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
Mountain West Denies It Snuck In New Rule To Punish Boycott Of Trans Player
The Mountain West Conference told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that it didn't suddenly edit its rules to punish schools for boycotting a women's volleyball team with a transgender player. The women suing the conference claim it did.
Clair McFarlandNovember 16, 2024
Rural Wyoming Police Chief Accused Of Helping Girlfriend Evade Meth Arrest
Manderson, Wyoming, Police Chief Brandon “BJ” Kidgell is accused of tipping off a woman he was dating to drug searches of her house and attempts to arrest her. The six charges, which include neglect of duty, were filed Thursday.
Clair McFarlandNovember 15, 2024
Cody Man Accused Of Stalking Ex, Hoarding Homemade Explosives
Though Randall Bailey, 64, does not appear to be charged with possessing explosives, court documents say police found homemade explosive devices in his Cody, Wyoming, home. He remains in jail on suspicion of stalking his ex-wife.
Clair McFarlandNovember 15, 2024
Utah Man Says He Was Hired To Cash $13K In Fake Checks In Wyoming
A Utah man is the Lincoln County, Wyoming, jail on claims that he drained the Alpine Standard gas station's bank account of $13,000. He’s accused of cashing fake checks, but claims he was hired to cash them and had no idea they were fake.
Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024
3 UW Volleyball Players Part Of Bombshell Lawsuit Over Trans Player
Three University of Wyoming student-athletes are part of a bombshell lawsuit over a transgender player competing for San Jose State University. Among other things, they claim the Mountain West Conference tried to silence player boycotts.
Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024
Sheridan Man Accused Of Punching And Killing Hockey Coach Claims Self-Defense
A Sheridan man accused of punching a longtime hockey coach so hard it killed him is arguing that he acted in self-defense. He claims the hockey coach first repeatedly punched and attacked him outside a rodeo this past summer.
Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024
Powell School District Vows To Push Legislature For Separate Bathrooms Law
The board of the Park County School District 1 passed a resolution Tuesday, vowing to lobby the Wyoming Legislature for a law separating boys’ and girls’ school bathrooms.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024
Eggs Harder To Come By In Colorado, Some Blame New Cage-Free Law
Many Coloradans have noticed an egg shortage, and some are blaming a new state law requiring big egg producers to go cage-free by Jan. 1.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024
Torrington Man Accused Of Throwing Ex’s Guns And Computers In Canal
A Torrington man already accused of brutally pistol-whipping and disfiguring his ex-girlfriend has been charged with yet another felony. He’s accused of throwing his victim’s phone, laptop and guns in a canal.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024
Riverton School Board Candidate Pleads Guilty To Molesting Child For Months
A recent candidate for the Riverton, Wyoming, school board, Hunter DeVries pleaded guilty Tuesday to molesting a child for months. He faces up to 30 years in prison if the judge accepts his plea agreement.
Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2024
Critics And Supporters Both Think Trump Can Achieve Bold Trans Policies
In a video that went viral over the weekend, President-Elect Donald Trump vowed to cut federal funding for all transgender-related treatments, and ban those treatments for children. Supporters and detractors of the plan both think Trump can pull it off.
Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2024
Records Show UW Volleyball Players Split On Playing Team With Trans Player
Records of University of Wyoming communications show the women’s volleyball team was split on playing a team with a transgender player. Even so, UW leaders say they made the call to cancel games against San Jose State University.
Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2024
Companies Say Explosions That Hurt Wyoming Oil Field Workers Were Their Own Fault
Two Wyoming energy companies being sued over a pair of explosions that hurt two oil field workers say they’re not at fault. In court filings, they say the injuries “were caused by their own negligence and the negligence of their employer.”
Clair McFarlandNovember 11, 2024
University Volleyball Team With Trans Player Headed To Playoffs
The San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is headed to the Mountain West Conference playoffs, the conference announced Saturday. Multiple teams in the Mountain West, including Wyoming, have refused to play the team citing safety and unfairness concerns.
Clair McFarlandNovember 10, 2024
UW Forfeits Second Volleyball Match Against Team With Transgender Player
The University of Wyoming athletics department announced Friday it would forfeit its upcoming women's volleyball match against San Jose State University. The California team features a formidable outside hitter whom court documents and fellow players say is transgender.
Clair McFarlandNovember 09, 2024
Man Gutted Dead Uncle's Wyoming Oil And Gas Company To Start His Own
A Green River, Wyoming, man who worked for his uncle’s oil and gas company for 38 years got probation Thursday for stealing from the company after his uncle’s death. When he couldn’t buy the company, he took its equipment and employees, court documents show.
Clair McFarlandNovember 09, 2024
Bill To Ban People From Suing Wyoming Cops For “Negligent Investigations” Advances
The Joint Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would ban people from suing cops for their “negligent investigations.”
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2024
Unlike Other Universities, UW Not Offering Therapy After Trump Win
Many major universities are offering “election care” services like dog-petting and Lego-building to help students emotionally deal with the election after Trump's win. But not the University of Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2024
Campbell County Deputy Who Killed Shooter Acted In Self-Defense
A Campbell County, Wyoming, deputy who shot and killed a Wright man who'd fired a shotgun at his patrol vehicle acted in self-defense. That’s the determination of the county attorney after reviewing an independent state investigation into the incident.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2024
Prosecutor Disputes Wyoming Hunter's Claim Friend's Shooting Death Was Accident
A 20-year-old Wyoming hunter says the gunshot that killed his best friend while duck hunting was an accident. But a prosecutor responded this week saying the death was the result of recklessness and the case against the hunter should move forward.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2024
Gillette Woman Charged With Domestic Abuse Claims Boyfriend Punched Himself
A Gillette, Wyoming, woman charged with beating up her boyfriend told police he punched himself in the face Monday night. Police say her fists, not his, were scuffed.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2024