will this appease flake8

Author: ehinman

README.md

@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ print(f"Found {len(flowlines)} upstream tributaries within 50km")
 - **Latest daily values**: Most recent daily statistical summary data
 - **Latest instantaneous values**: Most recent high-frequency continuous data
 - **Samples data**: Discrete USGS water quality data
-- **Instantaneous values** (:alarm_clock: *COMING SOON*): High-frequency continuous data
+- **Instantaneous values** (*COMING SOON*): High-frequency continuous data
 
 ### Legacy NWIS Services (Deprecated)
 - **Daily values (dv)**: Legacy daily statistical data

dataretrieval/waterdata/utils.py

@@ -309,11 +309,16 @@ def _error_body(resp: requests.Response):
         predefined message indicating possible reasons for denial. For other
         status codes, returns the raw response text.
     """
-    if resp.status_code == 429:
+    status = resp.status_code
+    if status == 429:
         return "429: Too many requests made. Please obtain an API token or try again later."
-    elif resp.status_code == 403:
+    elif status == 403:
         return "403: Query request denied. Possible reasons include query exceeding server limits."
-    return f"{resp.status_code}: {resp.json().get('code', 'Unknown type')}. {resp.json().get('description', "No description provided")}."
+    j_txt = resp.json()
+    return (
+        f"{status}: {j_txt.get('code', 'Unknown type')}. " 
+        f"{j_txt.get('description', 'No description provided')}."
+    )
 
 
 def _construct_api_requests(