FRANKFORT — Taxpayers' money paid for Lt. Gov. Steve Henry to spend four nights in a Lexington hotel during two Miss Kentucky pageant events, a newspaper reported Thursday.

        The hotel was 30 miles from his state-owned mansion in Frankfort.

        Mr. Henry's office said Wednesday that Mr. Henry thought the three-night stay in October 1999 was being paid by the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization, the official name of the pageant, and that a one-night stay earlier this year was official state business.

        Records from the Finance and Administration Cabinet show that Mr. Henry has not reimbursed the state for the trips, the Courier-Journal reported.

        Mr. Henry married former Miss America and Miss Kentucky Heather French in October. She was the reigning Miss America at the time of both trips.

        Bill Riggs, Mr. Henry's chief of staff, said Wednesday night that Mr. Henry had no immediate comment.

        Mr. Henry's office and personal finances have come under scrutiny since the wedding in Louisville. State Auditor Ed Hatchett announced Nov. 15 that he was looking into allegations that state resources had been improperly used to plan and stage events surrounding the wedding.

        Following that announcement, the Henrys reimbursed the state $4,372 to cover travel expenses from trips to the Democratic National Convention and the Miss America Pageant, long-distance phone bills and other costs.

        Mr. Henry has said the probe and news media questions did not figure into his decision to pay the bills. He has said that some of the checks had been written more than a month ago and that he is disputing some of the financial obligations against him.

        Mr. Henry also is disputing one of his stays at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington, saying he thought the Miss Kentucky organization was going to pay.

        According to his office, Mr. Henry began a three-night stay at the Radisson on Oct. 14, 1999. Ann Elizabeth Delahanty, Mr. Henry's spokeswoman, said Mr. Henry was the honorary chairman of Homecoming 2000, an arm of the Miss Kentucky organization.

        The bill totaled $349.57 for three nights and breakfast on the morning Mr. Henry checked out. Ms. Delahanty said the bill was inadvertently charged to his state police security officer. She said Homecoming 2000 is trying to get the billing corrected.

        The other trip was April 15, when Mr. Henry checked into the Radisson again for another Miss Kentucky event — to present honorary Kentucky Colonels certificates at the Miss Kentucky Gala. Ms. Delahanty said it was official business and something Mr. Henry has done in the past.

Flu fight seeks a shot in the arm
Low marks for higher ed
Sick of the ballot battle? So are half your neighbors
RADEL: Fifth and Race
Study: Commute is costly here
Cancer check easy to get here
No federal money yet for riverfront park study
'Ramping' hazard remains
Bush sympathizers put money where their miff is
Township buys land in Lebanon
Firm likely to bring 20 jobs to city
Lebanon chamber head has big plans
New horns at rail crossings might reduce noise problems
Priest stabbing case still on hold
Tristaters give student standards qualified OK
Beetles devastating E. Ky. pines
Bus crash claims 5-year-old
Butler leaders scrutinize court budget
Figures give clues on how guns come to be used in area crimes
Judge tosses most counts mayor faced
Lawsuit says boy, 16, was molested by teacher
Lucas avoids taking stand on election
Ohio State might hire off-duty police for off-campus parties
Search for top cop down to 5
Seeing, touching a slice of 1883
Seminar for adults considering college
Several alternatives remain for final route of Ohio 63 extension
Spill blamed on 'an act of God'
St. X High chooses president
State footed Henry's bill at hotel for pageant stays
'SWAT' teams enter for safety
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report