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
Contractor Sues, Says $100 Million Goshen Tunnel Project Awarded ‘In Secret'
A contractor filed a lawsuit Monday claiming the more than $100 million award to fix a catastrophic 2019 failure of the Wyoming-Nebraska tunnel system was done illegally “in secret.” It also claims there was no competitive bidding process for the work.
Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2026
‘It’s Big Brother’: Wyomingites Concerned About Mandated ‘Kill Switches’ On Cars
Multiple Wyoming lawmakers and a Cheyenne-based car dealer voiced concern Friday over a federal requirement for mandatory “kill switches” in 2027 model vehicles. “It’s Big Brother,” said the dealer, while a state legislator called it “draconian."
Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2026
Family Says Brother Of Deceased Woman Saved Children From Riverton House Fire
The uncle of two Riverton children saved from a fatal house fire Thursday also tried to rescue their mother — his sister — who didn’t survive, family and police say. “I just want everybody to know that Macey was a good mom,” a neighbor says.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2026
Judge Rules Freedom Caucus PAC Mailers Didn’t Defame Rock Springs Legislators
A judge on Thursday dismissed the defamation case of two legislators against the campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. “You can say pretty ludicrous stuff” in politics, the judge said about negative mailers targeting the Rock Springs state reps.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2026
U.S. Supreme Court's Racial Redistricting Decision Could Shake Up Wyoming
A Wednesday U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring Louisiana’s race-based congressional district unconstitutional could shake up Wyoming. Fremont County has a race-based legislative district and a race-based commission district.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2026
After Abortion Ruling, Powell City Councilman Calls For 'Hanging Bad Judges'
A Powell City councilman suggested on Facebook that Wyoming start “hanging bad judges” after a judge blocked the state’s most recent abortion ban. A former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice said, “This man is obviously an idiot and does not deserve public office."
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026
Wyoming AG Says Gray Doesn't Have To Reveal Advice On Giving Voter Info To Feds
In a sharply-worded letter to Cheyenne attorney George Powers, the Wyoming Attorney General's office said Sec. of State Chuck Gray doesn't have to release the legal advice he may have received before handing sensitive voter data to the federal government.
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026
GOP Senate Challengers Emerge To Take On Harriet Hageman In Primary
Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. Even so, she won't be unopposed in the primary, facing rancher Sam Mead and Jimmy Skovgard, both multi-generation Wyomingites.
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026
Neighbor Says Sheridan Shooter 'Sprayed' Cop Cars With Gunshots During Standoff
A woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling neighbors her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.
Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2026
Armed Man Shot By Sheridan Police Early Sunday
Sheridan Police Department officers early Sunday shot a male who fled a home with a long gun after “several shots” had proceeded from the home. A woman was in distress and said someone wanted to kill her baby, according to the police department.
Clair McFarlandApril 26, 2026
State OKs $5 Million for Housing Projects, Gray Tries To Ban Resident Aliens
In a recurring spat on the difference between resident aliens and illegal immigrants, the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board voted Thursday to allocate $5 million for infrastructure and housing projects — mostly for small towns.
Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2026
Casper Judge Blocks Wyoming’s 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban
A Casper-based judge on Friday blocked Wyoming’s newest abortion ban, the fourth near-total abortion ban Wyoming judges have blocked in four years. The judge said the pro-choice advocates could have faced "irreparable harm" from the ban.
Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2026
‘God Never Forced Anyone’: Wyoming GOP Rejects Declaring Wyoming A Christian State
A committee of the Wyoming GOP on Friday rejected a proclamation to declare the U.S. a Christian nation and Wyoming a Christian state. “God never forced anyone like this,” said Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, while others said the GOP platform already honors God.
Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2026
Wyoming Republican Party Vows To Sue, Won’t Comply With State Laws
The Wyoming Republican Party said Thursday it won’t comply with state laws governing political parties and will sue to overturn them. “The state has no right to meddle in the internal affairs of the party,” said GOP Chair Bryan Miller.
Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2026
ICE Deports Jackson Man Who Cut His Own Throat At Albertsons
A man who cut his own throat at the Albertsons grocery store in Jackson Hole last month, causing police to evacuate the store, has been deported, ICE told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday. He had been deported at least two times before, the agency says.
Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2026
Wyoming GOP Considering Loyalty Tests For Candidates, Voiding State Laws
Some county Republican parties are asking the Wyoming Republican Party to consider loyalty tests for candidates and declare some state laws void. The state GOP meets Thursday, where it will review more than 100 proposed bylaw changes.
Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2026
Judge Doesn’t Rule On Effort To Halt Wyoming’s New Heartbeat Abortion Ban
A Natrona County judge Wednesday didn’t rule on an effort to halt Wyoming’s Heartbeat Abortion Ban. An opposition lawyer called it "unconstitutionally vague,” while Attorney General Keith Kautz argued a heartbeat lets us "know there is a life to protect."
Clair McFarland & Dale KillingbeckApril 22, 2026
Anonymous Site WyoRINO Ranks How Republican Lawmakers Are — Based On 10 Votes
WyoRINO, an anonymous site created “to expose liberal Wyoming Republicans who violate our Wyoming Republican values,” ranked how well Republican lawmakers voted in line with the GOP platform this year — based on a tiny sliver of their votes this session.
Clair McFarlandApril 22, 2026
ACLU Sues Feds For Collecting Voters' Information From Wyoming, Other States
The ACLU on Tuesday sued President Trump’s Department of Justice, saying the agency broke the law by stockpiling voter information from Wyoming and at least 11 other states. Chuck Gray says the ACLU is advancing “false claims” made by “left-wing” interests.
Clair McFarlandApril 21, 2026
Wyoming Business Council Giving $50,000 So Tribe Can Study Data Centers
Weeks after lawmakers tried to kill the agency, the Wyoming Business Council awarded a $50,000 grant for the Northern Arapaho Tribe to study the prospect of a "large" data center on the reservation. "Hell no," said one tribal leader.
Clair McFarlandApril 21, 2026
Armed Suspect At Rock Springs Apartment Complex Shot By Deputy
A Sweetwater County deputy shot an armed suspect during an incident at a Rock Springs apartment building early Monday morning. The armed person had already sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound before officers arrived, the sheriff’s office reports.
Clair McFarlandApril 20, 2026