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 Accused Of Bleaching Out $1 Bills To Make $100 Bills Could Get 45 Years
An Oregon man caught in a Wyoming drug bust is accused in a federal indictment of bleaching out $1 bills to make fake $100 bills. Although he was acquitted on the drug charges, he could get up to 45 years if convicted of counterfeiting.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 30, 2024

Clair McFarland: Put Some Garlic On It
Clair McFarland writes, "This isn’t medical or economic advice, but if I were prepping for societal fallout, I’d stockpile garlic. I’m not responsible for what happens to you if you adopt any of my hillbillyisms."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2024

2nd School Drops Match With San Jose State Amid Trans Controversy, UW Match Still On
Boise State is the second college to cancel a match against San Jose State University amid controversy about a transgender player in San Jose’s lineup. Meanwhile, UW will still play SJSU on Oct. 5.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Family Says Search For Missing Yellowstone Hiker Shifts From “Rescue” To “Recovery”
A search in Yellowstone National Park for a missing 22-year-old hiker has shifted focus from “rescue” to “recovery,” the man’s family has announced. But the park was unwilling Friday to confirm that.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Jackson Lawyer Threatens To Oust Lander School Board Member Over Contract
A lawyer from Jackson representing anonymous clients is threatening to sue to oust a Fremont County School District board member, over the member’s temporary contract as a special-ed evaluator.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Thermopolis Man Gets 30-50 Years For Molesting Boy For 10 Years
A 44-year-old Thermopolis, Wyoming, man was sentenced to between 30 and 50 years in prison for molesting a boy from ages 4-14, according to an order filed Thursday. He reportedly finally stopped when another boy claimed he also was molested.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Suspect In Ethete Convenience Store Shooting Pleads Not Guilty
A Fremont County man pleaded not guilty Thursday to claims that he shot another man repeatedly outside a convenience store in Ethete, Wyoming, last month. Dustin Larson Trosper could face between 25 years and life in prison.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Accused Torrington Girlfriend-Beater Evaded Earlier Charges For Eight Years
A Torrington, Wyoming, man accused of brutally beating and pistol-whipping his girlfriend had evaded police for eight years on earlier charges. Those cases also include allegations of beating another woman, burglary.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2024

Quick-Acting Teacher Discovers Gun At Rock Springs High School
An alert teacher discovered a Rock Springs High School student had a firearm in the school and confiscated it Thursday morning. The discovery led to the arrest of a male student.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2024

Gillette Man Accused Of Exposing Himself To Young Boy In Store Bathroom
A 54-year-old Gillette man is accused of exposing himself to a young boy in a Walmart bathroom. The man allegedly admitted exposing himself, but denies asking the boy to touch him.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2024

Wyoming Woman Who Tortured, Starved And Confined Son Gets 10 Years
An Arapahoe, Wyoming, woman who tortured and starved her 13-year-old son last year was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday. Kandace Sitting Eagle and her husband Truman also beat him and kept him trapped in his room.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2024

Jackson Road Project Turns 5-Minute Drives Into Los Angeles-Like Nightmare Commutes
A major paving project at the south entrance to Jackson, Wyoming, has infuriated locals, extending 5-minute quick drives to more than an hour and severely impacting local business. Townspeople told Cowboy State Daily it's a total cluster.
Clair McFarland & Jake NicholsSeptember 25, 2024

Jackson Police Catch Suspected Serial Flasher, Who Says Pants Just “Fell Down”
Hours after posting to Facebook about an alleged serial flasher, Jackson police arrested a local man. He gave a “mild admission” to flashing multiple women and girls, saying his pants just “fell down” while wiping sweat from his face.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 25, 2024

Cody Police Arrest Man Accused Of Montana Road Rage Death
Cody police arrested a man Tuesday on allegations he killed someone in a road rage-induced hit-and-run in. That was a day after he was released on bond in a case where he fired a crossbow bolts onto an airport runway.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 25, 2024

UW Volleyball Team Will Play San Jose State Despite Transgender Controversy
The University of Wyoming volleyball team plans to play San Jose State in Laramie on Oct. 5 despite the SJSU having a transgender player. After learning they have a trans teammate, at least one member of the SJSU team is suing.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2024

Rancher Who Claimed Horses Were “Poisoned” Fined For Starving Them
A Shawnee, Wyoming, rancher was fined $500 Tuesday in Douglas Circuit Court after pleading no contest to starving horses he’d earlier claimed were poisoned. But Joe Bright maintains he's innocent and loves his horses like family.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2024

Brief: Police Searching For Serial Flasher Loose In Jackson
A serial flasher is on the loose in Jackson, Wyoming, police say. He’s described as a male on the smaller side, standing 5-foot-5 and about 130 pounds with black hair.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2024

Best Friend Of Yellowstone Hiker Missing A Week Waits At Camp, Desperate For News
Desmond McGroarty, lifelong best friend of missing Yellowstone hiker Austin King, is desperately hoping he’s found alive. He’s at the concessions village where they'd both been working, eager for any news.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2024

Wyoming Supreme Court Opens Door To Sue Cops, Legislators Want To Close It
The Wyoming Supreme Court opened the door for people to sue cops for negligent investigations. But some state legislators want to close it, voting Friday to draft a bill that would undo the high court’s ruling.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2024

Yellowstone Concession Worker Vanishes After Summiting Park’s Highest Peak
The search is on for Austin King, a 22-year-old concession worker at Yellowstone, who reached the top of the park's highest peak last Tuesday and hasn’t been heard from since. An experienced hiking guide in the area says weather, terrain and bears are all potential hazards.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 23, 2024

'Sovereign Citizen' Gets 7 Years In Prison For Having Guns As A Felon
A Casper, Wyoming, man was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. Saying he’s a sovereign citizen, he told officers during a traffic stop they’d have to kill him before eventually surrendering.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 21, 2024
