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
No Legislative Misconduct Found Against Dems Who Aired 'CheckGate’ Scandal
Wyoming House leaders on Wednesday dismissed ethics complaints against Democratic Reps. Mike Yin and Karlee Provenza over the “CheckGate” scandal. House Speaker Pro Tem Jeremy Haroldson said they didn't break any rules, but their actions caused fallout.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026
Senate 9 Votes Short Of Reversing Gordon’s Second Amendment Protection Act Veto
The Wyoming Senate tried and failed by nine votes Wednesday to override Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of a bill called the “Second Amendment Protection Act.” Sheriffs for all 23 Wyoming counties opposed the bill, calling it messy and overreaching.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026
House Tries, Fails To Override Gordon Veto: Governments Can Still Deduct Union Dues
Despite a gentle insistence by the bill’s sponsor that real, local people see its value, the Wyoming House on Wednesday failed to override Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of a bill that sought to ban government entities from collecting union dues.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026
"Daddy Was Mad At Mommy": Young Girl Finds Mother Dead In Riverton Murder Case
The young daughter of a 24-year-old woman found dead Saturday, shot in the face in a Riverton motel room, told authorities: “Daddy was mad at Mommy,” and “Mommy’s dead,” court documents say.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026
Pro-Choicers Want Retired Judge To Hear Case Against 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban
The pro-choice coalition that has sued to block every abortion restriction Wyoming has passed since 2022 is challenging the state’s “Heartbeat” act. It filed Tuesday for a retired judge who has already blocked two abortion restrictions to hear the case.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026
Immigrant Trucker Freed After Wyoming Judge Rejects Homeland Security Policy
A Wyoming judge rejected a new DHS policy that detains immigrants who have been living in the U.S. consistently during their immigration proceedings. He also ordered a bond hearing for a detained immigrant trucker, who is now free while his case continues.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026
Governments Can Keep Collecting Union Dues After Gordon Vetoes Ban
Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have barred Wyoming agencies from deducting union and political dues from paychecks. He said he’s frustrated with “the increasing trend of out-of-state interests influencing legislation.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026
WYDOT Announces Retirement Of Wyoming Highway Patrol Chief
The Wyoming Dept of Transportation on Tuesday announced the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s administrator is retiring. Col. Tim Cameron said he was planning on retiring, and his exit isn't due to overtime and staffing controversies in the agency.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026
Gordon Vetoes Second Amendment Protection Act, Trump's ICE Agrees
Noting the Trump administration backs him, Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday vetoed the Second Amendment Protection Act - a bill condemned by all 23 Wyoming sheriffs. The bill would penalize Wyoming agencies that help with federal gun enforcement operations.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026
Nearly $4 Billion Wyoming Education Plan Goes Into Law Without Gordon’s Signature
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday let the state’s new $3.9 billion K-12 education plan become law without his signature. He said his biggest issue was the Legislature cordoning off instructional funding so it can't help "if a school loses a roof.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026
Police Subdue Man Threatening Himself With Knife At Jackson Hole Grocery Store
Jackson police brought down a male threatening himself with a knife inside Albertsons on Monday with bean bag rounds and a Taser. He was hospitalized with self-inflicted injuries. “It worked out as well as it could have," a lieutenant told Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026
Gordon Signs 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban; Clinic 'Prepared To Challenge' It
Gov. Mark Gordon signed Wyoming’s Human Heartbeat Act on Monday, banning most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be heard. The state's only abortion clinic says it is an "attack on Wyomingites’ constitutional freedom" and is ready to challenge it.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026
Judge Tosses Most Claims In San Jose State Trans Volleyball Lawsuit
A federal judge in Colorado dismissed nearly all claims by college volleyball players challenging San Jose State’s inclusion of a trans athlete. The controversy erupted in 2024 when UW and other teams boycotted games because a SJSU player was transgender.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026
Legislature Overrides 4 Of Gordon's 25 Line-Item Vetoes; Biz Council Program Survives
The Wyoming Legislature overrode four of Gov. Mark Gordon's 25 line-item vetoes to the budget Friday. The House failed by one vote to win an override that would have defunded the Business Ready Communities program.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026
Gordon Says Second Amendment Protection Act Is Fundraising Disguised As Legislation
Gov. Gordon didn’t mince words when discussing the Second Amendment Protection Act. He called it an “embarrassment,” noting all 23 sheriffs in Wyoming oppose it. The bill currently sits on the governor’s desk. He vetoed a similar bill last year.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026
Wyoming Lawmakers Hope $3.9 Billion School Spending Package Good Enough For Courts
Wyoming lawmakers have sent a roughly $3.9 billion school spending package to the governor's desk hoping it will survive the latest round of court scrutiny. "I’m confident the court will look very favorably on (these efforts)," Sen. Chris Rothfuss said Friday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026
Bill Blocking State Agencies From Collecting Union Dues Heads To Gov's Desk
A bill banning Wyoming public agencies and schools from collecting union and political advocacy group dues is headed to the governor. Rep JD Williams says workers keep their right to pay dues and engage in union activities but the state won't be involved.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026
Gordon Uses Line-Item Veto To Help Biz Council, Rescue State Jet, NIL, UW Funding
Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday used his line-item veto authority to rescue the Wyoming Business Council’s Business-Ready Communities program, the state colleges’ flexibility to use state money on NIL, and one of the executive branch’s two jet airplanes.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026
Gordon Signs Bill Letting All Wyoming Cops Pull Non-English Speaking Truckers From Roads
By the stroke of Gov. Mark Gordon's pen Thursday, now all Wyoming police officers and deputies, not just federally-certified state troopers, can pull non-English-proficient commercial truck drivers from the roads.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026
To Become A Judge, Clark Stith Leaves Behind Two High-Profile Political Lawsuits
By accepting a judgeship in Sweetwater County, former Rep. Clark Stith is leaving behind arguably the two most high-profile political lawsuits in Wyoming and is "shopping around" for a lawyer to take them over.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026
Cody Roberts Pleads Guilty In Wyoming Wolf Torture Case
In a notorious case that snagged global headlines, Wyoming man Cody Roberts on Thursday pleaded guilty to torturing a wolf and apologized publicly, after establishing a plea agreement. “I’d just like to say I sincerely regret my actions,” Roberts said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026