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
Rock Springs Massage Parlor Raided On Suspicion Of Sex Trafficking
Local and federal authorities raided a Rock Springs, Wyoming, massage parlor Tuesday afternoon as part of a “months-long human trafficking investigation,” according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2023
Smell Of 'Putrefied Blood' In Car Of Missing Wyoming Woman's Ex-Boyfriend
Katie Ferguson was in her ex-boyfriend’s Dodge Durango when they left Alabama to drive back to their home in Cody. She never made it home, and when investigators found the Durango it had a bullet hole in the door and reeked of “putrefied blood.”
Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2023
Local Case Dropped Against Missing Cody Woman's Ex In Favor Of Bigger Charges
Misdemeanor charges against a man connected to in a missing person's case were dropped on Monday in favor of much more serious federal charges. The missing mother has not been seen for about a month.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2023
Hunter Finds Human Skull ‘In The Middle Of Nowhere’ In Wyoming’s Red Desert
A hunter found a human skull “in the middle of nowhere” in Wyoming’s Red Desert on Saturday, and a missing persons' advocate hopes the discovery leads to closure for the family of one of a dozen open cold cases of missing people from the area.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2023
Cheyenne Man Who Shot At Attackers Acquitted In Stand Your Ground Case
A Cheyenne man was acquitted of felony assault charges when the jury ruled he acted in self-defense when he fired back on a truck after being rammed, shot at, and followed home.
Clair McFarlandNovember 11, 2023
Reality TV Star Accused Of Poaching Sues Wyoming Game And Fish
A reality TV star and hunting guide is suing the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, saying they violated her privacy, hurt her reputation and caused her emotional distress while pursuing a poaching case against her.
Clair McFarlandNovember 10, 2023
Gillette Bus Driver Sorry After Hurting Kids By Deliberately Driving Fast Over Bumps
A substitute school bus driver In Gillette says she is sorry for deliberately driving fast over bumps at the urging of the kids. She is now facing nine misdemeanor reckless endangering charges after injuring some of them.
Clair McFarlandNovember 09, 2023
University of Wyoming Building New Vomitories At War Memorial Stadium
In their renovation plans for War Memorial Stadium, it may sound like the University of Wyoming is installing areas for football fans to barf after drinking too many beers, but a "vomitory" is actually an architectural term for exit.
Clair McFarlandNovember 09, 2023
Ex-Boyfriend Of Missing Cody Woman Arrested In Wyoming
As a search continues for Cody resident Katie Ferguson, who went missing Oct. 10 while traveling back to Wyoming from Alabama, her ex-boyfriend has been arrested in Cody.
Clair McFarlandNovember 09, 2023
Hageman Fights Law That Mandates Government-Controlled 'Kill Switch' In All Cars
Calling a mandate that will install government-controlled “kill switches” in every car after 2026 a “massive invasion of privacy,” Rep. Hageman tried on Tuesday to defund that law but lost by a 229-201 vote.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2023
Laramie Man Faces 4 Years For Killing Dogs
A Laramie man who was allegedly mad because a pair of dogs had killed his daughter’s cats is accused of shooting the two dogs to death while they were locked in a cage.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2023
Gillette Man Accused Of Shooting Arrows At Neighbor's Home — Alcohol Involved
A drunk Gillette man denied accusations that he fired arrows at a neighbor woman’s home Monday, but told police he was mad at her for playing loud music.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2023
Thermopolis Residents Divided On Cop Who Broke In, Killed Suspect
While some called for Thermopolis Police Sgt. Mike Mascorro’s firing for killing a suspect in a shootout after breaking into his home illegally, even more stood up during a Tuesday Town Council meeting to support him as a protector of the community.
Clair McFarlandNovember 08, 2023
Balloonist Charged With Illegally Landing In Grand Teton National Park Blames Wind
A Jackson hot-air balloonist facing criminal penalties for landing in Grand Teton National Park argued on Tuesday that he had no choice as the wind swept him there and then an air traffic controller ordered him to land.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2023
Riverton’s Day Drinkers Agree With Wyoming Lawmaker: They’re Not Homeless
As a Wyoming legislative committee discusses $500,000 to build a homeless shelter in Riverton, a state lawmaker said the town's wanderers aren't homeless, they've come to town to drink. The wanderers generally agree.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2023
Safe Havens Would Have To Ask If Abandoned Babies Are Indian Under Proposed Law
Wyoming lawmakers are contemplating whether “Safe Haven” public agencies that take in abandoned babies should be required to find out if those babies are American Indian.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2023
Already Facing 20 Years, Wyo. Teen Accused Of Beating, Pointing Gun At Another
In his last free days before being sentenced on an attempted manslaughter conviction, a Cheyenne teen is now accused of beating up another teen, stealing his shoes and PlayStation and pointing a gun at him.
Clair McFarlandNovember 07, 2023
Wyoming Library Association Blasts Degenfelder's Opt-In Guidance For Sex Books
The Wyoming Library Association on Monday said it has a problem with Megan Degenfelder’s guidance that could make kids get parental permission to have access to sexually-graphic books in schools.
Clair McFarlandNovember 06, 2023
Cody Dad Not Guilty In Toddler's Murder, Stepmother Got Life In Prison
Moshe Williams, 33, is not guilty in the 2021 murder of his 2-year-old daughter, a jury ruled Friday. His then-girlfriend Carolyn Aune, however, has been sentenced to life in prison for the crime.
Clair McFarlandNovember 06, 2023
Wyoming Tribes Say They’re Exempt From Paying Legal Fees
Wyoming’s Native American tribes already owe a gas and oil company $13.1 million, and the company's attorneys are trying to collect $81,000 in fees, but the tribes say because they’re sovereign, they don’t have to pay the legal tab.
Clair McFarlandNovember 05, 2023
Never Mind: Gillette Man Reverses Self-Defense Claim In Bloody Beer Bottle Fight
Though he’d asked for a Friday hearing to show he acted in self-defense, a Venezuelan immigrant in Gillette accused of hurling a beer bottle at another man’s head now says he’d rather work on a plea agreement.
Clair McFarlandNovember 03, 2023