giving Them Rides
A former Riverton firefighter received a prison sentence of 7-12 years Tuesday. Multiple women came forward during a monthslong investigation saying he offered them rides, then groped them.
Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2025
Jackson Man Could Be Deported For The Eighth Time If Convicted
Federal deportation authorities Monday arrested a Mexican national in Teton County, Wyoming, who has been removed from the United States seven times in the past 20 years, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025
New Top Prosecutor Named For One Of Wyoming’s Highest-Crime Counties
Fremont County has a new top prosecutor for one of the Wyoming’s most crime-riddled counties. Asked how they’d reduce crime, one of three finalists for the job said that “none of us were given a magic wand upon graduation from law school.”
Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025
Nearly All Vedauwoo Volunteer Firefighters Resign, Upset With Board Actions
Nearly all members of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday. Department leaders say the Albany County Fire District Board acted without transparency, while critics of the department say its members have been causing problems.
Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2025
Judge Says Ousted Gillette’s Librarian's Discrimination Lawsuit Can Go Forward
A fired Campbell County library director's lawsuit against the family that accused her of peddling pornography can go to forward, a federal judge ruled Friday. The judge said the civil suit can continue because the law protects LGBTQ advocates.
Clair McFarlandApril 14, 2025
Hageman Wants To Ditch Policy That Keeps Non-English-Speaking Truckers On The Road
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman wants the Dept of Transportation to reconsider a policy that allows non-English-speaking truckers on the road. The policy is a “major safety issue for all drivers," she said.
Clair McFarlandApril 12, 2025
Two Men Accused Of Drunken Rampage That Left Kinnear Post Office ‘Trashed’
Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.
Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 11, 2025
Sweetwater County Sheriff Building Local ICE Task Force
Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It will let the sheriff build an ICE task force with up to five of his own deputies.
Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025
Abortion Case Reassigned To Retired Judge Voters Can’t Oust
A pro-choice coalition’s court challenge to Wyoming’s newest abortion restrictions has been reassigned to a retired judge. That means he’s not up for retention every six years and can’t be ousted by voters.
Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025
Wyoming Man Who Says AI Driver Wrecked Train Settles With Union Pacific
A Pinedale, Wyoming, man secured a settlement against Union Pacific Railroad on Wednesday. He’d accused the railroad of making him work on a locomotive driven by an artificial intelligence system that caused a crash.
Clair McFarlandApril 10, 2025
Wyoming Gambling Law Showdown Averted After Deal Struck Over Illegal Operation
Scott Schroefel, 54, pleaded guilty to illegal gambling Wednesday in Natrona County District Court in Casper. Before the plea, Schroefel’s attorney challenged Wyoming’s gambling laws as unconstitutional.
Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025
Duck Hunter Gets 3 Years Probation For Unintentional Shooting Death Of Friend
A 21-year-old Pinedale man says he feels “incredible sadness” every day for the unintentional shooting death of his friend while duck hunting last year. He was given three years of probation Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandApril 09, 2025
Neighbors Tried To Get Laramie Man To Stop Slamming Another’s Head Into Asphalt
A 28-year-old man faces an aggravated assault charge after witnesses saw him slamming another man’s head onto the street last month in Laramie. His case rose to felony-level court Friday.
Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025
Lawmakers Consider Stronger Laws After Wyoming 16-Year-Old Stalked, Bullied
Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. A 41-year-old woman was sentenced last month for impersonating and bullying the girl and another teen.
Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025
UW President Ed Seidel Still Has A Job Day After Faculty ‘No-Confidence’ Vote
University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly relieved Tuesday following a two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which UW said he remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership.
Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025
National Guard Cooperating With Investigation Into Sergeant’s Underage Sex Case
The Wyoming National Guard is cooperating with the investigation of a guardsman and former high school teacher charged with nearly 20 sex crimes, including against someone younger than 16. He has an April 16 arraignment in Platte County District Court.
Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025
Felony Charges For Cheyenne Man After Pokémon Deal Goes Wrong
A 22-year-old Cheyenne man has been charged with felony theft in connection with a Pokémon card deal that went wrong. Court documents say Justice Geho drove off Thursday with a rare $3,300 Umbreon card a seller let him hold.
Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025
No Death Penalty For Either Big Piney Teen Charged In Bow And Arrow Ambush
Sublette County's top prosecutor on Monday withdrew the possibility of the death penalty for Rowan LIttauer, just as he had in March for Orion Schlesinger. The teens are accused of ambushing and killing their friend with a bow and arrow in February.
Clair McFarlandApril 07, 2025
Think You Can Survive A Charging Grizzly? Take On Wyoming’s ‘Robobear’
Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.
Mark Heinz & Clair McFarlandApril 05, 2025
Venezuelan Illegal Immigrant Caught, Charged In Sheridan ATM Hacking
A Venezuelan illegal immigrant accused of a hacking heist on a Sheridan ATM was on the run for three months before being caught, then elevated to felony-level court Wednesday. He’s one of three Venezuelans involved, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
UW President Faces Backlash Over Effort To Fund Partner's School, Dean’s Ousting
UW President Ed Seidel is facing backlash after the demotion of a popular dean of engineering. Detractors say the president backed a failed effort to send engineering money to a UW school his partner runs, and the demotion of the dean who stood in the way.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
Wyoming Pro Rodeo Cowboy Dies In Bull Riding Event In Texas
A pro rodeo bull rider from Pavillion, Wyoming, died Thursday night when a bull stepped on him during an event in Texas. Friends and family of Dylan Grant say they’re shocked and saddened by the news.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025
Wyoming Vets Say Riverton Grenades For Training — Still Nothing To Play Around With
Wyoming veterans who spoke to Cowboy State Daily say the grenades a teen found in Riverton Wednesday look like they're for training. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous, and it's good that his family called police.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
Mexico Deports Fugitive Wyoming Drug Dealer And Gun Thief
A Wyoming drug dealer and gun thief who broke conditions of his supervised release by fleeing to Mexico has been caught. Mexican authorities announced last week they were deporting him, and he’s now in U.S. federal custody.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
Teen Finds Four Live Hand Grenades Near River In Riverton
When 15-year-old Roxton Lookingbill didn’t catch any fish Wednesday evening on the Wind River, he started walking back toward his grandmother’s house — then something caught his eye. It was a metal box, and inside were four live hand grenades.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2025
GOP Scrambles To Find Top Prosecutor For One Of Wyoming's Roughest Counties
Fremont County GOP leaders are scrambling to nominate three candidates to replace longtime County Attorney Patrick LeBrun in one of Wyoming's roughest counties. So far, two have applied to replace LeBrun, who left Monday.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Rawlins Inmate Accused Of Attacking Guards Over Forbidden Gingerbread Supplies
A 25-year-old Gillette man who is already in prison for assaulting jail officers is now accused of attacking prison guards when they wouldn’t let him keep gingerbread-making supplies in his cell.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Worland Man Accused Of Shooting His Dog Six Times Pleads Not Guilty
Donald Wright of Worland, accused of shooting his dog six times, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges Wednesday. The dog, Axel, still has four bullets in his body and a plate in his jaw, but is taking well to his training.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025
Torrington Woman Accused Of Stealing $60K From Little League
A woman Torrington police say stole about $62,000 from the local Little League Association faces one count of felony theft and up to 10 years in prison. Her case will be heard in felony-level court, where she's scheduled for an April 23 arraignment.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2025
Prosecutor Challenges Release Of Twice-Deported Man With 18,000 Rounds Of Ammo
A federal prosecutor last week challenged the release of a twice-deported Mexican immigrant accused of carrying 18,000 rounds of ammunition through Wyoming. The bust indicates cartel activity, the prosecutor argued.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2025