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FBI investigated Disney World cyberattack after restaurant menus were changed

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A fired Disney World employee is accused of hacking into an online system and altering Disney World restaurant menus by changing fonts and prices, adding profanity and manipulating the food allergy warnings, according to new federal documents.

The cyberattack caused at least $150,000 in damage and has gotten the FBI involved. Disney printed the wrong menus but realized the mistake in time. The menus were not sent to restaurants or distributed to the public.

A criminal complaint against Michael Scheuer was filed last week in U.S. District Court’s Orlando division. He was arrested on Oct. 23.

“The allegations acknowledge that no one was injured or harmed. I look forward to vigorously presenting my client’s side of the story,” Scheuer’s attorney, David Haas, said in a Wednesday comment to Florida Politics.

Court Watch, in collaboration with 404 Media, was the first media outlet to report about the federal court filing.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities said Scheuer hacked into Menu Creator, which is run by a third-party Minnesota company that creates menus used only for Disney World restaurants.

Scheuer worked as a menu production manager until he was fired on June 13 for misconduct.

Scheuer’s firing was contentious and was not considered to be amicable,” read the criminal complaint, which did not go into details into the situation.

Over the next three months, Disney became the victim “of multiple computer intrusions into servers associated with the Menu Creator program,” the complaint said. “Scheuer had intimate knowledge of the system architecture, the menu processing workflow, and potential vulnerabilities within the system. Only employees in Scheuer’s position or a position similar to Scheuer would have the accesses and knowledge to carry out the attacks.”

What tipped Disney off was that some of the fonts in Menu Creator had been changed to wingdings, the font made up of symbols.

The changes caused problems in Menu Creator, so it was offline temporarily, causing problems for Disney.

Authorities described some of the menu changes as “benign,” such as different prices or profanity suddenly appearing. Other changes were more serious and could have put people’s health at risk.

“Namely, the threat actor manipulated the allergen information on menus by adding information to some allergen notifications that indicated certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies, when in fact they could be deadly to those with peanut allergies,” the criminal complaint said.

The FBI tracked an IP address connected to the cyberattack to Scheuer’s computer with a private network installed on it.

Scheuer is accused of a disruption to the system and attempting over 100,000 logins, according to the criminal complaint.

They seized Scheuer’s computers and found a “dox” folder and personal identifiable information for the victims of his denial-of-service attacks. 

“Namely, the multiple incorrect logon attempts would cause an account to lockdown and thus render the corporate accounts unusable until the attacks subsided and the passwords could be reset,” the complaint said.

Scheuer said Disney was trying to frame him “because they were worried about him and the conditions under which he was terminated,” the criminal complaint says.

Disney World did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida declined to comment.

The court documents that bring up the public health concerns over food allergies at Disney World come after a woman died in an unrelated incident from her severe food allergies after eating at a Disney Springs restaurant in 2023.

Florida Politics broke the story that Disney World and an independently-run restaurant Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant were being sued by the widower. The lawsuit led to a wave of international bad publicity for Disney after it tried to force the case in arbitration using its terms and conditions from Disney+ and its theme park app. 

Scams, unfortunately, happen even at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

In 2018, Disney World’s Governing Board fell victim to an email phishing scheme that cost the Board $100,000 when an employee sent money to a fake landscaping vendor who emailed her.


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Hillary Cassel supports strengthening mental health services for students

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A new bill aims to create a comprehensive system for assessing and improving the effectiveness of mental health services provided to students to ensure they receive appropriate care and support.

Hollywood Republican Rep. Hillary Cassel filed the bill (HB 969) to enhance the reporting, evaluation and coordination of student mental health services across Florida schools.

In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to bridge gaps in student mental health services. The law required each school district to have a mental health coordinator onsite. It further required that students receiving behavioral health services through schools be connected to community resources to allow for better coordination between schools and the community.

Cassel’s new measure would require the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to submit an annual evaluation of student mental health services to the Governor and the Legislature by Dec. 1 each year. The evaluation would need to include expenditure plans, treatment outcomes and system capacity.

School district threat management coordinators and mental health coordinators would also be required to provide information to DCF for evaluation and inclusion in the report, including referrals and data on mental health services.

School already must establish threat management teams, which need to include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration and law enforcement. At least one member also must have personal familiarity with the individual who is the subject of the threat. Cassel’s bills would require these teams to report data to DCF.

DCF would further be responsible for creating a survey tool for students using mental health services and supports, to assess the patient’s experience and self-reported treatment outcomes. Students and their parents or legal guardians may complete the survey, and DCF would be able include these survey results in their annual evaluation.

Similar to the measure DeSantis signed in 2022, each school district would be required to designate a mental health coordinator to serve as the primary contact for DCF, and to coordinate mental health policies and procedures.

School districts would further need to notify school personnel about available mental health services and provide training on youth mental health services.

If passed, the bill would come into effect July 1.


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Checking the pulse of Florida health care news and policy

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Big data, big impact —

The Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder hopes to convince lawmakers to allocate about $1.4 million to building a database that will house comprehensive information on behavioral health prevalence, costs, access, quality, and outcomes.

Building the “Florida Behavioral Healthcare Data Repository” was the Commission’s top recommendation in its Annual Interim Report, which was released Jan. 1. According to the outline, substantial pre-production would occur before the FBHDR comes online.

The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Committee urges legislators to set aside more money for mental health outcomes.

The Commission outlined key steps, including creating a statewide coalition, securing administrative commitment, determining the repository’s framework, implementing a pilot project and evaluating areas for improvement.

Once it goes live, however, proponents envision a one-stop shop that would enhance the quality and availability of behavioral health data — ultimately helping Floridians receive optimal care and improve their quality of life.

Current legislative leadership has indicated that tech projects will face heightened scrutiny. House Speaker Daniel Perez created a new Information Technology Budget and Policy Subcommittee to address what he sees as past legislators’ errant and irresponsible tech spending.

Still, FBHDR is a low-cost project that its proponents believe could significantly impact health care outcomes. The recommendation could be inferred to have support in the Governor’s Mansion, too, as Chair Dr. Jay Reeve, who is also CEO of Apalachee Center in Tallahassee, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and serves alongside DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris and the Governor’s now-Chief of Staff Jason Weida.

The Commission successfully pushed its 2024 priorities, some of which became the Live Healthy Act — Sen. Kathleen Passidomo’s top priority during her term as Senate leader.

— Top-tier institution —

A First Coast hospital is ranked among the best in the nation for inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital was ranked in the top 10% for the services. That acknowledgment was made for the hospital out of 886 such facilities in the United States, according to the database of Netsmart Technologies for patient cases discharged between October 2023 and September 2024.

Top 10%! HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital is recognized for exceptional service among 886 facilities nationwide.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the top 10% of inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, expertise and compassion of our entire team. We are committed to providing exceptional care that helps our patients regain their strength, independence, and quality of life. This recognition reinforces our mission to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care to every individual we serve,” said Chad Patrick, CEO of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital.

The rankings were compiled using a program evaluation model established by Netsmart. This model factored in efficiency and effectiveness within rehabilitation centers at different hospitals.

“HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital has demonstrated their commitment to providing efficient and exceptional patient care, and we are delighted to present them with this esteemed award,” said Stephanie Stockton, senior data analyst in the Analytical Services Group at Netsmart.

— Breath of fresh air —

The University of West Florida Usha Kundu M.D. College of Health is adding a rare program in the state for its academic offerings.

The health sciences college at the Panhandle campus has added a new respiratory therapy program. This is only the third of its kind in Florida, and such programs are still fairly uncommon nationwide.

UWF launches a rare respiratory therapy program, bolstering health care education in Florida.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program, specializing in respiratory therapy, seeks to provide students with the skills required to enter the respiratory care profession. The curriculum involves in-person classes at the UWF campus in Pensacola.

“We’re excited to offer one of the few programs of its kind in the nation, giving students the chance to step into a growing and incredibly rewarding field,” said David Bellar, dean of the College of Health.

“Respiratory therapists are important components of the overall health care system that make a real difference in people’s lives, and this program is designed to prepare our students to do just that with confidence and compassion.”

— Roster —

On Feb. 15, the Governor appointed Andrew Lupoli and reappointed Glenn Ritchey Sr. to the Halifax Health Board of Commissioners.

Lupoli, a certified treasury professional, is the Assistant Treasurer at Brown & Brown Insurance and the Treasurer for Homes Bring Hope. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida. Lupoli is the son-in-law of Mori and Forough Hosseini.

Congratulations to Andrew Lupoli and Glenn Ritchey Sr. on their Halifax Health Board of Commissioners appointments!

Ritchey is the president and CEO of Ritchey Automotive Group, Southeast Automotive Management, Jon Hall Chevrolet, Daytona Hyundai, Ritchey Cadillac/Buick/GMC, Subaru of Daytona, and Volvo and Subaru of Melbourne.

The former Daytona Beach Mayor is also the vice president and CEO of Bennett Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram of Kingsland and Dublin Chevrolet Nissan, Buick, and GMC. A veteran of the United States Army Reserves, Ritchey was inducted into the Florida Auto Industry Hall of Fame in 2023.

DeSantis also reappointed Tracy Caruso and Carlos Vidueira to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County on the same day.

Caruso is the president and owner of Delray Beach Executive Suites and Editor At-Large for Florida Jolt. Active in her community, she is the current Palm Beach County Housing and Finance Authority Chair and previously served as the Delray Beach Historic Preservation Board Chair. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University.

Vidueira is the vice president of Huizenga Holdings. He is also active in his community, serving on the Superyacht Life Foundation and Northend RISE Board. Vidueira earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and his MBA from UCLA.

 — ICYMI —

‘Nothing … off limits’: RFK Jr. lays out plan for HHS” via Chelsea Cirruzzo and Adam Cancryn of POLITICO — Kennedy, in his first address as HHS leader, urged staff to be open-minded and promised a “radical transparency” in his mission to reduce chronic disease. Despite past anti-vaccine views, he pledged unbiased science but listed the vaccine schedule among “taboo” topics for scrutiny. He signaled investigations into anti-depression drugs, processed foods and more, vowing to remove conflicts of interest and “shut the revolving door” to industry influence. Kennedy hinted at potential staff dismissals and championed his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. He is asking the questions that many in the chronic disease community ask.

RFK Jr. pledges ‘radical transparency’ as HHS leader, promising scrutiny of chronic disease causes and challenging the status quo. Image via AP.

Florida’s nursing grads aren’t passing licensing exams as major staffing shortage looms” via Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Florida’s nursing school graduates ranked last nationally for first-time pass rates on the 2024 licensing exam. A report released Monday shows pass rates for registered and practical nurses lag behind the national average, raising concerns amid a projected nursing shortage of 31,000 by 2035. Most private nursing schools closed after being embroiled in a scheme selling fraudulent diplomas. Dr. Rayna Letourneau, executive director of the Florida Center for Nursing, which published the report, said: “Florida had the most test-takers in the country in 2024, but if they are not passing the test and entering the workforce, it’s not helping to close the gap.”

Florida could lose millions due to haphazard research grant cuts” via the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial boards — Two studies searching for alternative treatments for drug-resistant malaria. Research that could help doctors detect early signs of Alzheimer’s by (among other things) watching how people walk. Work on a mobile phone app that could help steer substance-abuse clients toward alcohol-free activities. These research projects, ongoing at the University of Central Florida, could be among the research hit by the budget ax wielded by careless hands — part of a nationwide strike against grants funded by the National Institutes of Health. It’s a disastrous move that will hobble critical research throughout the country. Yet so-called efficiency experts insist they aren’t cutting money from what they describe as direct research.

Tampa General spotlights innovation and world-class care at Florida State Capitol” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — This week, legislators, legislative aides and Capitol-goers got a firsthand look at some of the innovations and technologies that make Tampa General Hospital (TGH) one of the nation’s leading academic health systems. On We Are TGH Day, Tampa General patients, families and caregivers traveled to the Florida Capitol to share stories of the lifesaving care they received at Tampa General. Students and health care advocates from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine joined the coalition of patients. As part of the event, Tampa General showcased one of its Aeromed helicopter fleets on Adams Street. Visitors could explore the vehicle used to transport critically ill or injured patients from 23 surrounding counties to TGH.

Traci Koster wants more strict audits for behavioral health services” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — Koster wants to make sure behavioral health services are delivered more efficiently. Tampa Republican Rep. Koster filed a bill (HB 633) to enhance transparency and accountability of behavioral health managing entities by requiring regular audits. The bill would require the Department of Children and Families to contract operational and financial audits of managing entities. Those audits would include reviewing business practices, personnel, financial records, compensation, services administered, provider payment method, expenditures, outcomes, referral patterns and volume, provider referral assignments and key performance measures.

— Rules —

The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology has issued a final rule, 64B20-4.001, regarding assistant certification. It will become effective March 2. More here.

The Board of Dentistry’s final rule regarding examination and licensure of dentists and dental hygienists, 64B5-2.014, goes into effect Feb. 23. More here.

The Board of Medicine has issued a proposed rule, 64B8-13.005, regarding license renewal, reactivation and continuing education requirements. More here.

— Pencil it in —

Feb. 25

8 a.m. — Alzheimer’s Community Care will host their annual advocacy day in the Florida Capitol. The event will see advocates and caregivers visit the Capitol to talk about their experiences with Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive disorders. The event will also feature information about Alzheimer’s, related disorders and a robotic therapy cat.

Feb. 27

Happy birthday to Rep. Angie Nixon!

Happy birthday, Angie Nixon. Here’s to another trip around the sun!

1:30 p.m. — The Social Services Estimating Conference to discuss Medicaid managed care rates. Room 117, Knott Building.

Feb. 28

9 a.m. — The Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases will hold a news conference and symposium with FSU President Richard McCullough, the FSU Board of Trustees and Rep. Adam Anderson as part of Rare Disease Day 2025. The news conference begins at 9 a.m. The symposium starts at 10 a.m. FSU College of Medicine Atrium, 1115 West Call St., Tallahassee.

March 3

Happy birthday to Rep. Fentrice Driskell!

March 4

Happy birthday to Sen. Mack Bernard!

The 2025 Legislative Session begins.

8 a.m. — Rep. Johanna López will hold a news conference alongside Sabrina Davis, whose father died as a result of possible medical malpractice. Davis will share her story in support of López’s bill (HB 25) to repeal the so-called “free-kill” law, which restricts pain and suffering damages to surviving spouses and children under age 25. Capitol Rotunda.

9 a.m. — The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference meets to discuss the State Employees’ Health Insurance Trust Fund outlook. Room 117, Knott Building.

2 p.m. — the Senate Health Policy Committee meets. Room 412, Knott Building.

March 5

8:30 a.m. — the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services meets. Room 412, Knott Building.

March 6

Happy birthday to Rep. Taylor Yarkosky!

March 7

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets to discuss outlooks for the Educational Enhancement, Tobacco Settlement and Opioid Settlement Trust Funds. Room 117, Knott Building.

March 10

8:30 a.m. — The Alzheimer’s Association’s will hold its annual State Advocacy Day at the Capitol. The association will bring its “Brain Bus,” an Alzheimer’s educational display on wheels, to the large vehicle area of the Capitol Complex. Alzheimer’s Association will have information and resources on brain health, warning signs of Alzheimer’s and caregiver resources on hand. The day will end with the annual purple lighting of the Historic Old Capitol. This event is held to raise awareness for the 580,000 Floridians living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.


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Apple announces $500 billion investment in U.S. amid tariff threats that could affect the iPhone

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Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas.

The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.

“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a company blog post.

Apple outlined several concrete moves in its announcement, the most significant of which is the construction of a new factory in Houston — slated to open in 2026 — that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features. The company claims this factory will create “thousands of jobs.”

The announcement is similar to one Apple made in early 2018 — during the first Trump administration — that promised to create 20,000 new jobs as part of a $350 billion spend in the U.S. Trump was also mulling a tariff then that could have affected iPhones at the time, but he didn’t end up targeting those devices during his first administration.

___

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.


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