An "evangelical manifesto" being released today by a group of Christian scholars and theologians is expected to try to take back the term "evangelical" from politics and return it to its theological roots. "Evangelical" has been widely used to refer to Christians who have conservative political views, but the Evangelical Theological Society requires members to agree on just two points: inerrancy of Scripture, and belief in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as "separate but equal in attributes and glory" and essential for salvation. USA Today

Indeed, releasing the document appears to be staking a claim for new leadership with different emphases from the traditional, mainstream evangelical movement; the declaration’s authors appear to be making a power play to launch new public faces for evangelicalism. Perhaps they heard E.J. Dionne, Jr., a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, opine about what he perceives as a “waning influence of the traditional religious right” and hope to move into the perceived vacuum. Likely, they also want to subtly shift the understanding of what it means to be “evangelical.” Several prominent self-identified “evangelical progressives” have written books and launched speaking and media campaigns in order to distance themselves from the issues of the religious right — painting themselves as more sophisticated and nuanced in their understanding of evil in the world. One branch created a “Deep Shift” to describe their “new paradigm” for making Christianity more palatable to the world. Others object to the “very narrow” depiction of evangelicals as conservative; they want the leftist social justice issues to be at the heart of “moral and political decision making.” While they object to the political activism of the religious right, their own “vocation” to use “political involvement as a vehicle for social change” is viewed as a mission and high calling. Townhall Column

The Vallejo City Council voted to declare bankruptcy Tuesday night after months of last-ditch wrangling failed to rescue the city from financial catastrophe. The North Bay city of 117,000 now heads into largely uncharted territory, as no California city of this size has ever opted for this route. Carolyn Jones in the San Francisco Chronicle Sarah Rohrs in the Oakland Tribune

Hundreds are expected to descend on San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza today to protest a June ballot measure that would end rent control across the state and, many argue, would push thousands of people from their homes through evictions or rising prices. James Temple in the San Francisco Chronicle

McClintock's foe making residence an election issue -- During the great gubernatorial recall campaign of 2003, state Sen. Tom McClintock made a statewide name for himself by evoking his nostalgic vision for a return to California's Golden Age. He talked often about the home in Thousand Oaks his parents purchased in 1965. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star

Border fence across deep canyon will begin to be built next month -- More than two years after a precedent-setting move by the federal government cleared a path around environmental laws and legal challenges, the construction of a stretch of border fence across a deep canyon known as Smuggler's Gulch is set to begin next month. Leslie Berestein in the San Diego Union-Trib

Schrag: Suspend the federal gas tax? Pander politics redux -- The bet placed by the political camps of John McCain and Hillary Clinton that the voters will hungrily bite into their proposal to suspend the federal gas tax doesn't seem to be paying off. Most voters appear to know it's a sucker pitch in which Clinton is both sucker – for taking up the McCain plan – and panderer for pushing it as a major campaign plank. Peter Schrag in the Sacramento Bee

96 arrested in San Diego State drug bust -- Fraternity houses were infiltrated in a six-month undercover investigation, and widespread drug-dealing was found, authorities say. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times Jeff McDonald, Sherry Saavedra and Tanya Sierra in the San Diego Union-Trib

Test drive of 2007 ZENN electric vehicle inspires elation -- and fear -- The 2007 Zenn electric vehicle that I recently test drove filled me with elation – and fear. I was elated because, after years of driving experimental prototypes, this all-electric car is capable of being driven by real people now. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee

In the category of “Parenting and Politics”…Carpooling is an underrated parenting tool. True, you have to be willing to trade your clean car and peaceful commute for chaotic chatter and OKR (other kids’ residue), but I have found that it is well worth the sacrifice. Why is that? Because carpooling has taught me more about my children than any other school related activity. Carpooling is the legal equivalent to truth serum. From the bowels of the back seat, children reveal incredible things. If you just listen long enough without interrupting or prompting them, you’ll find out more than you ever thought possible about their friends, their teachers, and their views of the world. Crosswalk

I was recently posed the question, “How should singles resist the temptation to fulfill our physical desires outside of marriage?” This question makes it sound as if all singles struggle with the temptation of physical desires. For those of you who don’t struggle with this temptation, Praise God! For the rest of us, the Bible gives us some practical instruction and lessons on how we may be able to handle this and other temptations. Crosswalk

Ok. I’m not a financial expert. I don’t even know where CNBC is on the dial. I’ve never subscribed to the Wall Street Journal. And I wouldn’t recognize Warren Buffet if he were sleeping on my couch. But I have found some useful advice for Christians as we experience what every single living expert tells us is happening to our economy. Strangely, it comes from the divinely inspired pen of a man who has a lot of American cities named after him—but has never stepped on U.S. soil. In fact, he lived centuries ago in filthy dungeon of a prison for crimes he didn’t commit. But his advice, spelled out on the pages of the book of Philippians can make all the difference in your economic and spiritual outlook. Crosswalk