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
Kappa Girls Say Judge Was Wrong To Dismiss Challenge Over Transgender Member
Six members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority are appealing the dismissal of their lawsuit challenging the UW chapter’s admitting a transgender member, saying the judge was wrong in refusing to define the word “woman.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 06, 2023
Laramie County Schools To Let Parents Decide If Their Kids Can Access Graphic Sex Books
Tempers were hot Monday as the Laramie County School District 1 board debated how much access kids should have to sexually explicit materials. In the end, they voted to let parents decide on a list built from book challenges.
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2023
Cheyenne Teen Guilty Of Killing 15-Year-Old Girl In Park Shootout
A jury on Tuesday convicted 17-year-old Johnny Muñoz of second-degree murder for fatally shooting a 15-year-old girl at a Cheyenne park in April. Tried as an adult, he faces 20 years to life in prison.
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2023
Judge Says Pro-Life Doctors Can Argue Abortion Is Not Health Care
As a courtroom showdown over Wyoming’s abortion bans, and whether the practice is health care, grows closer, Teton County Judge Melissa Owens filed an order last week allowing a group of pro-life doctors to argue it’s not.
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2023
Jury Deciding Whether Cheyenne Teen Killed 15-Year-Old Girl
The fate of a Cheyenne teen accused of shooting up a park basketball court and killing a 15-year-old girl after a high school prom is in the hands of a jury.
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2023
Facebook Hides Dubois Military Museum Post Because Thanksgiving Is "Sensitive"
Dan Starks, founder of the nationally-lauded $100 million dollar Museum of Military Vehicles, says Facebook suppressed his post about the origins of Thanksgiving, calling it a “sensitive social issue.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2023
Penis Graffiti On Cattle Court Case Shows How Wyoming Is A Fence-Out State
A recent case of a pair of Crook County ranchers bleaching penises and other shapes onto about 200 cattle that came onto their land shows that in many ways, Wyoming still ranches the Old West way, including being a fence-out state.
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2023
Short-Staffed Wyoming DOC Moves Hundreds Of Inmates To Mississippi Facility
A severely short-staffed Wyoming Department of Corrections has moved 240 inmates to a private prison in Mississippi and others to a couple of state county jails.
Clair McFarlandDecember 01, 2023
Clair McFarland: Motherhood Is Beautiful Because It’s Really, Really Hard
Clair McFarland writes, “I had this whole plan to be a perfect mother. No harm would befall my baby; he’d witness no selfishness from me. All you mothers reading this know that didn’t work out."
Clair McFarlandDecember 01, 2023
Torrington Woman Run Over By SUV Says Driver’s Life Shouldn’t Be Ruined
Although still suffering from injuries sustained when an SUV ran over her more than a year ago, a Torrington woman says she’s OK with the driver receiving a lesser sentence, adding, “I don’t want to ruin his life.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 01, 2023
Christmas Decorations Among Huge Haul Of Stolen Stuff In Worland Couple's Home
A Worland couple face felony theft charges after a huge haul of stuff reported stolen from storage units was found in their home, including Christmas decorations, a bed frame, a washing machine and tools.
Clair McFarlandDecember 01, 2023
Wyoming Can Keep Drug Money, Even If It Was Earned Legally In Other States
Wyoming can seize cash from out-of-state travelers if it’s proved the cash is tied to drug deals that would be illegal in Wyoming, regardless if it was earned legally in another state, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Clair McFarlandNovember 30, 2023
Hot Air Balloonist Convicted Of Landing In Grand Teton National Park
A federal judge convicted a Jackson balloon pilot last week for landing illegally in Grand Teton National Park. The balloonist argued the wind and an airport staffer's direction prompted the landing.
Clair McFarlandNovember 30, 2023
Cody Man Says 5-Year-Old Daughter Was Sexually Assaulted At School
The father of a Cody kindergartner says he’s moving his family after his 5-year-old daughter was held down by bigger students in a school bathroom and sexually assaulted.
Clair McFarlandNovember 29, 2023
Parents Claim Cheyenne Resource Officer Tackled, Bloodied Second Grader
Parents of a former Cheyenne second grader have filed a lawsuit claiming their son was unnecessarily roughed up, tackled and bloodied by a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputy at school last year.
Clair McFarlandNovember 29, 2023
Wyoming Man Accused Of Threatening To Kill Deputy So He Could Stay Warm In Jail
A Wyoming man who allegedly threatened to kill a deputy to get himself thrown in jail where it was warm could spend up to 11 years in prison if convicted of trying to harm a law enforcement officer.
Clair McFarlandNovember 29, 2023
Rock Springs Mayor, Police Department Refute Online Attack Of Police Officer
Saying it’s been “frustrating” dealing with the unsubstantiated claims by an online report accusing a Rock Springs police officer of malfeasance, the city has released bodycam footage that doesn’t support the opinionated and inflammatory reports.
Clair McFarlandNovember 29, 2023
Laramie Woman Accused Of Arson For Torching Landlord’s Door With Bear Spray
Suspected of torching her landlord's door with bear spray and stinking up the complex with an acrid, nauseating gas this month, a Laramie woman is charged with first-degree arson.
Clair McFarlandNovember 28, 2023
Douglas Man Accused Of Killing Cousin Says He Blacked Out, Pleads Mental Illness
A Douglas man claims he wasn't sane enough to comprehend his conduct as wrong or conform it to law enforcement when he allegedly shot and killed his cousin in September.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2023
Colorado Man Wanted For Murder Arrested After 130 MPH Chase Near Lusk, Wyoming
James Neal, 23, is accused of shooting a 73-year-old dead in Lone Tree, Colorado. Wyoming authorities arrested Neal Wednesday morning after a state trooper nudged Neal into a spinout during a car chase outside Lusk, Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2023
Wyoming Man Helps Catch MMA Fighter Accused Of International Sex Trafficking
Tyler Schwab of Afton, Wyoming, and his international anti-sex trafficking organization last week helped bring down an MMA fighter accused of sexually abusing women and girls.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2023