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
Former Riverton School Board Candidate Gets 25-30 Years For Molesting Child
Hunter DeVries, 23, was sentenced Tuesday to 25-30 years in prison for molesting a child over the course of several months. He ran for the local school board last year, and despite showing remorse, deserves a “lengthy prison sentence,” the judge said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2025
Bill Banning Suspicious Drones Over Critical Wyoming Infrastructure Advances
The Wyoming Senate is considering a bill criminalizing drone operators from loitering and photographing over critical infrastructure. A legislative committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send the bill to the Senate floor.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2025
Woman Accused Of Leading Five Law Enforcement Agencies On Wild Riverton Chase, Crashing Into Deputy
A woman charged Friday is accused of leading at least five police agencies on a chase in Riverton, Wyoming. She sped over spike strips, pulled a U-turn on the highway and rammed a deputy's truck while drinking from a bottle of alcohol, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2025
Two Proposed Wyoming Transgender Sports Bans Advance In State House
The Wyoming House on Monday sent a proposed transgender sports ban to the state Senate. It would expand the current law from seventh to 12th grades, to kindergarten through college. Another similar bill focusing just on college also advanced.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025
Clair McFarland: Writing Up A Test For Real ’Muricans
Clair McFarland writes: "'I think Americans ought to be able to eat 20 hot dogs in a minute!' said Little-Feisty. I choked on my tea. 'And I think,' blustered Big-Sweet, 'you gotta know who Mike Tyson is!'”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025
Juvenile Suspected Of Shooting Two At Sweetwater County Bonfire Party
No one was in custody Monday for a shooting in which two young adults were hurt at a Saturday bonfire party outside Reliance, Wyoming. Two people were hospitalized, and the suspected shooter is a juvenile, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office says.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025
Bill Banning Access To Sex Books For Minors In Wyoming Back With A Vengeance
Librarians and educators on Monday testified against a bill that seeks to toughen Wyoming’s crimes against exposing minors to obscenity, and to remove protections that keep librarians and teachers from being charged with the crime.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025
Groundhog Day: Wyoming’s Lander Lil Doesn’t See Shadow (And No One Shot At Her)
Lander Lil, the famous Wyoming prairie dog who predicts the weather better than Punxsutawney Phil, didn’t see her shadow Sunday. Also, no one shot at her (at least during filming).
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2025
No Charges Filed So Far In Fatal Thermopolis Hit And Run
No criminal charges have been filed so far against a juvenile involved in a fatal hit and run that killed an 85-year-old woman in Thermopolis last week, the Wyoming Highway Patrol said on Saturday.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 01, 2025
Lawmakers Push To Make Wyoming Judges Run For Election
A handful of Wyoming Republican lawmakers are asking the state’s judges and justices run for election, which hasn’t happened for 52 years. Many lawyers hate the idea, while proponents say it would force more transparency on judges.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 01, 2025
Accused Gillette Kidnapper Doesn't Help Case By Apologizing In Court
A Gillette man accused of kidnapping a woman and leading deputies on a high-speed chase up to 170 mph didn’t help his case by apologizing in court Thursday. Although warned by the judge not to incriminate himself, he said, “I feel sorry for what I did."
Clair McFarlandJanuary 31, 2025
Senate Committee Advances Bill Banning DEI Mandates In Wyoming Government
A Wyoming legislative committee advanced a bill Thursday that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion mandates across the state's agencies and colleges. It would also ban UW and colleges from using most money, even private donations, on DEI.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 31, 2025
Campbell County High School In Gillette Is Falling Apart
Campbell County High School in Gillette is falling apart. The Wyoming House sent a proposed $165.4 million rebuild plan to the Senate for approval Tuesday — but amid fears that the Legislature's property tax cuts could torpedo the project.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 31, 2025
Wyoming Man Faces 548 Years In Prison Over Disturbing Child Porn Allegations
A Reliance, Wyoming, man is facing a half-millennium in prison on claims he kept and transferred disturbing child-sex pictures and videos. He pleaded not guilty to 31 of the 54 charges against him Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 30, 2025
Eight Wyoming Sheriffs Seeing Mystery Drones Still Have No Answers
The White House says the drones over New Jersey last year were authorized. But that doesn't explain what multiple Wyoming sheriffs who reached out to Cowboy State Daily say they're seeing over power plants and oil fields.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2025
Fake "Bitcoin Billionaire" Cheated Jackson Businesses Out Of $212K, Prosecutors Say
Passing himself off as a "bitcoin billionaire," a 30-year-old California man was able to cheat Jackson, Wyoming, businesses out of nearly $212,000 for resort stays, bar tabs and a new Dodge Ram, prosecutors allege.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2025
Bill Would Ban Forcing Government Workers To Use “Preferred” Pronouns Of Coworkers
A bill prohibiting Wyoming state and local government agencies from forcing employees to use a coworker’s “preferred” pronoun passed the state House on Tuesday. Detractors call it murky, while supporters say it promotes truth and freedom.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2025
Cheyenne Woman Accused Of Stabbing Husband, Who Died After Refusing Treatment
A Cheyenne woman accused of stabbing her husband now faces a murder charge after he died four days later, the Cheyenne Police Department reported Tuesday. The alleged victim initially refused treatment at the scene.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2025
Trump Says Mystery Drones "Not The ‘Enemy"; Wyoming Sheriff Still Seeing Them
The mysterious drones that befuddled New Jersey residents last fall were authorized by the U.S. government, President Trump relayed Tuesday. Meanwhile, a Wyoming sheriff says he's still seeing them and wondering what they’re doing.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2025
Barron Trump Incorporated Business In Wyoming, Then Dissolved It
The president’s 18-year-old son had a real-estate business incorporated in Wyoming last July, but dissolved it nine days after Donald Trump won the general election. His famous father has also been linked to businesses incorporated in the Cowboy State.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2025
Bill To Make All Felony Voyeurs Register As Sex Offenders Heads To Wyoming Senate
A bill that would require all felony-level convicted voyeurs to register as sex offenders heads to the Wyoming Senate after a committee approved it 4-0. Currently, only Wyoming voyeurs with child victims have to register.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2025