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
17-Year-Old Lander Boy Charged As Adult For 100 MPH Chase Through Town On July 4
Lander police say Evan Smith, 17, was high on methamphetamine when he allegedly sped through the town at 100 mph, tried to ram a patrol vehicle and crashed into two more cars during the town’s Fourth of July celebration.
Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2023
CDC Says It’s OK For Trans Women To ‘Chestfeed’ Babies, Wyo Dept of Health Won’t Comment
While the Wyoming Department of Health won’t comment on the CDC’s position that it’s safe for transgender women to “chestfeed” babies, Rep. Dan Zwonitzer is “hopeful and optimistic” the discussion doesn’t come here anytime soon.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Wyoming Man Who Killed Man And Had Naked Brawl With Cop To Stay In Prison
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the felony convictions of a Cheyenne man who killed a 61-year-old man, shot a woman in the hip and attacked police after his arrest while wearing nothing but a blanket and handcuffs.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Hageman Thinks Biden Appeal On Social Media Order Likely To Fail
Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman says people should expect President Biden’s appeal of a federal judge’s ruling to ban the federal government and agencies from suppressing free speech on social media to fail.
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Casper Man Hurt In Explosion While Making Homemade Fireworks
The Casper Police Department says a local man suffered severe burns and nonlife-threatening injuries from an explosion “in an attempt to produce homemade fireworks.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
Wyoming Sorority Members Say They Won’t Back Off Transgender Lawsuit
Six University of Wyoming sorority members suing their sorority for allegedly bending its own rules to admit a transgender member say they won't back down in response to the sorority calling their lawsuit “frivolous,” and the transgender member saying it's “vicious.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 06, 2023
UW First Amendment Expert Says Message Behind Judge Order On Social Media Is Biden Administration Can't Be Trusted
George Mocsary, a First Amendment expert and University of Wyoming law professor, said by issuing such a broad order, "The court is effectively saying that the executive branch can’t be trusted, based on its past actions, to make any ‘suggestions’ to social media platforms."
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Casper Children Who Watched Dogs Die In Trapper’s Snares Can't Sue For Emotional Damages
A Casper family, including two children, sued a Wyoming trapper after the family's three dogs died in snares despite the children trying frantically to free them, but the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Wednesday can't claim emotional distress.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Wright Man Beats Neighbor Boy, 11, And Father With Baseball Bat After Fireworks Dispute, Undersheriff Says
A 64-year-old Wright man allegedly took an aluminum baseball bat to a 37-year-old father and his 11-year-old son Tuesday after a dispute about fireworks hitting a home in their shared neighborhood.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Woman Found Dead In Car In Yellowstone Died By Suicide
Federal authorities confirmed Wednesday that Catheryn Griffin, 38, died by suicide from a single gunshot wound while traveling through Yellowstone, which the woman's family had announced in May.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Drugged-Up Teen Holds Woman Hostage, Leads Police On 100 MPH Chase Through Lander
A 17-year-old from Lander held a young woman hostage in a car while speeding 100 mph at times through the town during its Fourth of July celebration, police say.
Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2023
Two Young Boys Find Body Under Lander Bridge
Two young boys found a deceased body Saturday under a bridge in Lander, according to police.
Clair McFarlandJuly 04, 2023
Abortion Advocates Say Wyoming Can’t Defend Its Ban Because Of Rape, Incest Exemptions
Six abortion advocates claim Wyoming can’t defend its two abortion bans in court because their rape and incest exemptions betray a lack of value toward “all potential life.”
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Police Find, Return Special Needs Child Who Wandered Into Cheyenne In The Night
A father was reunited with his special-needs son Monday morning after the boy, who is nonverbal, wandered away from their Cheyenne home overnight.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Teen Shoots Himself 'Clean Through' His Hand In Gillette on Sunday
A 17-year-old Gillette boy thought a 9 mm handgun was unloaded when he accidentally shot a hole “clean through” his hand Sunday evening.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Wyoming Supreme Court Upholds Conviction For Drugs Found During Minor Traffic Stop
The Wyoming Supreme Court upheld a man’s felony methamphetamine conviction, but hinted that the Legislature should take a closer look at the minor traffic law police used to arrest the man in the first place.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2023
Judge Says Rock Springs School District Can't Hide Transgender Treatment From Parents During Case
A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Sweetwater County School District No. 1 from keeping transgender names and pronouns of students secret from parents, except potentially in cases of abuse.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2023
Rock Springs Gender Transition Lawsuit: School District Emails Outline When To Lie To Parents
Cowboy State Daily obtained emails where teachers discussed when it’s OK to lie to parents, like when a student wants to transition. The guide said teachers must use students’ pronouns and not tell the parents about it.
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2023
Clair McFarland: Car Broke Down On I-25 In Denver, Then We Saw A Gorilla
Clair McFarland writes: “The car whined in the third of six lanes on I-25, hoping at last to become the nucleus of a 30-car pileup. Then it died. A cold hush pervaded its interior.”
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2023
Colorado Man Sues Cheyenne Frontier Days, Says Bouncer Beat Him Up, Caused Long-Term Injuries
A Colorado man filed a lawsuit this week against Cheyenne Frontier Days Inc. and an unnamed bouncer claiming the bouncer beat him up at a concert last summer to the point of causing long-term injury and needing surgery.
Clair McFarlandJune 28, 2023
‘We’re Coming For Your Children’ Chant At LGBTQ Parade Is ‘Sickening,’ Says Degenfelder
Wyoming's top educator Megan Degenfelder said demonstrators chanting "we're coming for your children" at an LGBTQ parade this weekend is 'sickening.' Although some demonstrators said it was a joke, Degenfelder said the protection of children is "never a joking matter."
Clair McFarlandJune 27, 2023