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
Wyoming Man Charged With Arson In Massive Laramie County Grass Fire
A 62-year-old Laramie County man has been charged with third-degree arson for allegedly leaving garbage to smolder on a windy morning that escalated into an out-of-control grassfire that burned 6,600 acres.
Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2024
No Prosecution For Federal Agent Who Shot Ethete Man During Hostage Situation
A Bureau of Indian Affairs agent who shot Terrance Posey during an alleged hostage situation in 2022 believed the BB pistol Posey was pointing at him was a handgun, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2024
Cheyenne Child Rapist And Pornographer Gets 60 Years
A 29-year-old Cheyenne man was called a “monster” by the family of his victim Wednesday before drawing 60 years in prison for raping a child and having sadomasochistic pornography depicting infants and toddlers.
Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2024
Man Accused Of Stealing Guns But Also Cleaning Kitchen Agrees To Prison Time
A Green River man charged with breaking into a stranger’s home and stealing guns from the place, but also cleaning up the kitchen in the house will serve 8-12 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandMarch 14, 2024
Cheyenne Trio Claims They Got Stolen Solar Panel Hardware Dumpster Diving
A Cheyenne transient and two accomplices have been charged with stealing $3,600 worth of solar panels. They claim, however, that they found the equipment while they were dumpster diving and thought someone threw them out as trash.
Clair McFarlandMarch 13, 2024
Greybull Woman Accused Of Nearly Starving 4-Year-Old Son To Death
A Greybull woman faces up to 25 years in prison on claims she starved her 4-year-old son to such a degree that he suffered brain damage and nearly died. He reportedly weighed 18 pounds – which is normal weight for an 8-month-old baby, not a 4-year old boy.
Clair McFarlandMarch 12, 2024
Cody Woman Who Clawed Husband In Face Now Charged With Elder Abuse
A Cody woman who pleaded guilty to clawing her husband’s face and ear also faces charges of intentional elder abuse for allegedly assaulting her mother. She faces 20 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandMarch 12, 2024
Deadly Shootout With Cheyenne Cops Was Triggered By Gunshots, Screaming
A Friday officer-involved shooting in which three officers were involved in a gunfight with Patrick Flores, 47, began when police broke through the man's door after reports of gunshots — and a woman screaming inside.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2024
Sex Traffickers Will Have To Register In Wyoming If Gordon Doesn't Veto Bill
Of the five attempts Wyoming legislators tried to change the state’s sex offender registry this session, just one made it to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk. The bill would require human and sex traffickers be added to the state’s sex offender registry.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2024
Gillette Atheist's $24M Lawsuit Over City Prayers Blocked By Wyoming Supreme Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Friday slapped down an appeal by a Gillette atheist who sued the city and its mayor for $24 million for not allowing him to give a proportionate number of atheistic invocations at meetings.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2024
Clair McFarland: There's A Guy Here Eating All The Food
Clair McFarland writes: "I haul the massive creature to jujitsu. My car shudders when he jumps out of it. I call out, 'Play nice now dear!'"
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2024
Wyoming House 1 Vote Short Of Overturning Gordon Veto Of Charter School Funding Bill
The Wyoming House fell one vote short Friday of overriding Gov. Mark Gordon's veto of a bill that would have let state-authorized charter schools get their own grants and receive funding consistently from local districts.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2024
BRIEF: Man Accused In Golf Club Beating Arraigned After Six Months On The Loose
A Fort Washakie man who allegedly walloped a woman with a golf club, then was on the loose for six months until surfacing in Lander, was arraigned Wednesday. He faces 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Wyoming Man Who Stomped Woman's Head Has To Pay $100K
An Ethete, Wyoming, man who’s serving 42 months in prison for stomping a woman’s head was ordered Friday to also pay more than $100,000 to cover her medical bills.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Committee Slips School Choice Bill Into Budget After House Killed It
A day after the House Education Committee killed a proposal to allow for another charter school in Wyoming, it was slipped into the budget bill, where it’s so far survived.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Affordable Housing Coming To Jackson After Historic Teton County Commission Vote
The Teton County Commission has approved regulations for development in the northern South Park area near Jackson — a major first step in installing affordable housing for which the region’s workforce has been pleading for years.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Sheridan Police Say Reports Of Strange Men, Ski Masks And Sketchy Machete Threat Not Related
Sheridan Police Chief Travis Koltiska said a series of reports this week of strange men approaching people, others in ski masks, and an exaggerated report of a man with a machete aren’t related.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Police Say Torrington Teen Was Drunk And High When She Caused Fatal Crash
Police arrested a 19-year-old Torrington woman Tuesday, alleging she was drunk and high when she wrecked her car in November, killing her front-seat passenger, Dallas Fierro. If convicted, Brianna Green could face 20 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2024
Wyoming Sex Abuser Quits Trial During Victim’s Testimony, Takes Plea
A Wyoming man who sexually abused a 10-year-old girl abruptly ended his trial this week during the victim’s testimony, gave a “no contest” plea and was sentenced that day.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2024
UW Swimmers Killed In Crash Remembered As Dedicated, Loving Teammates
Three University of Wyoming swim team members killed in a Feb. 22 car crash were remembered Wednesday as dedicated, fun-loving and caring teammates.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2024
Fremont County Library Board Votes 3-2 To Keep Controversial Books
In a lively debate on Wednesday, the Fremont County Library Board voted 3-2 to keep two controversial books in the young adult section of the library that contain subject matter on child molestation, group sex, anal sex, oral sex, filming of pornography, and other topics.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2024