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
AG Says Prosecutors Declined To Charge Chuck Gray With A Crime
Wyoming's attorney general on Tuesday said he appointed two prosecutors to investigate whether Secretary of State Chuck Gray violated any laws by releasing sensitive voter data to the federal government, but neither decided to charge Gray with a crime.
Clair McFarlandJune 16, 2026
Coal Industry Frustrated With GOP Candidates Who Want To Kill Data Centers
Wyoming’s coal sector is startled at Republican candidates who oppose data centers. Industry leaders say the revival of coal is driven by demand for energy from data centers. "It's frustrating," said Travis Deti, of the Wyoming Mining Association.
Clair McFarlandJune 15, 2026
Court Filings Say Wyoming Boys' School Staffers Restrained, Attacked Boys
A group of young men suing the Wyoming Boys’ School claim they were attacked, confined in a chair and made to wear a mask. “The best part of the chair is watching the kids cry and scream,” a security guard is alleged to have said.
Clair McFarlandJune 15, 2026
Legislators Vow To Fix Food Freedom Act After Months Of Controversy
Wyoming lawmakers Friday vowed to rework the Food Freedom Act after months of controversy at small-time food producers and family-owned shops. “Reasonableness [has]gone out the window,” said a business owner who was ordered to stop selling raw milk lattes.
Clair McFarlandJune 14, 2026
Here's Why Wyoming Gives Tax Breaks To Huge Data Centers
Pro-economic development legislators pushed through a popular tax break for huge data centers in 2010. A rogue Republican tried to undo it in 2021, but his GOP colleagues, industry advocates, and economic development agencies opposed him.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2026
Judge Strikes Down Another Set Of Wyoming’s Abortion Restrictions
A retired Wyoming judge on Friday struck down three state-level abortion laws, including one requiring abortion clinics be licensed as surgical centers. He said the pro-choice group challenging the laws provided evidence “that abortion is inherently safe.”
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2026
Wyoming Tax Board Says 4% Cap On Property Tax Is Unconstitutional, Won't Accept It
Wyoming’s state-level property tax board told counties on Thursday that a 4% cap on yearly increases in residential property taxes is unconstitutional and it will refuse to certify this year's property tax assessment figures if the cap remains.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2026
Park County Republican Party Sends Platform Loyalty Tests To GOP Candidates
Republican candidates for office in Park County received a letter warning them if they don’t commit to backing at least 80% of the state GOP platform, they won’t receive an endorsement or support from the party. "They is not a purity test," it reads.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2026
Wyoming U.S. House Candidates Face Christian Lobby, Swap War Stories
Seven of the 10 Republican candidates running to become Wyoming’s next U.S. House candidate courted a largely Christian audience Tuesday with statements on their faith, and their different approaches to education, family rights, and abortion policy.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2026
How Wyoming Gov Candidates Handled Questions From The Christian Lobby
Gubernatorial candidates Eric Barlow, Brent Bien, and Megan Degenfelder fielded questions on Tuesday at a forum in Cheyenne before a largely Christian audience. Policy differences emerged on abortion, university leadership, and library policy.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2026
Mother Of Man Who Suggested "Death By Cop" Sues Casper
The mother of a man who was fatally shot by police after a tense standoff sued the City of Casper and police officers, saying officers wrongfully killed her son and the city failed to train officers to avoid rights violations.
Clair McFarlandJune 09, 2026
Deadly Shooting In Baggs, Wyoming: Deputy Injured, Shooter Dead
An active shooter manhunt unfolded Monday in Baggs where one deputy was injured and the shooter died on scene, Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken confirmed late Monday. The sheriff said the suspect opened fire on law enforcement before driving off a highway.
Clair McFarlandJune 08, 2026
Wyoming Land Board Decides To Wait For Court To Rule Whether Wind Farm Is Legal
The State Land Board voted 3-2 Monday to pause its work to halt two controversial wind leases — until a court decides a major legal question on them. Secretary of State Chuck Gray called it "irregular," but Auditor Kristi Racines cast it as common sense.
Clair McFarlandJune 08, 2026
Wyoming GOP Sues State For Right To Back Most 'Aligned' Republicans
The Wyoming Republican Party on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging a state law that bans it from spending money to back “aligned" candidates over others in the primary election.
Clair McFarlandJune 05, 2026
Cheyenne Artificial Intelligence Candidate Sues For Spot On The Ballot
A Cheyenne man is suing Secretary of State Chuck Gray after Gray denied his bid to get on the Republican primary ballot to elect a virtual intelligence personality to the U.S. Senate. “I won’t tolerate a mockery of our electoral system,” Gray said.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
Wyoming Attorney General Objects To Trump Reclassifying Marijuana As Medical
Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz is opposing the Trump administration reclassifying marijuana as medicinal, while state law generally expects Wyoming to match drug categories to the federal government’s. That's for the Legislature to decide, he said.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
Wyoming State Senator Interested In Special Session To Address Data Centers
Wyoming State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz on Thursday said she’s calling for a poll among legislators to see if there is enough support for a special session to address data center concerns, like water use. Both the governor and Senate President called such a move premature.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
Trump Sending $700 Million To Coal Industry, Boosting Wyoming Coal Mines
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon joined President Trump in Washington, D.C., on Thursday as the president invoked a national security law to send $700 million to the coal industry. That includes $75 million to boost construction of a coal export terminal in Oakland.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
EPA Announces Push To Rescue Dave Johnston Coal Plant Near Glenrock
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it is proposing a rule to change an Obama-era 2014 Wyoming regional haze plan that would have shuttered the Dave Johnston Unit 3 power plant in Converse County.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
Goat Dispute Turned Deadly: Supreme Court Rejects Self Defense Argument Over Man Who Killed Neighbor
Two neighbors in Weston County had a longstanding dispute over goats. It escalated when one man shot and killed the other. The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the self-defense argument of the man who said the neighbor charged him on a skid steer.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2026
Wyoming Department Of Education Says Prepare For AI — Because It's Coming
The Wyoming Department of Education warned lawmakers this week that artificial intelligence is coming, so students should receive training outside of Facebook and Instagram. “The job of a school is to create real intelligence,” said Rep. Ocean Andrew.
Clair McFarlandJune 03, 2026