Officials with the Iowa DNR have confirmed a mountain lion has been observed in Des Moines. Video from the area of 31st and I-235 was examined to confirm the presence of the animal. Des Moines Police, the Animal Rescue League, the Iowa DNR, and the Blank Park Zoo are working together to safely resolve the situation. According to the Iowa DNR, mountain lion attacks on people are extremely rare. DMPD is urging residents, particularly those with small children and pets, in the area to exercise caution.

If you do encounter a mountain lion, here are some tips to keep you safe:

Des Moines – The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently announced that 18 Iowa communities have received low-interest water quality loans totaling more than $23.1 million through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses. The City of Lewis will use it’s SRF of $120,000 for water planning and design.

Creston City Administrator Mike Taylor says “The City of Creston will use our $3.2 million State Revolving Fund Loan for sewer treatment improvements.” And, the City of Fontanelle will use its $267,500 SRF loan for sewer planning and design.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities a total of more than $3.3 billion in Construction Loans and more than $240 million through Planning & Design Loans since the program’s inception. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides annual capitalization grants to states. Leveraged bonds and loan repayments expand the reach of the federal investment. More than $3 in assistance has been leveraged for Iowa water quality projects for every $1 of federal funds.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County report that at around 10:20-p.m., dispatch advised of a check welfare and assist Council Bluffs Police in locating 19-year old Alex Robert Hopkins,​ who was making threats of self harm to his parents and girlfriend. ​Hopkins was located near a residence outside of Underwood. ​Hopkins was allegedly under the influence of marijuana at the time of contact and didn’t appear to need medical treatment for making threats of self harm. ​Hopkins had an active warrant for his arrest for probation violation and was taken into custody and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

A man from Omaha, wanted on Pott. County warrants was transported Wednesday from Douglas County, NE. Corrections to Pott. County. 35-year old Kevin Richard Bequette was wanted for two counts of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations/dangerous weapon, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, Interference with official acts/display of weapon, Theft in the 1st degree, and for driving while license suspended or revoked. His bond was set at $25,000. Three other prisoners at the Douglas County jail were transported to the Pott. Jail, Wednesday:

• 30-year old Brent Lee William Foote, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 31-year old Delshonte Lavaille Barber, of Omaha, was wanted for felony Escape from Custody. Bond was set at $5,000.
• 39-year old Edgar Gerardo Badillo was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation.

24-year old Joseph William Michael Haugton, of Hamburg, was transported from the Fremont County Jail, Wednesday, to the Pottawattamie County Jail, on warrants for Violation of Probation and Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order-Contempt of Court. His bond was set at $300. 18-year old Isabelle Chen Narron, of Glenwood, was transported from the Mills County Jail to Council Bluffs, where she was wanted for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine-1st offense, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A downtown business group says the economic toll from Mississippi River flooding could run as high as $2.5 million a month. The Quad-City Times reports that the economic impact statement from the Downtown Davenport Partnership doesn’t include property damage. The statement is part of an application sent to state and federal officials for assistance. Factors include sales statistics, lost wages and business activity because of inaccessibility.

A temporary flood barrier failed April 30, allow floodwaters to cover several downtown blocks. The organization’s director, Kyle Carter, says federal emergency officials asked the group to “look at the bigger picture, because there’s just no way to know instantaneously what that impact is.” Scott County officials are still waiting for federal officials to declare the area a disaster zone.

Officials with the Des Moines Police Department say officers were investigating a report this morning, of a mountain lion sighting within the City. Video from  is being examined to confirm the presence of the animal. Snapshots taken from the video in the area of 31st and I-235 appear to show a mountain lion near some steps and a park bench.

Mountain lions have been inside the city before. Police fatally shot one on the city’s north side in October 2012. Authorities said residents should “exercise an abundance of caution with children and pets in this area.”

These pictures come from I-235 & 31st St. near Callanan Middle School in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are being reminded by the Internal Revenue Service that new tax laws mean new calculations for payroll taxes. I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says Iowans should be sitting down with their tax returns and their paychecks this week in order to consult the I-R-S’s withholding calculator. Miller says, “The withholding tables also changed and that means that what’s being taken out of their paycheck may have changed and they need to be aware of that.”

Miller says the special Paycheck Checkup tool on the agency’s website will help you and your employer better tailor your withholdings under the new laws. Miller says, “You enter some information about your situation and it will help you understand whether or not the right amount for your particular situation is being withheld from your paycheck.”

The I-R-S is also asking Iowa businesses to look at their payroll and make sure employees are having the right amount of pay withheld. Miller says changes to the tax law means that the withholdings you might have been using over the last several years are insufficient.  “If they received a smaller refund than they expected this year, or perhaps even if they had a tax bill that was unexpected, this will allow them to adjust their withholding,” Miller says.

Find the special Paycheck Check-Up page online at I-R-S-dot-gov.