NEW YORK - A radio network aimed at liberal audiences expects to be back on the air in Chicago on Friday. Signal problems in Los Angeles and a business dispute with a partner remain unresolved.

New York-based MultiCultural Radio Broadcasting Inc. dropped Air America Radio's signal from its stations WNTD in Chicago and KBLA in Los Angeles on Wednesday following a disagreement over payments.

Air America said Thursday it obtained a temporary restraining order forcing Multicultural "to put us back on the air." The order does not apply to Los Angeles.

Air America chairman Evan Cohen said the company didn't ask the court to act in Los Angeles, and was pursuing other options there, including finding a "more responsible and mature" business partner.

Efforts to contact MultiCultural for comment were not successful. Earlier this week, the Chicago Tribune quoted the company's owner, Arthur Liu, as saying Air America bounced a check to them on Wednesday. Air America claims in its lawsuit that its payments are up to date.

Air America Radio launched March 31 in five cities around the country and on XM Satellite Radio with a slate of left-leaning talk radio and political satire, headlined by comedians Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo.

The network is broadcasting in New York, Portland, Ore., and on a different station in Los Angeles, KCAA. It plans to add the Chapel Hill, N.C., market Monday.

On the Net:

http://www.airamericaradio.com

http://www.mrbi.net