SAN DIEGO (FOX) — With several fires sparking up throughout San Diego in just the last week, it underscores the importance of making sure crews have what they need.

“It’s a very stressful time right now for our first responders, and I know that there are so many things going on with the budget,” said Wendy Moore, executive director of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation.

On Monday, the San Diego Fire and Lifeguard unions went before the City Council, citing challenges with pay, staffing and recruitment.

On Tuesday, the council passed a budget that included impacts to the department.

“Funding for the fire department is life-saving. It’s critical, and we are reminded of that with these fires that have happened this week,” Moore said. “It’s a very stressful time right now for our first responders, and I know that there are so many things going on with the budget.”

Enter the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation. The nonprofit has been around for more than two decades, offering its support.

While it does not directly supplement incomes, the foundation provides critical upgrades to equipment, training and other resources.

“We have done everything from vehicles, extrication tools and thermal imaging cameras to our community outreach and education programs,” Moore said. “That position was just cut in the budget, so being able to support community risk reduction and community education is going to be really critical for the foundation moving forward.”

The foundation also supports San Diego lifeguards.

“We recently were able to buy five boats for the lifeguards, dry suits and a lot of equipment,” Moore said.

While speaking with Moore, we also got a glimpse of the new wellness center, a place providing medical assessments, physical therapy and other services.

As tough financial times loom, Moore said she is receiving an increase in requests.

In turn, to keep doing the work, the foundation is launching a citywide call to action, inviting local corporations and donors to pledge their support for first responders.

“The foundation obviously is going to have to take a look at where our resources are going to go and how we are going to continue to increase our resources,” Moore said.

A San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson says the department has a wonderful partnership with the foundation and could not do the work they do without its support.

Phil Mickelson has been kicked out of a San Diego golf club over allegations he made unwanted physical contact with a female employee, Golf Digest reported Thursday.

Golf Digest cited multiple sources as saying Mickelson is no longer welcome at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where the six-time major champion has played and practiced for decades. The unwanted contact was said to have happened earlier this spring.

Mickelson, the chief recruiter in the launching of LIV Golf, has only played once this year because of a serious family health matter that has not been disclosed. He did not play the Masters and PGA Championship, and is no longer exempt for the U.S. Open.

Golf Digest said it verified the identity of The Farms employee and was withholding her name to protect her privacy. It said she declined to participate in the reporting of the story.

A spokesperson for Mickelson told Golf Digest, “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”

Golf Digest cited sources in reporting Mickelson approached the woman in the clubhouse and made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with her. The woman rejected his advances and reported it to her supervisors.

Officials at The Farms reviewed and investigated, Golf Digest reported, and then confronted Mickelson on the course. Mickelson, 55, was told to leave the premises.

The Farms said in a statement to Golf Digest, “Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.”

“To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and member, we are unable to speak further on the matter.”

Golf Digest cited multiple sources in confirming the member was Mickelson.

The Farms, located about 10 miles from Torrey Pines, is a private club where several top players are members such as Annika Sorenstam and Xander Schauffele, both of whom have primary residences in Florida.

The development adds to what has become a dark chapter for Mickelson, who is married with three children and was once one of the most beloved public figures in golf for his bold and creative game, and for the time he spent after rounds signing autographs.

Mickelson was a relief defendant in an insider trading scheme in 2016 in which he was not criminally charged but agreed to repay nearly $1 million he made in a single trade. Noted gambler Billy Walters was involved in that case and sentenced to five years in prison.

Walters wrote an autobiography in 2023 in which he claims Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the last 30 years, including one day in 2011 in which Mickelson was said to have placed 43 bets on Major League Baseball that resulted in $143,500 in losses.

Mickelson became the oldest major champion in golf history when he won the 2021 PGA Championship. A year later, he was a central figure in helping to launch Saudi-funded LIV Golf. He lost major sponsorships when he was quoted in early 2022 as calling the Saudis “scary mother (expletives)” and that he was only thinking of joining the league to gain leverage over the PGA Tour.

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is ending its financial support of LIV after this year.

Perhaps the Juan Soto trade isn’t done bearing fruit for the Padres.

Jhony Brito made his first start for Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, striking out four while allowing a run over four solid innings.

The 28-year-old right-hander allowed the lone run on a solo homer to former top prospect Jarred Kelenic. He finished with four hits allowed and three walks while throwing 44 of his 77 pitches for strikes.

Brito’s two fastballs — a four-seamer and sinker — largely sat 95 mph in the outing, although it ticked downward a bit in his fourth inning of work. He also threw a high-80s slider, a knuckle curve, change-up and sweeper.

It was Brito’s seventh minor league start after missing all of 2025 following an elbow reconstruction. He has a 21-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio while posting a 3.18 ERA over 28⅓ innings so far in the minors, which included one run over 11 innings over his final two rehab starts with Double-A San Antonio.

Brito was then activated from the injured list and optioned to El Paso to continue to stretch out as an option to boost the big-league rotation.

The Padres acquired Brito in December 2023 alongside right-handers Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka for Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham. Thorpe ultimately helped complete the trade for Dylan Cease and Higashioka departed as a free agent after hitting a career-high 17 homers in 2024 for the Padres, but King, Vásquez and Brito remain in the organization.

At the time of the trade, Brito had just completed his rookie season with the Yankees, striking out 72 batters against 28 walks while posting a 4.28 ERA in 90⅓ innings split between the rotation and bullpen.

The Padres used Brito exclusively in relief in the majors in 2024 (4.12 ERA, 43 ⅔ IP) but was beginning to stretch him out in the minors when forearm trouble began to surface.

After losing all of last year to the elbow surgery, Brito will have one minor league option left to be used in 2027, a valuable commodity for an organization that traded away Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert last year, could lose King, Nick Pivetta, Walker Buehler, Griffin Canning, Lucas Giolito and Germán Márquez to free agency after this season and has yet to get Joe Musgrove back from his Tommy John surgery.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (28-37)

Round Rock 4, Chihuahuas 2: After Brito’s exit, RHP Logan Gillaspie (6.51 ERA), LHP Miguel Cienfuegos (1-2, 9.75 ERA) and RHP Ethan Routzahn (3.31 ERA) each gave up a run in an inning of work. RHP Ty Adcock (13.50 ERA) struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning. CF Carlos Rodriguez (.731 OPS) went 2-for-5 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games. C Blake Hunt (1.075 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25-34)

Frisco 5, Missions 0: DH Ethan Salas (.805 OPS) went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. RHP Eric Yost (0-2, 3.38 ERA) allowed three runs in 3⅓ innings in the loss.

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (24-35)

Dayton 14, TinCaps 2: RHP Maikel Miralles (0-7, 9.87 ERA) allowed four runs—three earned—in four innings in the loss. 1B Jack Costello (.757 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. DH Justin DeCriscio (.750 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (34-25)

Storm 6, Ontario 1: RHP Jesus A. Castro (2.72 ERA) struck out 12 over 4⅔ shutout innings in the start, scattering three hits and two walks. RHP Nick Falter (2-1, 2.13 ERA) earned the win with 2⅓ scoreless innings. CF Ryan Wideman (.898 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and two steals to push his total to 39. 1B Kerrington Cross (1.029 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, two walks and two runs scored. DH Luke Cantwell (1.011 OPS) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk.

ROOKIE ACL PADRES (15-13)

Padres 11, White Sox 6 (7): C Jack Mathey (.501 OPS) went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. SS Dawson Willis (.933 OPS) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

ROOKIE DSL GOLD (4-2)

Padres 9, Dodgers 0 (7): LHP Carlos Alvarez (4.05 ERA) struck out three and allowed two walks over four no-hit innings in the start. 2B Yorvin Morla (1.023 OPS) drove in two runs on his first homer. LF Eddson Martinez (1.662 OPS) and DH Joniel Hernandez (.962 OPS) both drove in two runs on two hits. Martinez doubled.