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   Some schools initially closed after Wednesday night's storms will be open today.  

   Shenandoah Elementary School in Chesterfield will hold classes today, despite roof damage.  Parkway District officials say some students will meet in different classrooms until repairs are made.

   Some schools in the Hazelwood district will also be back open today, but several other remain closed. Classes are cancelled at Hazelwood West High School, West Middle School, McNair Elementary, Russell Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, and West Early Childhood Center. After school activities are also cancelled.

   The Internal Revenue Service is warning metro-east tax-filers about a scam that could cost them.  

   IRS officials in Illinois say phoney tax preparers are luring mostly low-income and non-English-speakers with promises of big tax refunds.  

   The scammers may appear very legitimate, often setting up shop in a storefront office.  They use the victim's personal and financial information to file false tax returns, pocketing the money.  

   The victims don't get a refund, and some have lost federal benefits, like social security or veterans benefits because of the scams.  

   IRS officials say taxpayers should be wary of tax preparers who don't ask for proof of income and eligibility for credits and deductions. 

   Patriot Coal is offering the mine workers union a 35 percent stake in the reorganized company.  The offer is aimed at winning support for benefit and wage cuts for thousands of active miners, retirees and beneficiaries.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Patriot sent the offer to the United Mine Workers of America on Wednesday.  

   The move comes less than three weeks before the Creve Coeur-based coal producer and the union are set to clash in a bankruptcy hearing after negotiating over the proposed cuts for months.  Patriot says it must cut $150-million in operating expenses in order to survive.  The company says they only place left to cut is wages and benefits.  

   Patriot spun off from St. Louis-based Peabody Energy in 2007, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July of last year.