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
Wyoming Crime Lab Fails Proficiency, Has To Review More Than 400 Past Gun Tests
After failing a firearms proficiency test, the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory is arranging for evidence re-testing in more than 400 cases from the past decade, the Attorney General told lawmakers Thursday.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 20, 2024
Matthew Shepard Killer's Commutation Request Denied
Russell Henderson, one of two men convicted in Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder, tried and failed to have his sentence commuted this month, the Wyoming Board of Parole confirmed Thursday to Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 20, 2024
Shots Near Torrington School Raise Alert, But It Was Just A Cow Being Put Down
There was a bit of a scare at Torrington High School Thursday afternoon when shots rang out near the school and then a malfunction sounded the fire alarm. Turns out, the shots were from a nearby livestock sale barn where a cow was put down.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024
Movie Review: “Am I Racist?” Attacks American Groupthink — Plus It's Hilarious
Clair McFarland writes, "Matt Walsh's new movie “Am I Racist?” claims to be a discussion of racism in the United States. In reality it wages an even broader attack on American groupthink, mainstream media’s gullible streak, and Western culture’s newfound love of victim status."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024
Yellowstone Releases Body Camera Footage From July 4 Shootout
Body camera video released Thursday by the National Park Service gives more detail about a July 4 shootout with a Yellowstone concession worker. The worker reportedly threatened a mass shooting, then shot at rangers before being killed.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024
Laramie Man Arrested On Claims He Breached Capitol Jan. 6, Wrestled Officer
A Laramie man could face years in prison on claims he was one of the first rioters to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In a Wednesday statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleges he also wrestled with a Capitol Police officer.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024
Superior Mayor Wants More Policing, Sheriff Says He Wants Special Treatment
The mayor of Superior, Wyoming — population 180 — complained to the Sweetwater County Commission on Tuesday his town needs more policing. The sheriff says he does handle issues in the town, but the mayor wants special treatment.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024
Tourist Burned, Life-Flighted After Walking On Yellowstone Thermal
A 60-year-old tourist from New Hampshire suffered second- and third-degree burns after walking off-trail over a geothermal crust in Yellowstone. The woman was life-flighted to a hospital in Idaho.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024
Two Motorcyclists Dead From Crashing Into Same Cheyenne Building Within 3 Weeks
Two motorcyclists have been killed in the past three weeks after crashing into the same building in Cheyenne. In both cases, the police believe speed was a factor.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024
Lander Political Sign Thief Targets Republicans And Democrats
An apparent political sign thief in Lander, Wyoming, has gone bipartisan, plucking yard signs for Republicans and Democrats. A pile of signs was recovered by local police, who reported Tuesday only that the issue “has been taken care of.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2024
Feds Say Wyoming Farmers, Miners Not Entitled To Relief From New Lease Rule
In a Friday court filing the federal government defends a new rule that allows the BLM to lease federal land for conservation. Wyoming famers and miners are suing over the rule, which they say allows groups to lease public land solely to not develop on it.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2024
Sheridan Man Accused Of Dousing Couple With Lighter Fluid So They’d Shoot Him
A Sheridan man will face felony charges for allegedly dousing a sleeping couple with lighter fluid. He reportedly told police he did it to prompt them to shoot him.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2024
Sheridan County Commissioner Gets Maximum Fine, 8 Days In Jail For DUI
Sheridan County Commissioner Christi Haswell has pleaded guilty to drunk driving and will serve eight days in jail as part of a plea agreement. She also got the maximum fine allowed and a year of unsupervised probation.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2024
Idaho Company's Bungee Jump From Casper Crime Scene Leaves People Shocked, Sad
People in Casper were shocked and saddened over the weekend when they saw an Idaho company holding bungee-jump sessions at the scene of a crime so tragic that one crime writer called it “the loss of innocence for a whole community.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2024
Clair McFarland: There's No Way My Kid Is Old Enough For A Homecoming Dance
Clair McFarland writes: "He was part of an adventure in which I had no business except as tailor and chauffeur - like my right arm had detached and gone off on its own hero’s journey. Be free, you rogue autonomous portion of me!"
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2024
Rock Springs Police Search For Missing 7-Year-Old Who Is Not A Runaway
Update: child has been found. The Rock Springs Police Department is asking for the public's help finding 7-year-old Leo Ressler, an autistic boy who went missing Sunday afternoon. Authorities say he's not a runaway, and he's considered "missing and endangered."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 15, 2024
‘I believe he killed her’: Boyfriend Of Missing Cody Woman Gets 7 Years On Gun Charge
The boyfriend of a missing Cody woman got seven years in prison Friday on a gun-related charge. But his sentencing unfolded like a murder trial with grisly evidence, and at one point an FBI agent bluntly testifying, “I believe he killed her.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 14, 2024
Riverton Man Gets 15-20 Years For Burning Girlfriend To Death With Gasoline
A Riverton, Wyoming, man who initially claimed pouring gasoline inside his house, lighting it on fire and killing his girlfriend an accident got 15-20 years in prison Friday. The judge didn’t buy it, saying that “this was not an accident.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2024
Gillette Prosecutor Blasts Defense Attorney For Getting Victim’s Phone Records
A Gillette, Wyoming, prosecutor is blasting a defense attorney for getting nearly two years’ worth of an alleged crime victim’s personal phone records. Even if it’s a questionable thing to do, it could be allowed under Wyoming law.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2024
Gillette Teen Pleads Guilty To Soliciting Kids, Bestiality Charge To Be Dropped
A 19-year-old Gillette man has pleaded guilty to five instances of soliciting kids for sex acts, while a charge of bestiality will be dropped. He was busted after a 15-year-old vigilante caught him by setting up a fake Snapchat account.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 12, 2024
YouTube Predator Hunter Busts Wyoming Man In Child Sex Sting
A Hudson, Wyoming, man remains in jail after he was confronted by an online child predator hunter. A video shows Sean Brennan busted at his job in Lander — and getting immediately fired by his boss.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2024