Nation digest 06/15/04

Clinton portraits at White House unveiled

WASHINGTON -- With political grudges left unmentioned, former President Clinton returned to the White House for the first time Monday and listened with delight as President Bush praised him for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president." The occasion was the unveiling of the official portraits of Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Leader in fatal smuggling operation pleads guilty

HOUSTON -- The ringleader in the nation's deadliest immigrant-smuggling scheme pleaded guilty Monday in connection with the deaths of 19 people abandoned in a sweltering truck trailer. Karla Patricia Chavez, 26, could get up to life in prison at sentencing Sept. 13. The trailer was abandoned at a truck stop in May 2003. Seventeen were found dead at the scene; two died later.

Hispanics and Asians continue census growth

WASHINGTON -- Explosive growth among Hispanics and Asians fueled a surge in the U.S. population between 2000 and 2003 as the national count pushed closer to 300 million. Hispanics, the nation's largest minority group, rose 13 percent between April 2000 and July 2003 to 39.9 million, according to Census Bureau figures released Monday. Asians were the next-fastest-growing among the large minority groups, up 12.6 percent to 11.9 million, while the black population rose nearly 4 percent to 37 million.

Fiscal shortfall in Social Security could come later

WASHINGTON -- Social Security's long-term prospects are better than previously thought, a congressional report said Monday, estimating the program won't become insolvent until 2052, a decade later than projected earlier this year. The report by the Congressional Budget Office still paints a bleak picture for the system, which faces strain as the baby boomer generation retires.

-- From wire reports