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
Clair McFarland: If I Don’t Outrun My Kid It’s The End Of The World
Clair McFarland writes: “I’m not ready for either son to beat me in a race. In fact, I still want to scoop them up in my arms and read to them. But that’s weird, since Firstborn is bigger than I am.”
Clair McFarlandOctober 05, 2023
Judge Disallows Gun, Marijuana Evidence From Cheyenne Teen's Murder Trial
A Laramie County judge has disallowed evidence about marijuana, gun possession and fighting from a Cheyenne teen’s first-degree murder trial.
Clair McFarlandOctober 04, 2023
Wyoming Man Accused Of Blowing A Hole In Motel Room With Stolen Shotgun
An Etna, Wyoming, man suspected of stealing a pair of guns from an acquaintance is accused of firing a shotgun through a motel room wall — right over the head of someone sleeping in the next room.
Clair McFarlandOctober 04, 2023
In Hindsight, Broken Electric Buses Not The Best Choice For Jackson
A former Teton County commissioner told Fox News that, in hindsight, Wyoming’s richest county should have bought natural gas-powered buses instead of the electric fleet that has recently broken down.
Clair McFarlandOctober 03, 2023
Son Can’t Sue For Inheritance When Dad Dies Before Divorce Is Final, Court Rules
The son of a Wyoming man who died before his divorce was final, leaving half of his $1 million estate to his wife, can’t sue his father’s lawyer for not completing the divorce fast enough, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandOctober 03, 2023
Hanna Man Accused Of Setting Fire To Neighbor's Grass When He Wouldn't Cut It
After a dispute about the height of his neighbor’s grass posing a fire hazard, a Hanna, Wyoming, man is accused of setting fire to that grass that burned his neighbor’s house.
Clair McFarlandOctober 03, 2023
UW Is Hosting Both A Drag Show And Riley Gaines This Month
Saying the University of Wyoming is committing to make free expression a guiding principle, it’s preparing to host both a drag show at a Matthew Shepard memorial event, and women's rights activist Riley Gaines in the coming month.
Clair McFarlandOctober 02, 2023
Gillette Inmate Who Hurled Poop Also Cracks Bullet-Resistant Jail Windows
A Gillette man who hurled his own poop and urine at jail officers to draw felony charges and get sent to prison has acted out again, busting bullet-resistant windows in the Campbell County jail.
Clair McFarlandOctober 02, 2023
Judge Tosses Rex Rammell Lawsuit Over Brand Inspection Violations
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Wyoming gubernatorial hopeful Rex Rammell, who claimed his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when he was charged for not showing brand inspection permits for his horses.
Clair McFarlandOctober 02, 2023
Out-Of-State Activists Post Fliers, Chalk Messages Against UW Trans Sorority Member
Activists who placed painted rocks, chalk drawings and fliers around a University of Wyoming sorority house Thursday evening to protest the inclusion of a transgender member were within their free speech rights, the university says.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2023
Disturbed Man Chases Terrified Mother And 2-Year-Old At Cheyenne Park
A seemingly high and disturbed man was yelling and chasing vehicles at Holliday Park in Cheyenne on Thursday when he suddenly charged at a terrified mother with her 2-year-old son while throwing rocks at them.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2023
Man Videos Himself After Being Shot On Wind River Indian Reservation
A man working a mobile food booth on the Wind River Indian Reservation on Thursday was reportedly shot. The victim posted several videos, including one immediately after the shooting proclaiming, “I just got shot by this f***ing racist.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2023
Sweetwater County Confirms First Rabid Bat In 16 Years
A bat found in the yard of a Rock Springs homeowner has been confirmed to be rabid, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday. It’s the county’s first rabid bat since 2007.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2023
Wyoming Ranchers Accused Of Bleaching Penis Shapes Onto Neighbor’s Cows
A feud between Wyoming ranchers boiled over when a father and son allegedly marked a neighbor's errant cows with bleach, including drawing penis shapes on some of them.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 29, 2023
Ousted Gillette Librarian Sues, Claims Local Family Conspired Against, Defamed Her
Terri Lesley, the former Campbell County Public Library director whom the library board fired in July, launched a lawsuit Wednesday against a Gillette family that accused her of peddling pornography to kids through sexually explicit library books.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 28, 2023
Indictment: Reservation Man Spent $26K Of Health Clinic Money On Furniture, Food, Guns
A Fort Washakie man who worked as finance director for a health clinic for American Indians is accused of embezzling more than $26,000 and spending the money on furniture, groceries and guns.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 28, 2023
Mother Of Slain Cheyenne Teen Gives Agonizing Statement At Shooter’s Sentencing
As a 20-year-old Cheyenne man was sentenced to 15-20 years for the accidental gunshot killing of a 16-year-old girl in January, her mother gave agonizing testimony how family now “is serving the ultimate sentence.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2023
Riverton Plagued With Vagrant Poop Problem, Town To Pass Anti-Defecation Ordinance
The problem of public defecation isn't limited to the big cities. In Riverton, Wyoming, the problem is so widespread, town officials are on the cusp of passing an anti-defecation ordinance.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2023
Casper Man Accused Of Buying Girl, 14, Sex Toy And Secretly Recording Her
Accused of buying a sex toy for a 14-year-old girl and installing a hidden camera in her bedroom, a Casper man originally from California faces up to 10 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 27, 2023
Judge Dismisses Former Laramie High Schooler's Mask Mandate Lawsuit
A federal court Tuesday dismissed a former Laramie High School student’s lawsuit against the local school district over its 2021 mask mandate, saying Grace Smith hasn’t shown she suffered any actual harm.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2023
Despite Legal Setback, UW Keeps Fighting Transgender Speech Lawsuit
Top University of Wyoming officials continue a court fight, maintaining they acted properly in banning a Laramie church elder for calling out a transgender student at the Student Union despite a judge saying they’re likely to lose their case.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 26, 2023