From the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I’m Nicole Lapin. Thanks so much for starting out the week with us today. Here’s a look at what’s happening right NOW IN THE NEWS.

President Bush, Oprah Winfrey and former ambassador Andrew Young were among the dozens of dignitaries paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today before a groundbreaking ceremony on the new memorial in King’s honor. The memorial is being built on the National Mall in Washington. The King monument is the very first on the mall in honor of a black American. It’s being built on a 4-acre site right near the Lincoln Memorial.

Congress has gone back to work and lawmakers will spend the next few weeks debating several key measures, including nine spending bills, trade pacts with Vietnam and Peru and also bioterror(ism) legislation. Lawmakers will also be busy preparing for the shift of power from the GOP to the Dems.

Federal agents have arrested a California man suspected of sending threatening letters containing white powder to politicians. One of the letters was sent to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Investigators say a suspect also mailed several letters to some celebrities including David Letterman and Jon Stewart. Well, the white powder found out be harmless. The FBI though says that Chad Conrad Castagana is expected to appear before a federal magistrate today.

Some 18,000 customers were maimed with no power in parts of Oregon right now. The power outrages are result of yet another day of severe thunderstorm that really have winds that began battling the Pacific Northwest last week. Wind gusts of more than 80 miles an hour were reported in some of those areas. One road was blocked off this morning by more than a hundred trees.

And California fire crews are really focused on a wildfire 75 miles east of Los Angeles right now. This latest blaze that you look at right now right near Lake Elsinore, Carlifornia. And it has already burned about 300 acres. Crews say the wildfire about 30% contained as of now. Well, the Lake Elsinore fire is 40 miles from last month’s deadly arson fire, the Esperanza Fire near Palm Springs.

And you are up to date. For more on these stories and continuing coverage of breaking news, stay with CNN online or on television.