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
Outgoing Senator Puzzled Why House Speaker Killed Prostitution Bill
Outgoing State Sen. Affie Ellis on Wednesday said she remains baffled why House Speaker Albert Sommers killed a prostitution bill that passed overwhelmingly in the senate. Sommers said it was a matter of prioritization.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2024
Human Skull Found In Wyoming’s Vast Red Desert Was A Man Age 25-35, Coroner Says
A bleached-out human skull found in Wyoming’s vast Red Desert in November belonged to a man ages 25-35, the Sweetwater County coroner confirmed Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandApril 03, 2024
BRIEF: Uinta County Man Charged With Lying To Get $14,000 In Medicaid Payments
Accused of lying so he could get more than $14,000 in Medicaid welfare benefits, a Mountain View, Wyoming, man now faces two felony charges and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2024
Man Accused Of Torturing Lander Woman Protests Search Of His Drug Storage Shed
A man with reported Mexican cartel ties accused of torturing a Lander woman in his home says the federal government violated his Fourth Amendment rights by searching his storage shed and backpack to find a stash of meth and cocaine. However, investigators did wait 38 days to get a warrant.
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2024
Missing Gillette Woman Died Of Hypothermia, Coroner Says
Campbell County Coroner reported Tuesday that a Gillette woman found dead last week after a five-day search died of hypothermia and shows “no evidence of injury or foul play.”
Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2024
Wyoming Claims Schools Try To Force Social Programs In Funding Lawsuit
A judge heard arguments Monday in an ongoing lawsuit where school districts and the Wyoming Education Association are suing for more money. But the state argues they’re just trying to force funding of social programs.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2024
Mental Test Ordered For Gillette Teen Charged With Trying To Seduce 11-Year-Old
A Gillette judge has ordered an 18-year-old to get a mental health test after the teen said he wasn’t mentally well enough to be found guilty of trying to seduce an 11-year-old boy and compelling a sex act from a dog.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2024
Cheyenne Man Shot Multiple Times, Killed In Weekend Domestic Fight
A Cheyenne man was shot multiple times and died at the scene late Saturday in an alleged domestic argument at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Oxford Drive.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2024
Man Accused Of Trying To Molest 7-Year Old Pleads Guilty To Child Porn
A 37-year-old Cheyenne man accused of trying to arrange to have sexual contact with a 7-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to possessing child porn. He allegedly told federal agents he had done so with an underage child before.
Clair McFarlandApril 01, 2024
After 18 Years, Wyoming Prisons Drops Health Provider That’s Been Sued 1,000+ Times
The longtime health care provider for Wyoming prisons has reportedly been sued over 1,000 times across the U.S., and after 18 years has been dropped in favor of another, possibly more expensive company.
Clair McFarlandMarch 29, 2024
Squatters Don’t Make Much Trouble Here Because Wyoming Won’t Put Up With It
Although homes are being taken over by squatters in California and New York because of weak laws, intruders aren't likely to have any success in Wyoming. Landlords here won't put up with it, the laws don't allow it, and the courts are much more efficient.
Clair McFarlandMarch 29, 2024
Cheyenne Man Accused Of Swinging Machete At Cops On I-80 Overpass
A 61-year-old man’s case rose to felony-level court Thursday for allegedly swinging a machete at cops while dancing on an Interstate 80 overpass in Cheyenne.
Clair McFarlandMarch 29, 2024
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Uncovers Large Cocaine Hub In Jackson
A Jamaican transplant to Jackson has been charged with orchestrating a large distribution scheme of multiple half-pound, $8,000 cocaine deals in town. The man is facing up to 20 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.
Clair McFarlandMarch 29, 2024
Denver Trucker Convicted Of Killing Gillette Family Of Five
A jury convicted a Denver truck driver on Wednesday of five counts of vehicular homicide for killing a Gillette family of five in June, 2022. A mother of one of the victims told Cowboy State Daily she felt "some kind of justice" had been served.
Clair McFarlandMarch 29, 2024
Judge Considers If Wyoming Man Accused Of Murder, Necrophilia 'Too Slow" For Trial
In a case that’s dragged on for nearly five years, a Cody judge is considering whether a Wyoming man accused of killing a woman in Cheyenne then having sex with her body is too mentally “slow” to stand trial.
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2024
Wyoming Man Charged Two Years After Teen Girl Escaped Attack, Kidnap Attempt
Two years after someone attacked and tried to stuff a Riverton teen girl into her own car, a local man has been charged and could get up to life in prison.
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2024
Evanston Couple Charged With Manslaughter In Baby's Mysterious Death
An Evanston couple were arrested Tuesday and charged with manslaughter in the mysterious death of their 9-month-old baby in October. The baby had a severe, extensive rash and bruising and the family was reportedly living in filth.
Clair McFarlandMarch 28, 2024
Thermopolis Police Release More Body Cam Video Of Mascorro Arrests
Responding to Cowboy State Daily public records requests, the Thermopolis Police Department has released more body cam video of arrests by Sgt. Mike Mascorro, who broke into a suspect’s home illegally last year and killed him in a shootout.
Clair McFarlandMarch 27, 2024
Sheridan Tow Truck Driver Charged With Breaking In To Crush's Home And Attacking Man
A Sheridan tow truck driver allegedly infatuated with a woman was elevated to felony-level court Tuesday on charges he broke into her home and bashed her male visitor with a lamp.
Clair McFarlandMarch 27, 2024
Now Never-Trump Attorney Will Attempt To Keep Chuck Gray Off Wyoming Ballots
Retired Laramie attorney Tim Newcomb agreed to dismiss his lawsuit to get Trump off Wyoming’s future ballots, but says his next target to disqualify from state elections is Secretary of State Chuck Gray.
Clair McFarlandMarch 26, 2024
People Can Sue Police For 'Negligent' Investigation, Wyoming Supreme Court Says
In a split 3-2 decision Tuesday, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled people can sue police who perform “negligent” investigations, a controversial decision to which Justice Keith Kautz wrote a blistering dissent on his last day on the bench.
Clair McFarlandMarch 26, 2024