INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night unanimously approved a framework for a designated outdoor refreshment area in the Irvington neighborhood.

In Marion County, the Speedway Town Council set up the first DORA in May 2024.

A news release issued Monday night from a council spokesperson said Proposal 351 adds set up a structure for up to seven designated areas throughout Marion County. This ordinance outlines compliance requirements, public safety standards, and application procedures while another ordinance established the Irvington DORA, pending state approval, covering parts of East Washington Street and surrounding areas.

News 8 first reported a week ago on the Irvington proposal.

The Irvington DORA will allow designated permittees to let patrons leave their premises with up to two open containers of alcohol in approved cups at designated times. The district would include vendor locations for community events and festivals, with business participation being voluntary.

The approval came after engagement with local businesses and two public meetings to ensure the proposal reflected neighborhood priorities, the release said. Once Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett signs the ordinance, the city government will submit materials to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for the final review.

The Irvington DORA is expected to take effect sometime in 2026, pending state approval.

This initiative joins more than 40 other DORA areas across Indiana.

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A new public portal makes it easier than ever before to request marriage licenses, divorce decrees, and other court records from the Marion County Clerk’s Office.

The public records portal, announced Monday, is already online and is free to use. Created specifically for the clerk’s office, the new system is expected to reduce wait times, with most requests completed within one business day.

“This public records portal marks a major step forward in our commitment to serving Marion County residents with greater convenience and accessibility,” Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said in a release. “Our office believes in making court records as easy to access as possible.”

The new portal provides online requests for:

• Marriage licenses
• Divorce decrees
• Civil case files
• Criminal case files
• Court judgments and orders
• Other official court documents

All requests are processed through encrypted, secure channels to protect personal information and maintain the confidentiality of court records as required by law.

Many government agencies, such as the Indiana BMV, require records from the clerk’s office to be physically certified with an official seal. The cost for that is $3 per record, plus $1 per page copy fee. There is no fee for a non-certified copy to be sent via email.

The current system, GovQA, which is used by other city-county agencies, will remain functional. The new system was created specifically for clerk’s office requests.

The clerk’s office says court-ordered restricted or confidential records will still require in-person verification or special authorization procedures in accordance with state laws.

Click here to visit the new public records portal.