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
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
House Torches Bill To Add More Charter Schools In Wyoming
After a legislative committee killed a proposal to expand charter schools in Wyoming on Monday, the state House rejected an effort on Tuesday to resurrect it. Had it passed, the bill would have allowed a state commission to approve another charter school this year -- something proponents say is sorely needed.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2024
Two Fremont County Library Books Challenged For Obscenity: Here’s What’s In Them
The Fremont County Library Board will consider challenges of two books in its young-adult section, “Smoke” and “Tricks,” on claims they are obscene with graphic depictions of drug use and sex. Cowboy State Daily has read and reviewed both books. Here’s what’s in them.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2024
Barrasso To Run For Whip, Not Leader
Though mentioned as one of the favorites to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader, Wyoming's senior Sen. John Barrasso announced early Tuesday he's seeking the Republican whip position instead.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2024
Bill Targeting Deepfake AI Fraud Dies In Wyoming Committee
A bill that would’ve given Wyoming the most expansive law in the nation targeting fraudulent deepfake artificial intelligence videos died in committee Monday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2024
Wheatland Man Charged With Having Sex Acts With Dog And Cheese Spray
A Wheatland, Wyoming, man charged with multiple felonies for allegedly having child porn and for having a dog perform a sex act on him with spray cheese could spend more than 100 years in prison if convicted.
Clair McFarlandMarch 04, 2024
‘We Have The Watch From Here’: Sgt. Nevada Krinkee Remembered As Protector, Father And Hero
Nearly 2,000 people packed into the Sheridan College arena Friday to honor the life of police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, who was killed in the line of duty Feb. 13 and remembered as a protector, father and hero.
Clair McFarland & Pat MaioMarch 01, 2024
Counselor Sues Wyoming Clinic, Psychiatrist Over Alleged ‘Sexually Charged Behavior’
A former licensed counselor for Wyoming Behavioral Institute is suing the clinic and a psychiatrist there claiming harassment from his “intentional sexually charged behavior.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 01, 2024