diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a63d5df..415b443 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -470,7 +470,6 @@ Set breakpoints in modules such as `hbd/server/udp.py`, `hbd/server/dns.py`, or
 - `hbd_host`: bind address for HTTP/WSS
 - `pickfile`: path for persisted state
 - `logfile`: path to log file
-- `logfmt`: `text` or `msg`
 - `pushsrv`: push service (`pushover`|`mattermost`|`all`)
 - `interval` / `grace`: heartbeat timing configuration
 - `dyndomains`: list of dyndomains to update via `nsupdate`
diff --git a/REFACTORING.md b/REFACTORING.md
index 660e26b..afd0fa0 100644
--- a/REFACTORING.md
+++ b/REFACTORING.md
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ Server-specific defaults:
 - `hb_port`: Port to listen for heartbeats (default: 50003)
 - `hbd_port`: HTTP API port (default: 50004)
 - `ws_port`: WebSocket port (default: 50005)
-- `logfile`, `logfmt`: Logging configuration
+- `logfile`: Log file path
 - `pushsrv`, `pushover_token`, etc.: Notification settings
 - `watchhosts`, `dyndnshosts`: Host monitoring
 - `smtpserver`, etc.: Email settings
diff --git a/docs/CONFIG_RELOAD.md b/docs/CONFIG_RELOAD.md
index ded5709..ee73134 100644
--- a/docs/CONFIG_RELOAD.md
+++ b/docs/CONFIG_RELOAD.md
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ The following settings **cannot** be reloaded and require a service restart:
 
 - **Logging**
   - `logfile` - Log file path
-  - `logfmt` - Log format
 
 - **Journal Settings**
   - `journal_enabled` - Enable/disable journaling
diff --git a/hbd/server/config.py b/hbd/server/config.py
index 601b013..921907a 100644
--- a/hbd/server/config.py
+++ b/hbd/server/config.py
@@ -16,12 +16,10 @@ SERVER_DEFAULTS = {
     "hbd_host": "",             # Bind address (empty = all interfaces)
 
     # Persistence
-    "pickfile": "/tmp/hb.pick",
+    "pickfile": os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".hb.pick"),  # File to store host state between restarts
 
     # Logging
-    "logfile": "/var/log/heartbeat.log",
-    "logfmt": "text",           # text or msg or json
-
+    "logfile": os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".hb.log"),
     # Notification channels
     "notification_channels": {},  # Named channels with type and credentials
     "default_notification_channels": [],  # Default channels if host doesn't specify
diff --git a/hbd/server/main.py b/hbd/server/main.py
index f819d82..6c4e125 100644
--- a/hbd/server/main.py
+++ b/hbd/server/main.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def save_state(config, hbdclass):
     """Save current state to pickle file. Safe to call at any time."""
     import pickle
     import os
+    from . import users as users_mod
 
     # Clear timer references before pickling (they can't be serialized)
     for hostname, host in list(hbdclass.Host.hosts.items()):
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ def save_state(config, hbdclass):
             pick = pickle.Pickler(pickf)
             pick.dump(hbdclass.Host.hosts)
             pick.dump(data.msgs)
+            pick.dump(users_mod.save_sessions())
         os.replace(tmpfile, pickfile)
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error("Failed to save state: %s", e)
@@ -432,6 +434,7 @@ def load_pickled_hosts(config, hbdclass):
     import os
     import pickle
     from . import config as config_mod
+    from . import users as users_mod
 
     pickfile = config.get("pickfile", "hbd.pickle")
     dyndnshosts = config_mod.get_dyndnshosts(config)
@@ -445,6 +448,10 @@ def load_pickled_hosts(config, hbdclass):
         try:
             hbdclass.Host.hosts = pick.load()
             data.msgs = pick.load()
+            try:
+                users_mod.load_sessions(pick.load())
+            except Exception:
+                pass  # older pickle without sessions — fine
             pickf.close()
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception("load pickled failed: %s", e)
diff --git a/hbd/server/settings.py b/hbd/server/settings.py
index 754066a..ab192e6 100644
--- a/hbd/server/settings.py
+++ b/hbd/server/settings.py
@@ -252,8 +252,6 @@ def get_settings_sections(config: dict) -> list:
                       "Path to the pickle file used to persist host state across restarts."),
                 field("logfile",  "Event log",    "path",
                       "Path to the event log file."),
-                field("logfmt",   "Log format",   "select",
-                      "Format for event log entries: text, msg, or json."),
             ],
         },
         {
diff --git a/hbd/server/threshold.py b/hbd/server/threshold.py
index 10969af..da19ee0 100644
--- a/hbd/server/threshold.py
+++ b/hbd/server/threshold.py
@@ -1096,9 +1096,9 @@ class ThresholdChecker:
             threshold: Threshold configuration
             plugin_data: Optional dictionary of all plugin data fields
         """
-        if alert_state.level == AlertLevel.OK:
+        if alert_state.level != AlertLevel.CRITICAL:
             return
-        
+
         # Skip reminders if alert has been acknowledged
         if alert_state.acknowledged:
             return
diff --git a/hbd/server/users.py b/hbd/server/users.py
index a568847..b515e57 100644
--- a/hbd/server/users.py
+++ b/hbd/server/users.py
@@ -226,3 +226,17 @@ def _purge_expired_sessions() -> None:
     expired = [t for t, s in list(_sessions.items()) if s["expires"] < now]
     for t in expired:
         del _sessions[t]
+
+
+def save_sessions() -> dict:
+    """Return a snapshot of non-expired sessions suitable for pickling."""
+    _purge_expired_sessions()
+    return dict(_sessions)
+
+
+def load_sessions(snapshot: dict) -> None:
+    """Restore sessions from a pickled snapshot, dropping any that have expired."""
+    global _sessions
+    now = time.time()
+    _sessions = {t: s for t, s in snapshot.items() if s.get("expires", 0) > now}
+    logger.debug("Restored %d session(s) from pickle", len(_sessions))