Jefferson County Schools is rebuking the Trump administration's claim that the district violated federal civil rights protections by allowing transgender students to compete in girls' sports and access their facilities.

Why it matters: The clash between the Trump administration and Colorado's second-largest school district highlights the widening national debate over how federal civil rights law applies to transgender students.

• The dispute could also lead to a legal showdown over the interaction of federal policy, which defines sex based on biology, and state laws that protect gender identity and transgender students' rights.

What they're saying: Jeffco officials said in a statement that the administration's legal arguments are erroneous and violate state law.

• "Providing equal access to programs and services for all Jeffco students, including those who are transgender, does not violate Title IX," the statement read.

State of play: The U.S. Department of Education said last Friday that an investigation found Jeffco schools violated Title IX by allowing transgender students to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

• The federal inquiry claimed that students identified by the agency as male occupied 61 roster positions on girls' teams, though it is unclear how the agency determined that number.
• Federal investigators also cited policies allowing transgender students to share overnight accommodations consistent with their gender identity on school trips.

The latest: The agency's civil rights office ordered the district to rescind or revise the policies and adopt definitions of male and female based on "biological sex."

• If not done in 10 days, the district would face potential enforcement action that could include the loss of federal funding, U.S. officials said.

What we're watching: In tandem with the federal action, the debate about transgender students playing sports not aligned with their biological sex is poised for the Colorado ballot in November.

• A measure approved for the ballot yesterday would base transgender students' access to play on K-12 and collegiate sports on the students' "biological reproductive system," according to the measure's language.

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Denver's weather could reach unprecedented levels this week.

Why it matters: The city is predicted to tie or break record highs as the region grapples with drought conditions already prompting water restrictions.

Driving the news: High temperatures from today through Friday are expected to reach the low 70s to the mid 80s, per the National Weather Service, topping the hottest March date on record.

• It's a staggering turnaround from the weekend, which saw snowfall and below-freezing overnight temperatures.

What's next: Projections for the next four days are all within a few degrees of matching or surpassing record highs for today (76°), tomorrow (82°), Thursday (81°) and Friday (80°).

The intrigue: An "unusually strong ridge of high pressure" over the southwestern states is leading to the "hottest and longest lasting" March heatwave in history, 9News reports.

• Denver could see four straight 80°-plus days — something that's never happened in March — starting tomorrow.

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Union workers went on strike yesterday morning at a major beef processing plant owned by JBS.

Why it matters: The plant in Greeley accounts for roughly 5% of the country's beef-processing capacity, per WSJ.

• Beef prices are already at record highs as meatpackers have grappled with tight U.S cattle supplies for several years.

Zoom in: About 3,800 workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 joined the strike yesterday, AP reported.

• JBS spokesperson Nikki Richardson said the company is operating the Greeley plant "to the best of our ability" with fewer workers, and expects to scale as the week progresses if more workers return.
• The Brazil-based company is also adjusting production across its U.S. network to maintain supply and "minimize disruption for consumers and retailers."

🪧 Friction point: UFCW Local 7 opted out of a national contract agreement reached last year between JBS and the UFCW International.

• The union is pushing for higher wages and compensation for protective equipment.

🐺 Another gray wolf introduced in Colorado has died, marking the 14th death among canines reintroduced in the state. A cause wasn't identified. (Colorado Politics 🔑)

✈️ Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled at Denver International Airport yesterday. ( Denver Post 🔑)

🏥 The state expects costs for a program providing health care for immigrant children and pregnant people to be 611% higher than initially projected. (Colorado Sun)

🛑 A lawsuit filed yesterday says the dismantling of NCAR violates federal law. (Axios Boulder)

11% of Colorado's population identifies as Irish, the latest census numbers show.

Why it matters: Today is St. Patrick's Day, so let's raise a Guinness to our Irish neighbors.

State of play: About 657,000 Colorado residents report Irish ancestry, and it's no surprise given the state's history.

• Irish immigrants worked in Colorado's mines dating back to the 1850s and their population bloomed in the 1870s when silver was discovered in Leadville, the Denver Public Library's research shows.

Fun fact: In the 1880 census, nearly 5,000 Irish-Americans and Irish-born immigrants lived in Lake County, where Leadville is located.

• Now, the largest proportion of Irish ancestors live in Mineral (18%), Clear Creek (17.7%) and Gilpin (16.5%) counties.

See historical photos