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
After Year On The Run, Man Accused Of Breaking Laramie Woman’s Face Is Caught
After punching a Laramie woman in the face so hard he broke her jaw “from ear to ear,” a 60-year-old drifter has been on the run for almost a year — until Tuesday, when he was caught in Colorado.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2024
80-Year-Old Montana Man Gets Two Months In Jail For Killing Grizzly, Evidence Tampering
An 80-year-old Montana man was told Tuesday he’ll serve two months in jail and pay a $10,000 fine after covering up the killing of a grizzly bear on his property. The sentence was stiffer than both the defense and prosecution had agreed to prior.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2024
Wyoming Dems Call Barrasso Anti-Woman For Helping Block So-Called "Contraception Rights Act"
The Wyoming Democratic Party said Sen. John Barrasso is anti-woman for his Monday vote against the so-called Right to Contraception Act. He said the bill would have funneled taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood and created a federal right to oral abortion drugs.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Badly Burned Wyoming Oil Field Workers Sue Over Back-To-Back Explosions
A piece of equipment allegedly exploded in the face of a Wyoming oil field worker in mid-December. Six weeks later the equipment allegedly exploded again, seriously burning a second worker. Both filed suit against Anschutz Exploration Corp on Monday.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Judge Balks At 5-7 Years For Man Who Trafficked Porn Involving Infants And Dogs
A Wyoming judge said Tuesday she has doubts about whether she’ll accept a plea agreement of 5-7 years in prison for a man accused of trafficking pornography involving infants, toddlers and dogs. The judge said she found the plea agreement to be lenient.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Two Colorado Men Busted Trying To Smuggle Lamborghinis Through Wyoming
A pair of men from Colorado who were busted after trying to drive stolen Lamborghinis through Wyoming had their cases elevated to felony court. The cars, which can drive more than 200 MPH, are worth more than $550,000.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2024
‘He’s Not Sorry,’ Family Of Slain Woman Says As Accused Killer Pleads Not Guilty
Family of Utahnna Bearcomesout looked on Monday as her accused killer pleaded not guilty, then told them he’s sorry while leaving the courtroom in shackles. “He’s not sorry,” the alleged victim’s sister said.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2024
Utahnna's Story: She Became Withdrawn And Isolated, Then Was Shot To Death
Utahnna Bearcomesout's family and friends remember her as a fun person and a caring mother. They also remember how she cut herself off from others during her marriage to the man now accused of killing her.
Clair McFarlandJune 09, 2024
Rock Springs Airport Says It Didn’t Violate PETA’s Rights By Not Running Giant Cow Ad
The Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport’s board on Friday said refusing to let PETA place a giant cow ad in its airport didn't violate the animal rights group’s free speech rights.
Clair McFarlandJune 08, 2024
Wyoming Tribe Could Get $1.5 Million Because Feds Short-Changed Indian Health Clinics
A legal fight by the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming over short-changing Indian health clinics ended Thursday with the U.S. Supreme Court siding with the tribes and saying the law supports the tribe’s claim it’s owed $1.5 million.
Clair McFarlandJune 06, 2024
Wyoming Duck Hunter Faces Felony Charge For Unintentional Gunshot Death
Accused of pointing his gun in an unsafe direction while inspecting it, accidentally firing and killing his hunting partner, a 20-year-old Laramie man is now facing a manslaughter charge in a felony-level court in Torrington, Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandJune 06, 2024
Mom Of Accused Child Torturer Charged With Feeding Boy Laxatives To Halt FBI Interview
The mother of a Wyoming woman accused of torturing her 13-year-old son has been charged with witness tampering for allegedly feeding one young boy laxatives to halt his FBI interview.
Clair McFarlandJune 06, 2024
Jackson Hole Winery Shut Down By HOA Rules To Stay Closed, Judge Says
The Jackson Hole Winery’s attempt to reopen a lawsuit that had culminated in an order putting it out of business failed last week when a judge upheld the HOA rules that shut the business down when neighbors complained about it.
Clair McFarlandJune 05, 2024
Thermopolis Cop Who Triggered Fatal Shootout Cleared By Town, Back On Full Duty
The town of Thermopolis announced Tuesday that it disagrees with a special prosecutor's opinion that Sgt. Mike Mascorro illegally entered a suspect's home to trigger a fatal shootout in April 2023, and has reinstated Mascorro back to full duty.
Clair McFarlandJune 05, 2024
PETA Sues Rock Springs Airport For Denying Its Cow Ad
PETA filed a lawsuit Tuesday to force the Rock Springs airport to display an advertisement equating leather luggage to animal cruelty. The ad, in part, states “cruelty doesn’t fly — choose vegan.”
Clair McFarlandJune 05, 2024
Body Found In Colorado 24 Years Ago Identified As Rock Springs Man
After 24 years and multiple DNA tests, Colorado authorities have identified a man found dead near Greeley on Valentine’s Day 2000 as Rock Springs resident Christopher Scott Case.
Clair McFarlandJune 05, 2024
Cheyenne Substitute Teacher Says He Was Kicked Out For Not Using Trans Names
A Wyoming substitute teacher says he was barred from working in Laramie County School District No. 1 after refusing to use preferred transgender names of students.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2024
Sheridan OKs $250K For House Destroyed In Standoff With Suspected Cop-Killer
A local woman whose home was destroyed during a 32-hour standoff with a suspected cop-killer in February will get another $250,000 from the city of Sheridan to help rebuild after the city council approved the settlement Monday.
Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2024
Scammer Tried Convincing Sheridan Woman He Kidnapped Her Daughter
A man with a Wyoming area code called a Sheridan woman last week and told her that her daughter had been forced into a vehicle and was being held for ransom. It turned out to be a scam but officers warn these types of scams are becoming more prevalent.
Clair McFarlandJune 03, 2024
Black Lab Ingests Meth At Gillette Park, Wags Tail "1,000 Miles Per Hour"
It was a close call but Tator, a black Labrador retriever, got into some meth last week at a park in Gillette. He survived but his owners said he was wired out of his mind with his tail wagging "1,000 miles per hour."
Clair McFarlandJune 03, 2024
Cheyenne Police Officers Found Liable For Illegally Breaking Into Man’s Home
Three former Cheyenne police officers are civilly liable for breaking into a man's home illegally after grabbing his pregnant wife, a U.S. District Court judge ruled. A jury will decide how much money the officers each owe the victim for their unlawful entry.
Clair McFarlandJune 03, 2024