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
Minnesota's 'Draconian' Self-Defense Ruling Exposes Loophole In Wyoming Law
When the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday crafted a groundbreaking rule against the self-defense concept of standing one’s ground, it highlighted a potential loophole in Wyoming’s own laws, says a firearms law expert.
Clair McFarlandAugust 03, 2024
Targets Of Wyoming Freedom PAC Mailers Send Cease And Desist Demand
Two Fremont County legislators say they may sue the campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus if it doesn’t stop sending false mailers to voters.
Clair McFarlandAugust 02, 2024
Evanston Couple Suspects In Abuse Of 15-Day-Old Who Had Seizures, Brain Bleed
A couple living in Evanston, Wyoming, can’t be ruled out as potential abusers of their 15-day-old daughter. The baby suffered seizures and a brain bleed a doctor determined were not accidental in nature.
Clair McFarlandAugust 02, 2024
Wyoming Father Denied Daughter’s Counseling Records Scores Win With Supreme Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a father who sued after being denied his 7-year-old daughter’s counseling records. The counselor claims that would violate medical privacy, but state law says parents can waive that.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024
Chuck Gray Defends False Campaign Mailers Targeting Wyoming Candidates
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Wednesday defended false campaign mailers targeting some candidates. Among other misleading statements, they falsely claim legislators voted to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024
Wyoming Man Accused Of Beating Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Another
An Ethete, Wyoming, man accused of murdering a woman while out on bond for beating another has pleaded not guilty. A federal judge Monday ordered he remain in jail this time.
Clair McFarlandAugust 01, 2024
Man On The Run With Stolen Mini Poodle Caught With Meth In Wyoming
A Canadian man stole a mini poodle named Teddy, hopped the border and fled to Riverton, Wyoming, police documents say. That’s where police caught up to him for allegedly possessing meth.
Clair McFarlandJuly 31, 2024
Douglas Woman And Boyfriend Accused Of Brutal Roadside Beating Of Woman’s Mom
A woman from Douglas, Wyoming, and her boyfriend are accused of brutally beating the woman’s mom on the side of a road. The victim’s head was split to the bone. Her daughter’s case rose to felony-level court Monday.
Clair McFarlandJuly 31, 2024
Another Boy Claims He Was Abused At Wyoming Boys’ School
A fourth former resident at Wyoming Boys School claims he was abused, mistreated and tormented there. Three others suing the school over similar allegations want to add the fourth boy to their lawsuit, according to a Tuesday court filing.
Clair McFarlandJuly 31, 2024
Green River Man Charged For Pulling Gun On "Dumbass" Teen On His Lawn
A Green River man is facing up to 10 years in prison on claims he pointed a loaded 9 mm pistol at a teen who parked dirt bike on the grass in front of the man’s home. The man allegedly told police the boy was acting like a “dumbass.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 30, 2024
California Transient Accused Of Attacking Wyoming Transients With Machete
A California transient is accused of attacking four Wyoming transients under a bridge in Green River with a machete. He claimed they were trying to drown him while they claim he just started swinging his machete at them for "no reason."
Clair McFarlandJuly 30, 2024
Cody Bar Manager Accused Of Skimming Nearly $200K From Gaming Machines
A longtime manager of a Cody bar is accused of skimming nearly $200,000 from gaming machine profits over the past three years. She faces four counts of felony theft in Cody Circuit Court, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandJuly 29, 2024
Kum & Go Apologizes For Diesel-Gas Mix-Up At Rock Springs Gas Station
The corporate office of Kum & Go told Cowboy State Daily it is apologizing for a mix-up earlier this month that switched diesel and regular gas in its fuel tanks in Rock Springs. The company says it will pay for any damage motorists suffered.
Clair McFarlandJuly 29, 2024
Friend Says Naked Man Passed Out In Stranger’s Home Usually “A Pretty Good Guy”
Upon returning to his home in Alpine, Wyoming, a man found his house wrecked and a naked stranger passed out there last month. The intruder had his case elevated to felony-level court last week, while a friend says he’s usually “a pretty good guy.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 29, 2024
Bad Autopilot May Have Contributed To Wyoming Air Crash That Killed 7
The single-engine turboprop plane that crashed in northeast Wyoming on Friday, killing all 7 on board, indicated an “autopilot issue during flight,” the NTSB reports. That would be in line with that model aircraft, a crash investigator told Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandJuly 29, 2024
Clair McFarland: We Bought A Minivan With No Melted Sour Patch Kids In It
Clair McFarland writes: "True to his word, The Husband sold off our 2007 GMC Yukon and started shopping for a minivan."
Clair McFarlandJuly 28, 2024
Former Wyoming Judge Busted For Drugs Now Spreads Recovery Story And Hope
Terri Smith was a respected Wyoming tribal judge before she was busted for dealing cocaine and helping to sell prescription drugs. Now she's working to help other addicts recover and find redemption through accountability and gratitude.
Clair McFarlandJuly 28, 2024
Not 'The Lucas I Knew': Family Of Yellowstone Shooter Shocked By July 4 Standoff
Authorities say Yellowstone concessionaire worker Lucas Fussner took a hostage and threatened to "shoot Jew-babies" before dying in a shootout with a park ranger July 4. Fussner's family says they're shocked and that wasn't the person they knew.
Clair McFarlandJuly 27, 2024
Three Members Of Gospel Group The Nelons Killed In Wyoming Plane Crash
Three members from the gospel group The Nelons were killed in a plane crash on Friday afternoon in northeast Wyoming. At least seven passengers were onboard the plane. There were no survivors.
Jimmy Orr, Greg Johnson & Clair McFarlandJuly 27, 2024
'Super, Super Nice People': Plane Fueled Up In Nebraska Before Crashing In Wyoming
A single-engine aircraft that crashed in northeast Wyoming on Friday afternoon had fueled up in Nebraska. The manager of the airfield said they were regular customers and just "super, super nice people." There were no survivors.
Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonJuly 26, 2024
New Trial For Rawlins Woman Who Crushed Sleeping Pills Into Kids’ Milk
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a new trial for a Rawlins woman who admitted crushing up prescription sleeping pills into her children’s milk. Because no one proved the kids were injured, the high court ruled it wasn’t necessarily abuse.
Clair McFarlandJuly 26, 2024