Firefighters had a hot and busy day yesterday in the Inland Empire battling a 75-acre blaze near San Bernardino. The Panorama fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m. in Waterman Canyon, Thats the same spot where a massive fire destroyed 300 homes back in 1980.Yesterdays fire prompted evacuations for several hours before it was contained. Three firefighters suffered heat related injuries. The cause of the fire isn’t known but The Sun reports that arson investigators were called to what is described as a crime scene. More triple digit heat is on the way today.

The owner of a helicopter flight school was killed when a chopper crashed in Riverside County yesterday morning east of the French Valley Airport. Carl Nurmi of Corona died at the crash scene. A passenger suffered minor injuries.

The cities of San Bernardino, Fontana and Ontario are considering using eminent domain to seize underwater homes and refinance them for a lower amount, paying the current loan investors that reduced amount.  The “Wall Street Journal” reports the idea is being pitched by San Francisco venture-capital firm Mortgage Resolution Parners as a public-private partnership.  Profits would be divided between the cities and the firm.

An Inland Empire manufacturing firm executive at the heart of a 20-million dollar Ponzi scheme was sentenced in federal court in Riverside yesterday to 14 years in prison.  David Lincoln Johnson of Loma Linda was the last remaining defendant in a scam centered on his company’s bogus contract with the U.S. government.  Johnson, who is 73, also has been ordered to pay 17-point-two-million dollars in restitution.  Hundreds of investors lost millions of dollars.

House Republicans are moving to vote to repeal the 2010 healthcare reform law as they did 18 months ago. A two-day debate starts today with a vote expected tomorrow. The repeal has little chance of passing the Democrat controlled Senate.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ five-and-a-half year marriage is officially over. Reps for both are confirming a settlement in the couple’s divorce, just two weeks after their split was announced.

The Detroit Tigers’ Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby in Kansas City last night. This is second home run title for Fielder who also won the derby in 2009. The Major League All Star game is tonight.