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
Gillette Man Faces Felony For Trying To Bust Open Bank ATM With Hammer, Prybar
A Gillette man has been elevated to felony-level court for allegedly trying to bust open an ATM at a Douglas bank with a hammer and prybar.
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2024
Top-10 Wanted Colorado Sex Offender Hid Out In Cheyenne For Four Years
A Colorado child molester who disappeared and rose to No. 8 on that state’s most wanted sex offenders hid out in Cheyenne for four years, and struck a plea agreement with authorities Friday.
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2024
Clair McFarland: Shinnying Through Ugliness With A Hacksaw
Clair McFarland writes: "One dead elm branch swoops out, down and back through the other live branches – like a high wave from the river Styx. It has to go, and I’ve got to chop it off."
Clair McFarlandMay 05, 2024
Reporter's Notebook: One Year After The Shootout In Thermopolis
In this installment of Reporter's Notebook, Clair McFarland discusses her visit back to the town of Thermopolis one year after a police sergeant illegally broke into a suspect’s home, got shot through the lung and fired back, killing the suspect.
Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2024
Chemical Hazard At Sundance Courthouse Is Third Wyoming Threat This Week
The FBI is investigating a chemical threat that happened at the Crook County Courthouse in Sundance Friday evening. The threat was the third of its kind this week in Wyoming. Courthouses in Gillette and Casper were evacuated earlier in the week.
Clair McFarlandMay 04, 2024
Porn Actress Who Put Out Hit On Wyoming Ex Tries To End His Parental Rights
A porn actress serving 10 years in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill her ex-boyfriend wants to terminate the ex's parental rights over their daughter. The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday denied her request.
Clair McFarlandMay 03, 2024
Wyoming Man Says He Tried To Gun Down Relatives Because He Was ‘Pretty Mad’
Melvin Bagley of Rawlins pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of attempted murder for gunning down his nephew and nephew’s wife last September near Bairoil because he was “pretty mad.”
Clair McFarlandMay 03, 2024
Fremont Library Board Says It Sorted Out Internet Filters, Book Challenges By Deadline
The Fremont County Library board on Wednesday said it’s addressed the age-appropriateness of its books and the county government's demand that it block porn from youth computers.
Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2024
No New Trial For Man Who Shattered Legs Of Two Wyoming Hunters With One Bullet
A man who unleashed a meth-fueled violent crime rampage on homeowners and hunters in Douglas — including shattering the legs of two men with a single bullet — was denied a new trial by the Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday.
Clair McFarlandMay 02, 2024
Wyoming Pawn Shops Bust Alleged $30,000 Illegal Gun Sale Scheme
Two Rock Springs pawn shops exposed a local man’s alleged scheme to circumvent gun registration law and fill $30,000 in gun orders made with fraudulent credit cards.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Committee For Wyoming Tribes Says They Should Get Online Sales Tax
A tax committee serving both American Indian tribes in Wyoming asked state lawmakers on Wednesday to keep allowing online stores to tax natives, while sending those taxes to the tribal governments.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Laramie Child Molester Who Disemboweled Himself Gets 6-8 Years In Prison
An 80-year-old Laramie man who partially disemboweled himself when police came to interview him about molesting an 8-year-old girl was sentenced Wednesday to between six and eight years in prison.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2024
Former AG Says County Can’t Replace Library Board Chief With A Commissioner
With a Wednesday deadline to align the Fremont County Library system with community standards or have the county commission replace the board char with a commissioner, a former Wyoming attorney general says that can’t happen.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Wyoming May Join Landslide Of States Suing Biden’s New Gender Rules For Schools
Gov Gordon on Tuesday said he is ‘reviewing’ whether to join 15 other states in suing the Biden administration over changes to Title IX which would prevent schools from banning biological males from competing in women's sports, among other things.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Jackson Man Who Beat Up Buddy Who Wouldn't Sleep With Him To Plead Guilty
A Jackson man accused of beating up a drinking buddy for shutting down his sexual advances has agreed to plead guilty to felony assault.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Potential Hazmat Threat Empties Campbell County Courthouse
The Campbell County Courthouse in Gillette was evacuated late Tuesday morning on the report of a possible hazmat threat.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Wyoming Boys' School Denies It Beats, Humiliates And Confines Teens
In response to a February lawsuit accusing Wyoming Boys' School of beating, confining and humiliating teens, the home for juvenile delinquents denied any wrongdoing Monday and wants the suit dismissed.
Clair McFarlandApril 30, 2024
Husband Of Former Gillette Library Chief Wants Incest Book Back In Teen Section
The husband of the former Gillette library director who was fired last year, wants a controversial book with themes of incest and drug use out of the adult collection and put back into the library’s teen section.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2024
Lawsuit Tossed Of Man Who Accused Hospital Of Turning Him Away For Not Wearing Mask
A man hurt in a 2021 T-bone car crash was allegedly denied treatment at a Cheyenne emergency room because he wouldn’t wear a mask. His lawsuit over the incident has been dismissed for filing it too late.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2024
One Dead In 'Suspicious' Riverton House Fire
Riverton police say they found one person dead in a "suspicious" early-morning fire Friday, after the initial 911 call indicated someone's girlfriend was trapped inside the home.
Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2024
A Year After Deadly Shootout, Thermopolis Cop Has Plenty Of Local Support
Sunday is the 1-year anniversary of the day Thermopolis Police Sgt. Mike Mascorro illegally forced his way into a suspect’s home, sparking a shootout that left him wounded and the suspect dead. A year later, the officer has plenty of local support.
Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2024