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
In Brief: Gillette Police Department Arrests One Of Its Own Officers
The Gillette Police Department took one of its own officers into custody Monday, after Utah authorities said the man was wanted on suspicion of a sex crime. The official also is accused of witness tampering and disseminating a private record.
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2024
Lighter Charges For Couple Accused Of Shooting Toward, Bear Spraying Woman
A South Dakota couple accused of shooting toward a woman and bear spraying her at their Wyoming campsite may plead to lesser charges. Their felony-level charges, each punishable by a decade in prison, were reduced to misdemeanors last week.
Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2024
How Hunter Biden Could Still Take The Fifth Even With Full Pardon From Dad
In some cases, Hunter Biden could still refuse to answer questions if called before Congress to testify. That’s because his wide-sweeping pardon is for federal offenses. He could still take the Fifth Amendment related to state-level crimes.
Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2024
Wyoming Sues Huge Investors For Pushing “Climate Activist Agenda” To Kill Coal
Wyoming and 10 other states are accusing three massive investors of colluding to downsize coal companies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions goals. They’re using their power as large stockholders to push “a climate activist agenda.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 02, 2024
Wyoming Man Agrees To Plead Guilty To Trying To Kidnap Teen Girl
A man from St. Stephens, Wyoming, has agreed to plead guilty to trying to kidnap a teen girl from a Riverton movie theater in 2022. The girl managed to fight Terrence Jenkins off even after he held a knife to her neck, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandDecember 02, 2024
Colorado State Beats Team With Trans Player To Win MWC Volleyball Championship
After months of controversy surrounding a transgender player on its team, San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball squad lost to Colorado State University in the Mountain West Conference championship Saturday.
Clair McFarlandDecember 02, 2024
Boise State University Pulls Out Of MWC Volleyball Tourney Over Trans Player
The Boise State University women’s volleyball team pulled out of the Mountain West Volleyball tournament Wednesday night over a transgender player on the San Jose State team. Boise State also twice forfeited matches to SJSU during the regular season.
Clair McFarlandNovember 28, 2024
Wyoming Legislators Vow To Revive Bill That Bans Sanctuary Cities
Wyoming legislators are looking to revive a bill that would ban sanctuary cities and counties in the state. The effort is gaining momentum after ICE officials said Teton County is letting jailed illegal immigrants go free.
Clair McFarlandNovember 28, 2024
Wyoming Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Woman After Beating Another
An Ethete, Wyoming, man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stabbing a woman to death on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Months earlier, Kevin Mendibles also was arrested for beating another woman. He faces life in prison.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Wyoming Supreme Court Rules Against Man Who Tried To Sneak Meth Into Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a man who tried to sneak meth into the Uinta County Courthouse wasn’t searched illegally. The justices said the man gave up his right to privacy when he entered the courthouse.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Disabled Woman Sues, Says Cheyenne Police Officer Broke Her Ankle
A local woman filed a civil complaint against the city of Cheyenne and a Cheyenne police officer, who she claims used excessive force during a minor traffic stop. She says the officer broke her right ankle and roughed her up.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Teton County Has Let 103 Illegal Immigrants Slip Away In Two Years, Says ICE
Within the past 21 months, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office has allowed 103 illegal immigrants to slip away, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. They say the sheriff’s office has not been honoring ICE’s requests for holds.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Higher Court Revives Lawsuit By Laramie High Schooler Arrested Over Not Masking
A former Laramie High School student who was arrested over a dispute over masking had her lawsuit against the local school district revived Tuesday. It had been dismissed by a lower court in 2023.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Mexican Nationals Accused Of Beating Gillette Roommate, Leaving Him For Dead
Three Mexican nationals are accused of beating their roommate from Gillette, Wyoming, driving out to a remote part of Campbell County, and leaving him for dead. Beaten and cold, the man followed some railroad tracks back to town.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Appeals Court Also Refuses To Kick Trans Player Off Volleyball Team
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined Tuesday to disqualify a San Jose State University transgender player from the Mountain West Conference tournament. The higher court's ruling upholds a lower order by a Colorado judge.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Volleyball Players Appeal, Ask Higher Court To Oust Transgender Player
A dozen women suing the Mountain West Conference over its inclusion of a transgender volleyball player are asking a higher court to intervene. A Colorado judge on Monday denied the women's request to oust the transgender player from this week's championship tournament.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Wyoming Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Doesn't Get New Judge Or Lawyers
A judge decided Monday that a man accused of trying to dump the body of his murdered girlfriend in Park County, Wyoming, doesn’t need a new judge or new attorneys. Joseph Underwood, 50, has argued insistently that he does.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Teton County Sheriff Says He Didn't Sabotage ICE's Plans To Deport Illegal Immigrants
Teton County’s sheriff is refuting a claim Harriet Hageman made in her Sunday newsletter that his office is sabotaging efforts to deport illegal immigrants. She said the sheriff is "foiling" ICE's efforts.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Clair McFarland: Not Letting An Airborne Desk Chair Have The Last Laugh
Clair McFarland writes, "But in my hatred for the alien throne, I forgot (or never had the commonsense) to measure my desk’s height. So the huge inflatable ball posing as my new desk chair arrived three inches too high."
Clair McFarlandNovember 25, 2024
Judge Rules Transgender Volleyball Player Can Compete
A Colorado-based federal judge declined Monday to remove a transgender player from the Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball tournament. He also didn’t reverse six forfeit losses teams have taken by boycotting matches against that player.
Clair McFarlandNovember 25, 2024
That Time Wyoming Tried Banning Abortion On The Ballot And Failed
A unique coalition of Christians, Democrats and lawyers tried passing an abortion ban on the ballot in 1994. The effort failed, but not without shaking up the state’s political sphere.
Clair McFarlandNovember 23, 2024