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
Man Who Bleached Romantic Rival To Stay In Prison Under “Deadly Weapon” Law
Liquid bleach can be a deadly weapon, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The decision comes after a man who splashed bleach in his romantic rival’s face challenged his felony conviction.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 19, 2025
Two Rawlins Men, One From Canada ID'd As Green River Tunnel Crash Fatalities
Authorities Tuesday released the names of the three men who died Friday in a devastating Green River, Wyoming, tunnel collision. They are Christopher Johnson, 20 of Rawlins; Quentin Romero, 22 of Rawlins; and Harmanjeet Singh, 30 of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 19, 2025
Mother Of Alleged Sheridan Cop Killer Charged With Giving Guns To Felon
The 71-year-old mother of the man suspected of shooting and killing a Sheridan police sergeant last February has been federally charged with giving guns to a felon. The indictment doesn’t say whether that felon was her son.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 18, 2025
Byron Man Discusses Wife's Last Days Before Murder-Suicide
Twelve hours after his wife shot her four children and herself, Cliff Harshman sat in a hospital waiting room. “I sat and wept. And I cried to God: ‘Please forgive her. Help me forgive her,’” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I lost my best friend. My kids. Everything.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 18, 2025
Single Mom Caught In Green River Tunnel Says Hero Led Survivors From Fiery Crash
A local single mom who was caught in an explosive 26-vehicle crash Friday in the Green River Tunnel says a hero named Ray led her and others out of the tunnel. She dragged her arm along the wall to escape in the thick, black smoke.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 17, 2025
Final Death Toll In Green River Tunnel Crash At 3, Cause Under Investigation
Investigators said Monday that the final death toll in the 26-vehicle collision inside the Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80 is three dead. The cause and circumstances remain under investigation.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 17, 2025
WYDOT Director Says Green River Tunnel Crash Started Outside Tunnel
The 26-vehicle fatal crash inside the Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80 started outside of the tunnel, WYDOT Director Darin Westby told Cowboy State Daily on Monday. Work crews continue to clear debris from the roadway.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 17, 2025
Olivia, 7-Year-Old Lone Survivor Of Byron Murder-Suicide, Dies In Utah Hospital
Olivia Blackmer, 7, was the lone survivor of a Feb. 10 murder-suicide in Byron, Wyoming, by which her three sisters and mother died last week. Olivia pulled through a brain surgery early last week, but ultimately died Saturday, her family has confirmed.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 16, 2025
Government Overreach, Sloppy Drafting Kill 2 Of 3 Wyoming Immigration Bills
The Wyoming Legislature killed two of three immigration-related bills after critics said they were poorly written. They also say the bills included overreach to constricted law enforcement agencies already cooperative with federal immigration officials.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 14, 2025
Fire, Weakened Structure Keeps Responders Out Of Tunnel For Hours; Motorists Run For Safety
Fire and rescue crews at an explosive tunnel collision outside Green River could not enter the tunnel for hours Friday after the initial crash. The fire inside was too intense, and the tunnel’s structure had been weakened. Motorists inside the tunnel had to run for safety.
Clair McFarland, Jimmy Orr & Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2025
Response Shifts To Recovery After “Huge Explosions,” Multiple Fatalities In Crash In Green River Tunnel
Heavy, black smoke billowed out of both ends of the Green River Tunnel along Interstate 80 after a fatal multivehicle pileup and fire inside Friday afternoon. Witnesses report feeling and hearing “huge explosions.” By late Friday night, the response had shifted from rescue to recovery.
Andrew Rossi, Clair McFarland & Jimmy OrrFebruary 14, 2025
It's Been A Year Since Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee Was Killed On Duty
Feb. 13 will always be a day the Sheridan Police Department will never forget. It was a year ago Thursday that Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, a popular veteran of the police force, was killed in the line of duty. His sacrifice is being remembered in Sheridan and around Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
Probation For Accused Jackson Flasher Who Claimed His Pants Accidentally “Fell Down”
A man accused of flashing his genitalia at women and girls in Jackson and telling police his pants accidentally "fell down" was sentenced to one year probation, mental health treatment and community service.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
Shooting Of Classmates Has School Coping, Praying After Byron Murder-Suicide
The Rocky Mountain Elementary School has brought in four extra counselors and a support dog to help its 171 students in the aftermath of a Monday murder-suicide that killed one of its students and left another in critical condition.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
Explosion at Newcastle Refinery Leaves Town Without Electricity, 911 Service
An explosion at an oil refinery in Newcastle on Wednesday night, unleased a power surge that killed the town’s electricity and 911 service. One person said the explosion was like something out of a “horror movie.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
7-Year-OId Survivor Of Byron Murder-Suicide Clings To Life After Brain Surgery
The father of the only survivor of a Monday murder-suicide that claimed the lives of three girls and their mother says 7-year-old Olivia Blackmer is “still fighting.” Her brain swelling has been spiking, but she's still responding to medication, he said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
Riverton Woman Gets 3-5 Years In Prison For Shooting Boyfriend's Foot
A Riverton woman was sentenced to between three and five years in prison Tuesday for shooting off part of her boyfriend's toe during an argument. Jordan Weliever also was ordered to pay about $6,100 to the state to reimburse the victim’s medical expenses.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2025
Lander Mayor Monte Richardson Dies Unexpectedly
Lander Mayor Monte Richardson died unexpectedly Wednesday. He had served as mayor since 2019. The City Council will meet Tuesday to appoint an interim mayor.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2025
Husband Of Woman In Byron Murder-Suicide Says She Was Depressed, Struggling
The Wyoming woman who shot her four daughters then herself Monday suffered from depression and other struggles, her husband told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday. He said his wife's break has been both heartbreaking and shocking, because she “was not a monster.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2025
Dad Of Two Girls Shot In Byron Murder-Suicide Pleads, “Pray For My Baby”
The father of 7- and 9-year-old girls shot Monday in a murder-suicide in Byron, Wyoming, is praying frantically for the one of four young children who survived. He pleads for the world as well to “pray for my baby.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2025
No Outward Signs Byron Mom Suspected Of Shooting Kids Was Struggling, Neighbors Say
Sheriffs deputies described walking in on a nightmare scene Monday in a home where a mother is suspected of shooting her four children, then herself. A next-door neighbor says he was blindsided and never saw any outward signs the mom was struggling.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2025