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
Campbell County to Pay $700K to Ousted Library Director in Settlement
Campbell County will pay former library director Terri Lesley $700,000 to settle her lawsuit alleging officials targeted her over LGBTQ-friendly books and events. Lesley will drop all claims, though the county denies wrongdoing.
Clair McFarlandOctober 08, 2025
Curt Meier Erupts At Chuck Gray, Says He Keeps Derailing Meetings
When Secretary of State Chuck Gray criticized Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday in the State Building Commission, Treasurer Curt Meier said he'd had enough. 'This forum is about doing business of this committee, not a stage for the secretary,' Meier said.
Steve Bohnel & Clair McFarlandOctober 08, 2025
Police Say Shooting Involving FE Warren Air Force Airman Was Murder - Suicide
Fort Collins police say a Sept. 30 shooting that killed two — one tied to F.E. Warren Air Force Base — was a murder-suicide fueled by domestic violence.
Clair McFarlandOctober 08, 2025
Rock Springs Man Pleads No Contest To Gouging Caretaker's Eye With Pliers
Robert Downum, 58, admitted no contest on Tuesday to aggravated assault after reports that he gouged out his elderly landlord's eye with pliers. Prosecutors are seeking 6-8 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandOctober 07, 2025
Family Of Man Who Killed Sheridan Cop Sues Law Enforcement
The family of the man who shot a Sheridan Police Department sergeant last year is suing law enforcement, saying that police should not have destroyed a home and fatally shot the man after the incident.
Clair McFarlandOctober 07, 2025
Someone Set State Law Book On Fire, Threw It From A Cadillac At Carbon County Courthouse
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken on Monday shared a video of someone throwing burning pages of Wyoming's statutes from a moving car's window at the courthouse. Investigators say they have a "pretty good idea" who did it, and that the person borrowed his or her mom's car.
Clair McFarlandOctober 06, 2025
Clair McFarland: I’m Not Weird, You’re Weird
Clair McFarland writes: “What I didn’t expect was for the readers’ reaction to be ‘You run in sandals?!’ But let’s ditch the brainwashery that no one can run a mile without a hunk of China-manufactured plastic strapped to their lowest extremities.”
Clair McFarlandOctober 06, 2025
‘Rot in Hell,’ Victim’s Mother Tells Man Sentenced for Crimes Tied to 2019 Killing
Joseph Underwood was sentenced Monday to 14.5 years for a slew of crimes related to the death of a Cheyenne woman in 2019. The murder case was dropped in 2022 due to his mental state. “Why couldn’t you kill yourself?” wailed the woman’s mother in court.
Clair McFarlandOctober 06, 2025
Provenza Says State Should Prove Drug Crimes First To Seize Money And Property
A Wyoming legislator wants to make the government prove a drug crime before it can seize an alleged criminal’s money or property. Rep. Karlee Provenza says there needs to be a higher standard for the government to take property from somebody.
Clair McFarlandOctober 06, 2025
In ‘Extremely Rare’ Child Porn Case, Rock Springs Woman Gets 3-5 Years
A Rock Springs woman was sentenced to three to five years in prison for possessing child pornography, says an order filed Thursday. It is "extremely rare" to see female defendants in such cases, investigators say.
Clair McFarlandOctober 03, 2025
Lummis' Letter Urges Trump To Pardon Wyoming Diesel 'Delete' Mechanic
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis on Tuesday wrote a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to pardon Wyoming diesel "delete" mechanic Troy Lake. Lake altered emissions systems in ailing diesel trucks, but his prison term is unfair, she says.
Clair McFarlandOctober 02, 2025
Fort Collins Death Makes At Least Four F.E. Warren Airman Gun Incidents
A person fatally shot Tuesday morning in Fort Collins, Colorado, was an airman serving in Cheyenne, the F.E. Warren Air Force Base confirmed to Cowboy State Daily. It’s at least the fourth shooting incident involving local airmen in about 6 months.
Clair McFarlandOctober 02, 2025
Judge Says Ousted UW Dean Can Keep Suing For ‘Retaliation’ Demotion
A former University of Wyoming dean can keep suing the university over his demotion, a judge ruled Tuesday. He claims the demotion was “retaliation” for not funneling money to a school headed by the UW president’s partner.
Clair McFarlandOctober 01, 2025
Star Valley Health Sues, Says Billing Company Shorted It More Than $2.5 Million
Afton-based hospital Star Valley Health on Tuesday sued the company running its billing system, claiming it caused the hospital to lose at least $2.5 million. This follows community outcry in late April about financial shortfalls at the hospital.
Clair McFarlandOctober 01, 2025
Wyoming Supreme Court Reverses Seizure Of $54K From 76-Year-Old Caught With Drugs
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed a judge's order that the state could take $54,226 from a retired Wamsutter trucker. The state claimed the money was part of a drug conspiracy, but the judge let the state have it too easy in court.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 30, 2025
Five Fined Over Supercar Drag Race In Grand Teton, YouTube Star Still In Court
Five men were fined, and four were banned from Grand Teton National Park for two years, after a supercar drag race in the park in June. A YouTube influencer also arrested for the race is still facing charges, with a hearing in October.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 30, 2025
Weston County Clerk No-Shows Subpoena From Committee Investigating Her
The Weston County clerk accused of botching portions of the 2024 general election in northeast Wyoming and filing a false post-election audit did not show up Monday for a legislative subcommittee meeting for which she was subpoenaed.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2025
Clair McFarland: Running The Red Desert Thrilled Me - And Made Me Want To Die
Clair McFarland writes, "A toxic gloom invaded my thoughts in July. But then I saw an ad for the Run the Red desert race. Normal runners could sign up for a 30-kilometer (18.6 mile) version of it, and stone-cold psychopaths could do the 50k. How lovely, I thought."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2025
Wyoming Says Judge's Order Gives Schools More Power Over Money Than Lawmakers Have
In arguing against a judge's order requiring a computer for every student and other upgrades for schools, the Wyoming Attorney General's Office says the judge's order would essentially let schools dictate their own funding, rather than elected lawmakers.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2025
Wyoming Elk Hunter Tapped For Trump Policy Position
A 26-year-old Wyoming woman who as a teen helped improve access to thousands of acres of public lands for hunters has been tapped for a position in the Trump administration.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2025
Attorney Says $250,000 Brain Damage Settlement Shows Government Payouts Are Too Limited
The attorney of a Wheatland man who suffered brain damage in the Platte County jail said man's $250,000 settlement is a sign that Wyoming’s limit on government liability payouts is too low. The Wyoming Senate chose not to raise that limit this winter.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2025