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
Supreme Court Rejects Sheridan Man's Self-Defense Claim In Hockey Coach's Death
A Sheridan man who fatally punched a local hockey coach during a 2024 fight will not have his four-to-six-year prison sentence overturned, since the Wyoming Supreme Court concluded Thursday that he failed to show he acted with self-defense.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 06, 2026
State Sen. Retracts Statement Accusing Freedom Caucus Of Rewarding Votes
State Sen. Ed Cooper is retracting a statement he made last week, accusing the national Freedom Caucus network of hinging campaign donations to its local members on their voting records. "I spoke incorrectly on that because I can’t substantiate it," he said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 06, 2026
Joint Approps Committee Votes To Protect Two More Institutions From UW Budget Cuts
The Joint Appropriations Committee on Thursday voted to shield two more institutions from its proposed $40 million budget cut to the University of Wyoming. One of those institutions shares a financial backer with the campaign arm of the Freedom Caucus.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 06, 2026
By 3-2 Margin, Wyoming Top Officials Vote For Process To Halt Wind Leases
The State Land Board on Thursday voted 3-2 to begin a legal process that could cancel two controversial state wind leases in Converse and Niobrara counties. Secretary Chuck Gray, Superintendent Megan Degenfelder, and Auditor Kristi Racines all voted in favor while Gov. Gordon and Treasurer Meier voted against.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 05, 2026
$25M Lawsuit Against Jackson Newspaper Settled: "Should Have Never Been Published"
An Arizona man settled what was originally a $25M defamation suit vs. the Jackson Hole News & Guide over the paper claiming he'd abused his son. The paper wrote, "We acknowledge, plainly and without qualification, that this article should never have been published."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2026
Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman 'Looking Seriously' At U.S. House Run
Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman told Cowboy State Daily he is considering a run for Wyoming's U.S. House and has formed an exploratory committee to look into a campaign. "I will have a decision after session – one way or another," he said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2026
Tom Kelly Announces Run For Superintendent Of Public Instruction
Tom Kelly, a freshman lawmaker from Sheridan who is also a college professor, said Wednesday he is running for Superintendent of Public Instruction. He arrived in Wyoming in 2019 leaving Illinois for Colorado, until Colorado became "just Illinois with mountains."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2026
Gordon Says Facing $40M Cut, UW Should ‘Listen To The People Of Wyoming'
Gov. Gordon said that as the University of Wyoming faces a proposed $40 million cut, it should “listen to the people of Wyoming.” He also fielded questions about K-12 funding and dismantling the Wyoming Business Council during a Tuesday forum in Lander.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2026
No Dismissal For Cody Roberts In Wolf Torture Case, Trial Could Start Next Month
A request to dismiss an animal cruelty charge against accused wolf torturer Cody Roberts was denied Tuesday. The Sweetwater County judge in the case confirmed he won’t dismiss the case early and that Roberts’ case can go to trial, set to begin March 9.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2026
BLM Officer, Family Members Plead Not Guilty In Fatal Lander Bar Fight
A BLM law enforcement officer and two members of his family pleaded “not guilty” to murder and manslaughter charges Tuesday in a shared arraignment hearing in Fremont County District Court. They’re accused of killing a man in a Lander bar brawl last month.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2026
State Supreme Court Revives Gunmaker's $14M Lawsuit Over Business Council Project
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Monday revived Cody-based Gunwerks’ $14 million lawsuit accusing a local group and two businesses of spending $6 million from the Wyoming Business Council — to build a faulty facility.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2026
Riverton Man Accused Of Shooting And Killing Man In Moving Car
Jose Benito Ocon, 34, faces federal first-degree murder charges for shooting a man in the head in a moving car on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation after asking if his girlfriend loved him. Witnesses said he also threatened two women with the gun.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2026
Clair McFarland: Lander Lil Doesn't See Her Shadow, But Finds The Cougars On Groundhog Day
Clair McFarland writes, "My fellow Cowboy State Daily contributor Mark Heinz and I gathered on the southern slope of Lander this Groundhog Day, to see whether Lander Lil, Wyoming’s famed gargantuan prairie dog, would see her shadow."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2026
Clair McFarland: Firstborn's Out Here Lawyering For The Beastie Boys
Clair McFarland writes: "After successfully defending the Beastie Boys, my firstborn son is considering becoming a lawyer. I think it’s a bad idea to give a law license to someone who believes society should still allow pistol duels."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 01, 2026
Alleged Green River Bomber Sane Enough For Identity Fraud Trial
The man accused of sending a bomb to his estranged wife’s Green River home in 1982 and blowing her finger off is sane enough to face trial on fraud charges, a judge ruled this week. He was on the lam for more than 40 years before being caught in 2025.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 31, 2026
Trucker Who Killed One EMT, Injured Another In Crash Gets 12-14 Years In Prison
A Sweetwater County judge sentenced a Haitian trucker Friday to 12-14 years in prison for plowing into an ambulance, killing one EMT and injuring another. The deceased EMT's grandfather said he forgave the trucker, to shed his bitterness and his anger.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 30, 2026
Adding Land To Wind River Reservation Is Part Of Bison Reintroduction Plan
Opponents and proponents of a bison reintroduction project on the Wind River Reservation both say restoring bison to the area involves another goal: increasing the size of the reservation to accommodate them.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 30, 2026
At Hageman's Thermopolis Townhall, Attendees Yelled More At Each Other Than At Her
Attendees clamored and yelled at Rep. Harriet Hageman's townhall in Thermopolis on Thursday with the topic of immigration enforcement causing most of the drama. But most people yelled at each other more than at Hageman.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 30, 2026
'I Stabbed A Guy In the Back,' Admits Riverton Man In 14-Year-Old's Killing
Admitting he stabbed a 14-year-old boy in the back last August during a brawl north of Riverton, Alejandro Behan pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder. "I knew that if I stabbed him in the back, it could probably kill him," Behan said.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2026
Judge Hints He Will Send Cody Roberts Wolf Torture Case To Trial
A Green River, Wyoming, judge on Wednesday hinted he’ll send the animal cruelty case of Cody Roberts to a jury in two months. Judge Richard Lavery stopped just short of denying Roberts’ argument for immunity, saying he’ll file a written order later.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2026
Degenfelder To Investigate Rock Springs School District's Special Ed Program
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced Wednesday her office is launching an investigation into the special education program at Sweetwater County School District No. 1 after multiple noncompliance complaints.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2026