Arizona is getting a $7.5 million federal grant to tackle substance abuse problems in five counties across the northern half of the state.

It has been 36 years since two of Arizona’s incumbent members of Congress squared off against each other, but the ultimate outcome of a similar match-up in 2012, regardless of how nasty it gets, is not likely to cost Republicans as dearly as it did in 1976.

Arizona’s two longtime U.S. senators lambasted political newcomer Wil Cardon for what they described as inaccurate attack ads that they say will hurt Republican frontrunner Jeff Flake’s chances against a formidable Democratic opponent in the race for an open Senate seat in November.

“It says here Aunt Susie died,” said George Smalley, reading a letter from home at the family dinner table. “Oh, who shot her?” asked his daughter Yndia. It seemed like everyone died that way in Globe in those days.