Air America Radio obtained a temporary restraining order Thursday to force a broadcast group to return its programming to the airwaves in Chicago.

The 2-week old network, which is promoting itself a liberal alternative to conservative talk radio, had its programming pulled Wednesday by MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting Inc.

MultiCultural owns WNTD in Chicago and KBLA in Los Angeles. The restraining order doesn't apply to KBLA.

MultiCultural owner Arthur Liu was quoted on the Chicago Tribune Web site Wednesday afternoon saying Air America bounced a check and owes his company more than $1 million.

Air America has responded by filing a breach of contract lawsuit and asked for temporary restraining against MultiCultural in New York State Supreme Court the same day.

In a statement Wednesday, the chairman of Air America, Evan Cohen, said Liu's statement about a bounced check is "an outright lie."

"MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting's conduct in this matter has been disgraceful," Cohen also said in the statement. "To shut off a broadcast that listeners rely on without warning and in the middle of discussions is the height of irresponsibility and a slap in the face of the media industry."

Cohen didn't ask the restraining order to include KBLA. Cohen said Air America was pursuing other options, among them a "more responsible and mature" business partner.

The network launched with author-humorist Al Franken's "The O'Franken Factor" on March 31. Other network talent includes actress Janeane Garofolo and rapper Chuck D.

The Air America network is still on the air in New York, Portland, Ore., and a different station in Los Angeles. It's also on XM radio and is being live-streamed on its Web site. A station in Franken's hometown of Minneapolis has also chosen to pick up "The O'Franken Factor."