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
Frank Chapman Drops Out Of 10-Person Wyoming GOP House Race
Teton County rancher Frank Chapman dropped out of the 10-candidate race for the Republican nomination in Wyoming's U.S. House race on Thursday. "There’s too much clutter" in that crowded race, Chapman told Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandJuly 23, 2026
Green River Police Sergeant Urges Reconsideration Of License Plate Cameras
A police sergeant urged the Green River City Council Tuesday to reconsider license plate reader cameras, two weeks after vocal residents blocked the project. He said they are a valuable tool in helping find missing and vulnerable people.
Clair McFarlandJuly 23, 2026
Biteman Criticizes GOP Endorsements, Says Chuck Gray "Chuckie-Boy" Is Establishment
U.S. House candidate Bo Biteman is one of many criticizing the Republican Party's decision to endorse candidates. He called Chuck Gray, who sought and received the endorsement, the establishment. "Well Chuckie-boy you’re the insider, buddy," he said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 22, 2026
Barlow Campaign Releases Poll Claiming Big Lead Over Degenfelder And Bien
The Eric Barlow gubernatorial campaign released an internal poll Tuesday showing a significant lead over both Megan Degenfelder and Brent Bien. According to his internal polling numbers, 42% of voters support Barlow while Degenfelder is at 19% and Bien at 14%.
Clair McFarlandJuly 22, 2026
Doctor Who Lobbied Against Child Sex Changes Wins Second Chance In Court
The doctor Gov. Gordon sought to remove from the Wyoming Board of Medicine for advocating a ban on child sex changes has won his appeal – halfway. A Tuesday ruling sent the case back to federal court, reviving First Amendment claims against Gordon.
Clair McFarlandJuly 21, 2026
After Church Blowup, Arapaho Tribe Says No 'Ministries' Without Permission
Days after a religious clash exploded on the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Northern Arapaho Tribe’s government says it has adopted a new policy requiring ministry and charitable groups to get tribal authorization for their work on the reservation.
Clair McFarlandJuly 21, 2026
Wyoming GOP Endorses Brent Bien, Chuck Gray, And Harriet Hageman
The Wyoming Republican Party leadership endorsed Brent Bien for governor, Chuck Gray for U.S. House, and Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate on Monday evening. The controversial move breaks current tradition and maybe state law.
Clair McFarlandJuly 21, 2026
Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing 'Pay To Play' Endorsements
As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to endorse candidates before the primary, some won't participate. “We now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement,” one candidate worried aloud.
Clair McFarlandJuly 20, 2026
GOP Rep Says He's Changed Since He Identified As Progressive, Pro-Choice, Atheist
Rep. Daniel Singh, an incumbent Republican from Cheyenne who was once a member of the Freedom Caucus, says he's changed since identifying as a pro-choice, progressive atheist in a recently surfaced 2021 podcast interview. "People change their minds," he said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 20, 2026
Supreme Court Upholds 128-178-Year Sentence For Sexually Abusive Casper Foster Dad
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Friday rejected all the appeals a former award-winning Casper foster dad made to overturn his 128-to-178-year sentence for sexually abusing children. Multiple former foster and adopted children testified against him at trial.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2026
FEC Report: Four Wyoming House Candidates Loan Themselves More Than $1 Million Each
Second-quarter campaign finance reports for Wyoming’s GOP primary House race are in. Steve Friess has amassed the most with $2.5 million, which includes a $2 million self-loan. Reid Rasner is second, loaning himself $1.7 million out of $2 million.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2026
Rep. Allemand Issues Public Apology For Drunk Driving
Rep. Bill Allemand issued a public apology Friday for driving drunk last December. The state legislator pleaded guilty Wednesday to a DUI charge and was fined and sentenced to probation. “I do apologize for drinking while driving on a public road," he said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2026
Groundbreaking Bill Would Give Wyoming Residents Property Rights Over Their Data
Wyoming legislators are working on a bill to give Wyomingites property rights over their own personal data — and another to restrict license plate reader usage. "It would be far and away the strongest privacy right on the planet,” said a lawmaker.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2026
Degenfelder Releases Trump Double-Down Endorsement With A Month Before Primary
Megan Degenfelder’s campaign for Wyoming governor released a video early Thursday of President Donald Trump doubling down on his endorsement of her. The push comes with a month to go before Wyoming’s hotly contested Republican Primary election.
Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2026
Rep. Bill Allemand Pleads Guilty To DUI, Gets Probation And $500 Fine
Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand pleaded guilty to DUI in court Wednesday and was given one year probation and fined $500. He faces 88 days in jail if he fails probation.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
License Plate Reader Map Right That Lusk Has Them, Wrong About Cody And Gillette
As people across Wyoming raise concerns over license plate reader cameras, they're mapping cameras that might not actually be license plate readers. A new Deflock.org entry saying Lusk has them is right, but it’s wrong about Cody and Gillette.
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
U.S. House Hopefuls Biteman, Balow Grilled By Riverton's Political Old Guard
U.S. House hopefuls Bo Biteman and Jillian Balow became the latest candidates to face a grilling Wednesday, by Riverton's political old-guard coffee group "The Gentry." Balow said the race has people of good character, and some "of suspect character."
Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2026
Teton County Is So Desperate For Housing It Wants To Build It On A Morgue
Some county commissioners say putting an employee housing complex on top of a morgue makes sense due to the housing shortage but the coroner's office is strongly against it. They say the smell is like being “downwind of the carcass disposal pit."
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
On Second Thought, No Press Conference On Cheyenne Meta Data Center Contamination
Despite promising a press conference this week to address the Meta data center contamination of Cheyenne’s wastewater system, the Board of Public Utilities now says it won’t, opting instead to release a statement addressing questions.
Kate Meadows & Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
Judge May Hit Allemand’s Defense Lawyer With Contempt Charge For Missing Hearing
The judge in state Rep. Bill Allemand's ongoing DUI case may hit his defense attorney with a contempt charge for missing a hearing. The attorney says he “did not intentionally fail to appear” and calls the no-show a scheduling mishap.
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026
Gray Calls Rasner ‘A Child' For Bringing His Dad Into Fiery GOP Primary Race
GOP congressional candidate Chuck Gray derided primary opponent Reid Rasner after he brought Gray’s father into the campaign by saying "Chuck Gray’s Dad Supports Reid.” Gray called it “More unhinged nonsense from Reid Rasner.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026